Dogs and Their People: Choosing and Training the Best Dog for You [Paperback]

Steven Diller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 22, 2000

Now, in paperback, Steve Diller offers the best of his experience, insights, and advice. He begins by stressing the importance of matching the right kind of dog with the right owner, and provides an extensive list of breeds and their traits. Dogs and Their People contains all the essential ingredients for making truly educated choices.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Stressing positive reinforcement instead of punishment, these three new titles are very different from pet-training books of the past that emphasized domination training methods. Diller's Dogs and Their People is perhaps the most readable, with the most logical presentation. Diller, president of the Society of North American Dog Trainers, believes that dogs are as individual as people and that training comprises two aspectsAthe teaching of specific behaviors and the prevention of problems. His approach is a blend of positive motivation and properly applied corrections. Diller presents the basics of learning theory, discusses common behavioral problems, and clarifies the pluses and minuses of the wide variety of collars, leashes, and training tools available. He gives specific recommendations for teaching doggy "etiquette" as well as practical obedience exercises. One of the most valuable chapters is on building relationships, particularly when there are other pets or children in the household. Marlo's training method is similar to Diller's, blending love and understanding with discipline. The "dog trainer to the stars" (her clients include Jamie Lee Curtis and Bridget Fonda) believes that "training is more than just sit and stay. It's also learning about dog behavior and the canine-human relationship." Her book covers myths and realities about dogs, choosing a breed, building a leadership relationship, socialization, and puppy-proofing your home. She includes extensive but comprehensible discussions of housebreaking (including the importance of feeding and watering schedules) and common behavior problems. Olympic gold medalist Louganis's For the Life of Your Dog is not so much a training manual as a book about caring for your dog from puppyhood to old age. The four main sections take the reader from the commitment required to own a dog, through puppyhood, into the prime adult years, and finally to old age. Throughout, there is never any doubt that the author is celebrating the human-animal bond. Like Diller and Marlo, Louganis, who now breeds and trains dogs, covers responsible ownership, socialization, housebreaking, basic training, and problem solving/prevention. However, the use of stories and vignettes to deliver his message sometimes makes his book seem disorganized and rambling. All three books are highly recommended for public libraries where pet books are popular. Diller has the edge for his understandable presentation on learning theory and organization, and Marlo gets extra points for her focus on building relationships and taking training beyond "sit and stay." Louganis is recommended for the intensity of his feelings and his celebration of the canine's place in the human world. [Louganis's book was previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 9/15/98.]AEdell Marie Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., Milwauke.
-AEdell Marie Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., Milwaukee
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (March 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786885408
• ISBN-13: 978-0786885404
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,391,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, Mr. Diller certaintly knows dogs., March 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dogs and Their People: Choosing and Training the Best Dog for You (Hardcover)

In Mr. Diller's book, you can find out anything you need to know. Steve goes through all the different breeds and gives you his comments on what he has seen in the breed. Steve also goes over common problems you may face and gives you sound ideas on how to over come these problems. Steve also is the first person to actually give you hard questions on whether you should get a dog in the first place. Steve uses is 25 plus years of experience to help guide you in choosing a dog, and how to handle the dog you already have. Steve's is the first book to tell how it is. Most other authors play to the publics demands, Steve does not, he gives it to you in your face. If you like it fine, if not, then oh well. If you want to learn something most proffesionals won't teach you read this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very readable, but a little technical in spots., May 18, 2001

By 

Nunya Business (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dogs and Their People: Choosing and Training the Best Dog for You (Paperback)

This was really a very good book. The breed descriptions were very objective for the most part, and I liked how his training was aimed for useful manners instead of for competition obedience. The problem solving advice was great, too! One of the best things about the book, in my opinion, was the fact that he actually differentiated between show lines and working lines and even explained the difference! One of my pet peeves when it comes to dog books is how most writers ignore or trivialize the differences WITHIN the breed. I'd give him ten stars just for mentioning it... I also loved how he made a point of stating that every dog is different and needs special consideration when training, and that there are tons of workable training methods out there, not just his. I had to give him four stars instead of five, though, because he did use a bit of technical language when describing some dogs. He did eventually explain everything, but the average layman would read the terms 'low nerve threshold' 'sharp' 'defense mechanism' etc, and just go 'Huh?'. But that was the only downside to the book. Other than that, it was terrific!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Help, April 22, 2000

By 

JW (central NYS, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dogs and Their People: Choosing and Training the Best Dog for You (Hardcover)

In DOGS & THEIR PEOPLE, Steve Diller offers practical advice that worked for me and my dog (a 4-yr-old bichon), including especially how to get her to walk on the leash without yanking my arm off. He also offers some tips I used for fine-tuning the training we had already done. Bottom line: "Bobbie" is a better-behaved dog since we tried the methods described this book.