Don't Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training [Paperback]

Karen Pryor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2006

"Whatever the task, whether keeping a  four-year-old quiet in public, housebreaking a puppy,  coaching a team, or memorizing a poem, it will go  fast, and better, and be more fun, if you know how  to use reinforcement."--Karen  Pryor.

Now Karen Pryor clearly explains the  underlying principles of behavioral training and through  numerous fascinating examples reveals how this art  can be applied to virtually any common situation.  And best of all, she tells how to do it without  yelling threats, force, punishment, guilt trips--or  shooting the dog. 8 methods for putting an end to  all kinds of undesirable behavior. The 10 laws of  "shaping" behavior--for results without strain  or pain through "affection training."  How to combat your own addictions to alcohol,  drugs, cigarettes, overheating or whatever, how to deal  with such difficult problems as a moody spouse, an  impossible teen, or an aged parent. Plus. .  .House training the dog, improving your tennis game,  keeping the cat off the table, and much more!

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In the course of becoming a renowned dolphin  trainer, Karen Pryor learned that positive  reinforcement (the only kind useable with dolphins, who can't  be reached with leashes, bridles, fists, or yells)  is even more potent that prior scientific work had  suggested. . .This new book looks like the very  best on the subject--a full-scale  mind-changer."--Stewart Brand, The Coevolution  Quarterly . --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

"Whatever the task, whether keeping a four-year-old quiet in public, housebreaking a puppy, coaching a team, or memorizing a poem, it will go fast, and better, and be more fun, if you know how to use reinforcement."--Karen Pryor.

Now Karen Pryor clearly explains the underlying principles of behavioral training and through numerous fascinating examples reveals how this art can be applied to virtually any common situation. And best of all, she tells how to do it without yelling threats, force, punishment, guilt trips--or shooting the dog. 8 methods for putting an end to all kinds of undesirable behavior. The 10 laws of "shaping" behavior--for results without strain or pain through "affection training." How to combat your own addictions to alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, overeating or whatever, how to deal with such difficult problems as a moody spouse, an impossible teen, or an aged parent. Plus. . .House training the dog, improving your tennis game, keeping the cat off the table, and much more!

"In the course of becoming a renowned dolphin trainer, Karen Pryor learned that positive reinforcement (the only kind useable with dolphins, who can't be reached with leashes, bridles, fists, or yells) is even more potent that prior scientific work had suggested. . .This new book looks like the very best on the subject--a full-scale mind-changer."--Stewart Brand, The Coevolution Quarterly . --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 202 pages
• Publisher: Ringpress Books; 3rd edition (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1860542387
• ISBN-13: 978-1860542381
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,834 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Karen Pryor is a behavioral biologist with an international reputation in two fields, marine mammal biology and behavioral phsychology. She is a founder and leading proponent of "clicker training," a training system based on operant conditioning (isolate wanted behaviors and ignore the unwanted) and the all-positive methods developed by marine mammal trainers. Clicker training is now in use world wide with dogs, cats, horses, birds, zoo animals, and increasingly with humans, in the teaching of sports and athletic performances and developing behaviors in autistics.