Customer Reviews

Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training, Vol. 3: Procedures and Protocols

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

 

 

Classic, monumental and destined to be a historic work, Steve Lindsay's 3 volume Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training should be on every dog owner and instructor's bookshelf.

Lindsay hits another home run with Volume 3, "Procedures and Protocols." This book provides comprehensive coverage of how to teach dogs new skills and how to handle canine behavior problems. Behavior problems such as housetraining (lack of it), destructive behavior, fears & phobias are addressed. The book provides detailed, science-based information about aggression. Additional topics include electronic
training, clicker training, and puppy temperament testing. In Vol. 3 Lindsay has done a magnificent job combining science with a practical approach that can be easily used by practitioners.

This 3 volume series, the writing of which was a 25 year labor of love, sets Lindsay apart as perhaps the leading scholar in the field today. If I could only have 3 books, I'd choose this whole set. If I could only own one book, I'd choose Steve Lindsay's Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training, Vol 3, Procedures and Protocols.

BRAVO.

Dr. Mary Burch
Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist

While the price and size of this book will deter many readers, for anyone who really wants to learn about dog behavior in general and how to influence it effectively, this book is a must read. While this volume can be read without having read the other earlier volumes, I also recommend them in your reference library. Steve Lindsay has put together a comprehensive study of the physiology of dog behavior, how environment, diet, genetics, hormones and more affect behavior and how dogs learn and why they behave as they do, both what we want them to learn to do and wish they would never do.
He has information to help prevent problems, enhance dog owner relationships, troubleshoot problems and how to solve them.
If you could only read one book on dog training, make it this one, far surpasses the rest.
We've trained and bred Dobermans for 21 years and wish we'd had this one to start with.

The weighty price tag might limit this title to all but the most serious pet library holding, while its nearly 800 pages of information will appeal to professionals rather than casual owners - but any serious dog trainer will find Handbook Of Applied Dog Behavior And Training V. 3: Procedures And Protocols essential. It's all here: from reducing compulsive licking and canine aggression to different types of dominance issues and impulsive aggression behavior.

WOW!

I have been waiting for years for such a masterpiece. For anyone in, or thinking of entering, the field of dog training and behavior this book must occupy your shelf, along with volumes one and two. I can see why it took Steve so long to get this published. I second Mary's comment...

BRAVO!

Kris Kates
ANIMAL MANNERS

Steven Lindsay's three books are the ultimate reference guide for any dog trainer, breeder, veterinarian or serious dogsports competitor. Unlike most dog training books, these volumes are unique in that they do not describe the author's pet method for training a dog. Rather, Lindsay has collated information from scientific studies in order to give the reader an unbiased, scholarly reference guide to dog behaviour and training methods.

The information contained here is exhaustive, unbiased, up-to-date and very well researched. Although the books are an intensive read (to say the least!), Lindsay's style is very readable, and the books contain many diagrams and photographs to elucidate his points.

Although most useful as a complete set, since the later books reference material and methods covered in the earlier volumes, it is not necessary to read the first books before using the last. The material is well separated into topics and each chapter can stand alone.

First lets say loud and clear: This is a great book to understand dog's behavior. It has absolute credibility since it is backed up by years of research and experience.

I bought it in part influenced by other reviews stating this was a "COMPREHENSIVE" book on dog training and behavior. Not so. You see I looked up the meaning of the word comprehensive. Basically, saying this book is comprehensive is equal as saying it covers everything you would need to know about dog training and dog behavior. Again, it is not the case.

Does it cover a lot more than most books? Well, it covers a lot of information... probably more than most books. But it does not cover ALL kind of training. This is important because you might be looking for specific advanced training methods that are just not covered in here. Don't believe me? Just look in the "Index" and you'll see that many advanced training (sport, protection, guide dog) are not covered.

This is the main approach of the author (as I understood and in my very simple own words): Dogs can show very different behavior problems (fearful dog, aggressive dog, etc.). To overcome such problems the dog should receive basic training so that he develops further attention and control of impulses.

Of course, it covers much more than just basic training. Basically it addresses a vast amount of dog behavior problems and then show you how to proceed to change the situation.

So, the author tells you about basic dog training principles to help dogs overcome behavior issues -which is great! It is just that I expected to find an explanation of advanced training techniques. Still, this book is fabulous and it will certainly be of great help to understand dogs and their behavior.

I wish someone could tell me about a book that does cover advanced training techniques.

There are a lot of illustrations in the book but most are conceptual maps (or mindmaps if you wish) that try to represent behavior processes. But if you want to learn more about training 101 you might very well feel the illustrations could be way better.

The book is certainly a must to become a better trainer or owner and to really begin understanding dog behaviour. So, it sure is a 5 stars book. Probably it is above any thing else written about dogs. I don't know if the others two first volumes cover advanced training techniques or if you should look elsewhere for that. I guess I'll find out latter when I read more books on dog behavior and training.

Finally, here is a quote from the author (steven R. Lindsay) that pretty much sums up what this book is about and what are its limits:

"No compendium of instructions can take the place of competent professional help for properly assesing canine behavior problems and prescribing behavior-therapy and training recommendations. The assessment procedures, instructions, guidelines, recommended devices and uses, behavior-therapy protocols, and training techniques described in Volume 3 assume that the user is appropriately experienced, knowledgeable, skilled, and qualified to apply them in a selective, competent, and safe manner".

So, don't you dare think this is the only source of information you need. Read everything you can, but the real fact is that you will need to find proper training in a good school and study under the guidance of experienced people. I know that's just what I'll have to do.

One last thing, don't fool yourself. This is a book writen with scientific language. I'm sure the publisher must be very aware how scientific language highly reduces the market for the book. I don't have a problem with that because I've read several scientific books. But if you don't like heavy reads... this might be one of them. So, be prepared for that.

Ah, did I say I absolutely love this book? It is entertaining, insightful, full of interesting facts about dog behaviour. I just love it! If you love dogs or work with them, this is probably one of the most valuable source of information you can get your hands on!

Very poorly edited and not for the lamen or weak at heart. Has good content, but written poorly by a knowledgeable person with a low level of education and tries to hard to make up for it in his language text.