Customer Reviews

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

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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?)

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.

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.

this is still the best little book on Bringing Up Baby. It is concise, coherent, with comical pictures, and tells you everything you ever wanted to know about raising a good citizen canine without a full-time-stay-at-home doggie nanny, with less than 40 acres, without guilt for you or undue trauma for your puppy2dog.
Chapters are:
The Dog Choice
The New Dog in the House
The Housebroken Dog
The Safe Dog
The Polite Dog
Dog Schedules, Sitters, and Kennels
The Polite Dog Owner
The Groomed Dog
The Fit Dog
The Doctored Dog
The Dog House
Product and Information List (outdated)
Recommended Reading
Index.
Reviewed by TundraVision on Amazon

My vet recommended this book to me when I brought home my first puppy. I was 23 years old and had had dogs, but had never been completely responsible for one before. This book helped me to house train her and to turn her into a wonderful pet who was my constant companion for a decade. When it came time to get another puppy, I went back and read the Guilt-Free Guide again. It was just as helpful, and was a wonderful reminder of how to work with my latest puppy. I am happy to say that she is happy, healthy, and well-trained, too.

It would be nice if this book was updated. There is some information which is a bit dated. However, I just purchased it for a friend who is struggling with his first puppy, and I am certain it will be as helpful for him as it has been for me.

My summary: a great book for a first-time dog owner. I particularly recommend it in combination with some of Caesar Milan's books or videos.

If you're short on time and space, then DON'T GET A DOG!!!!!!!!! Rescue organizations around the country will thank you. If you don't have the time to devote to the proper care of a dog, then you are just asking for trouble by getting one. Please think twice.