The Guilt-Free Dog Owner's Guide: Caring for a Dog When You're Short on Time and Space [Paperback]

Diana Delmar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 1990

Easy-to-read chapters remove the anxieties associated with selecting the right dog, housebreaking, exercise, manners, behavior problems, home hazards, travel, and dog health.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An otherwise excellent manual is seriously marred by one consistent failing--the author's inadequate appraisals of how much exercise a dog requires. Journalist Delmar, who seeks to free the conscience of the would-be canine custodian with little free time and constrained quarters, first asks her readers to consider the responsibilities of dog ownership--then minimizes these responsibilities by recommending that a dog be exercised only about half as much as most breeders and trainers suggest elsewhere. A Labrador retriever, for example, needs only five or six walks per week, from 20 to 90 minutes each, she says, adding that these should be "supplemented" with runs in an open fenced-in area "whenever possible." Delmar's attention to other matters is, fortunately, more rigorous: she provides sound advice on housebreaking, houseproofing for safety, grooming and more; even-handedly examines controversial subjects (such as the use of pet crates); and discusses difficult issues (puppy mills, what to do if you cannot keep a new dog after all, euthanasia) with a skillful blend of compassion and pragmatism.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Urbanites and suburbanites in town houses or high-rise apartments can enjoy the companionship of a dog, Delmar says. In this book, she emphasizes the responsibility of owners, even those who are away all day, to train their dogs to be good neighbors, reliable travelers, and dependable companions. Her step-by-step instructions for achieving this are clear and concise. She covers problems and offers solutions. If Job Michael Evans's Evans Guide for Civilized City Canines (Howell, 1988) is in the collection, librarians may forego this book. However, the practical, concrete advice here is applicable for all dog owners, making this well worth the price.
- Helen Sondrol, Lincoln Univ. Lib., Pa.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (January 4, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882665758
• ISBN-13: 978-0882665757
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,996,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A responsible book for people willing to make the effort, November 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Guilt-Free Dog Owner's Guide: Caring for a Dog When You're Short on Time and Space (Paperback)

I got this book in 94 or 95 and ultimately it changed my life. Previously I had thought, as a full-time worker in a rented house, I could not offer a home to any of the many unwanted dogs in the UK. This book encouraged me to look at the possibilities - arrange a neighbour to come to the house at lunchtime - ask the landlords nicely, having arranged 3rd party insurance for the dog - find out what dogs *were* happy to sleep in the day - arrange walks and training and toys for them when I was there - how to avoid separation anxiety - that sort of thing. I now have a middleaged retired racing greyhound and an elderly Whippet and foster retired (2 years old and up!) racing greyhounds. And somewhere down the line, dogs lives are saved. The book is realistic about dog ownership - the poo, the pee, the vomit, the hair, the chewed things, the barking, the exercise whatever the weather - and makes you face up to it. I would recommend it to *all* prospective dog owners, whether short of time & space or not - the quiz at the start on "whether you are suited" (q: the dog comes racing through the living room with your underwear in its mouth. Do you a) scold the dog b) laugh and do nothing c) gently take it from the dog, praise it, and remind yourself not to leave it on the bedroom floor in future?)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's ok..., January 11, 2007

By 

C. R. Vrabel (CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Guilt-Free Dog Owner's Guide: Caring for a Dog When You're Short on Time and Space (Paperback)

I work at a private Humane Society as an adoption adviser and occasionally pick up books to recommend to people. There are better ones out there than this one.
It has a lot of good things in it but plenty for the first time owner to avoid.
There was a lot of "old school" thinking in here.
I would caution people too (like the book) about dogs you get at shelters. The over crowded ones can be hard to go through and the people who work there can't spend as much time with each dog to know them all well. But there are ALOT of good ones out there that know their dogs!And a lot of good dogs at the over crowded ones. I always recommend an adult dog over a puppy. ESPECIALLY if you are short on time! This book should not recommend a young (8weeks-6months)puppy.
I didn't like the training techniques.
Too "hands on". You shouldn't have to force a dog with your hands to get it to do something. It's all about communication.
For instance her sit training. You should not have to push its butt down. Otherwise the dog may learn that the signal to sit is when you touch its butt. Also this is not a good technique to use with new or shy dogs.
We had a dog at our shelter who would sit at the slightest touch of its rear. It was sad because we couldn't teach it to connect sitting with the word "sit". It would only sit if you touched its back end. Poor thing.
Also I wouldn't recommend spraying your dog with flea spray or using flea collars. They are not effective or safe. If that's what we used at our shelter we would have flea problems.
Again there are some good things but I wouldn't use this as your only resource.
It's not clear where or if this author has had any formal training in dog behavior. I don't think she has.
There is one book I recommend for all owners new and old.
"The Other End of the Leash"
This is written by a dog professional.
She also has ALOT of experience.
She has a very good insight on dog and people relationships.
Also check out these organizations for helpful free advice:
the ASPCA (has a website),
Dumb Friends League (a small shelter -not mine- that has a website),
and the Humane Society of the United States (also has a website).
Again not a book I would recommend for the average owner.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book for people living on planet earth, April 5, 2000

By 

Anna Ireland (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Guilt-Free Dog Owner's Guide: Caring for a Dog When You're Short on Time and Space (Paperback)

This book is in my top 5 of doggie books. If you work, and even if you don't, read this book. The writer lives on planet earth with the rest of us and our dogs. I wish I'd read it first and I may not have needed the 48 of the 50 others I read also. My dog has been saved. It turned back into a normal dog, and I once again live a normal life, after I followed the recommendations in this very easy to read book. It gives some very valuable insights into how to care for your dog on planet earth. The writer should be congratulated for promoting responsible dog ownership. Most writers are too busy promoting themselves.