Customer Reviews

Fight!: A Practical Guide to the Treatment of Dog-dog Aggression

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book has the right approach about positive reinforcement, desensitization, and counterconditioning. However, it really is geared towards a trainer who access to several dogs than for the every day dog owner with dog-on-dog aggression. I was *so* disappointed to read that most lessons involved having access to many dogs (3-6) who are well-behaved so that you can socialize your dog to be friendly with them. I simply do not know that many people with dogs. Plus, how are you supposed to ask someone to help you with your aggressive dog? Surely, most folks would be reluctant and not want to risk a fight.

I was stuck with a fear aggressive dog, which is hard as is. Then let's add in the fact he's 80lbs of solid muscle and deaf! I needed help, and thankfully, was working at the SF SPCA, where Jean Donaldson was working, and so I purchased her book.
It was a huge help, because up until that point I was lost on what to do, I'd never had a fear aggressive/aggressive dog before, and my deaf boy had been the perfect dog park dog, until he was beat up by two related dogs (and no, they were not pitbulls)- my dog is the pit. He was terrified, and would not fight back, it took several minutes before I broke it up (other owner was totally oblivious). After a trip to the pet er, he was sutured up, and returned to the park a week later. At that point I noticed cautious/fearful behavior, and when a small dog mounted him, he freaked out. Not knowing how to respond, I made his fear worse, by tightening the leash when we approached dogs.
The book gave us HUGE progress! He went from being so scared of any dog he saw, and wanting to kill them a block away, to actually being able to walk past dogs, and/or say a quick hi without a problem. It's taken us a long time, but this book was tremendous help (in fact, more help than our $500 trainer!)

This book is amazing if your dog is within a reasonable aggression range. It has good tips on how to deal with unwanted behavior and is quite smart in it's honest approach.
If you have a very dog aggressive animal, however, this book will do little to help except provide a quick comment of a single success story involving a pitbull and a trainer who devoted herself for six months to the dogs' rehabilitation. How that trainer approached the situation is not explained. What caused the success is a mystery.
Given that people at their wit's end may purchase this book and hope for an answer, understand that it may not contain what you are hoping.

Jean explains in easy to understand language what to do and how to handle a dog that responses aggressively to other dogs. If you are a professional trainer this book is a must. Dog owners struggling with a dog that barks or lunges at other dogs: this book will help you and your dog.

This is a fine book to hone your skills as a dog trainer, but it offers little advice for owners of aggressive dogs. Bottom line is that you need other well socialized dogs and multiple professional trainers to work simultaneously during training sessions with aggressive dogs. Not too many people would have success asking their neighbors if they wouldn't mind offering up their well mannered dog to join in training exercises with a known dog-dog aggressive animal. If you're a dog owner looking for help I HIGHLY RECOMMEND: 1) Good Owners, Great Dogs; and 2) How to be your dog's best friend.

This is worth reading for awareness of positive reinforcement techniques with your dog. For someone who is not a trainer there will be challenges in setting up many of the exercises the same way it would be difficult to become a competitive athlete if you did all your training without partners or coaches. It will give you an idea of the amount of work that must go into modifying your dog's behavior and serve as a reminder that just reading about it won't accomplish the job.

There are a few verbose sentences as another reviewer pointed out. I felt that was valid criticism although the book is not dominated by poor writing. I will say the format isn't the best and perhaps another revision would have helped readability. The Table of Contents is structured more like an index and the prose is reads more like a dissertation than a flowing narrative. This book is somewhere between a technical paper and a training manual.

It's obvious the theory behind Fight is valid. However, how many people have access to as many dogs as Jean Donaldson suggests? Working at the SPCA, there are multiples of great dogs to work with. I think if I had access to 10-15 dog friendly dogs, I probably could have figured it out for myself. How about writing a book for the average person?

This is a very good publication to read if your dog has behavior issues. It does not teach you how to be a behavior specialist,but it does give a lot of good tips to help your dog become a better family member. Again, I would highly recommend this book to any Veterinary staff member and to anyone who has a dog that needs a little help.

The book is actually directed at trainers or highly sophisticated owners. That should be stated outright on the cover. Not a very practical book for most owners. Some of the techniques would be dangerous if they were attempted by most people. Needs a warning label, Don't Try This At Home.

This book has helped me understand WHY my pets act like they do (3-year-olds) & how I can help myself to help them.