Customer Reviews

Hip Ideas for Hyper Dogs

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Let me preface this by saying that I've been working with animals for about 10 years in varying capacities, including working as a sealion trainer, and I have done extensive reading of various training methods. In this book, I expected to find new ideas for training interesting games with my hyper dog. Instead, pretty much every training suggestion given in this book involved "jerking" the dog's leash if they didn't immediately comply with what was being asked. I have always worked with positive training methods, and continually yanking on my dog's throat just doesn't fall in with those methods. Because of their high energy, hyper dogs need even more patience to teach them productive and appropriate ways of using their energy, but instead of patience, the authors of this book recommend routinely punishing the dog for being hyper- exactly the dogs this book was written for.

Sadly, this book was a total waste of my money, and I really can't recommend it for anyone. Thankfully, my dogs won't be subjected to the discomfort suggested by the authors of this book.

I was disappointed. There were very few new obedience games or "attention exercises" within the book's pages. A lot of stuff anybody would already be doing with a hyper dog - throwing the ball, retrieving, walking the dog, throwing the ball up the carpeted stairs to tire out the dog... etc.
The horseback riding suggestion was over the top. Please give me a break. How many people does this author think have access to a horse nor land to ride, nor a dog well-trained enough to follow along off-lead!?!?! Or even know how to ride? Crazy! If they did, they wouldn't have a hyper dog. I was appalled to see this as a viable solution. Rollerblading with your hyper dog I also found hard to swallow.
Worth reading, but only a few chapters worthwhile or helpful.

"Hip Ideas for Hyper Dogs" is robust reading material for the beginner and expert dog trainer. It contains effective and reliable dog training methods, and, accompanied with step-by-step photos, make it a treasure. You will refer to this book over and over again and have fun in the process! There is so much good information about how to work with a hyper dog that from the moment I picked up my copy, I couldn't wait to put the suggestions into practice. Your dog will be forever grateful that you've decided to get up off the couch and start interacting with him (and stop yelling at him)! Hip Ideas is a book that can help any frustrated owner of a hyper dog understand the basics of a solid method of training and understand the canine mind ... and more importantly, to know you and your dog are a team!

I've worked with Amy for some time now and its always my pleasure.
Great ideas in an easy to read and concise book.
Highly recommended to anyone with that hyper little (or not so little) pooch.

The techniques in this book are antiquated. It starts out by suggesting the use of spike collars and other injuring techniques. If I wanted to beat my dog into submission I wouldn't need a book to teach me how to do it. If you really love your dog skip this book, if you could care less about your dog you might find it to be ok.

I just love this book. It's easy to follow, and they don't over complicate the wording so anyone can easily pull info from it. Gathering information is easy, because the topics are clearly labeled. They also have little exerts of helpful hints, which are very useful and easy to read. If you have a dog who you think is a bit hyper, this would be a great help. Especially if getting rid of your dog ever crosses your mind, because you don't feel you are giving the dog the stimulation it needs, or the dog is getting into mischief because it's not getting the stimulation it needs. It puts things into perspective on what a dog needs and what you need to do to give it to him. It teaches you how to train your dog and helps you to understand the way they think. It gives you great tips on traveling with your dog to, barking and baying to pulling on the lead. Some of the tricks they teach in this book are awesome and would impress the heck out of your friends. It even covers dogs with new babies, toddlers and children. The book is like one stop shopping for any kind of behavior problem. Definitely worth the read, there's so much info in it, many more topics than I have mentioned in this review.

Amy Ammen's easy to follow tips have been life saving for our family.
This book is a great resource and can have your hyper pooch turned around in no time. Great photos, too!

This book is great and comes as no surprise after reading Amy's other
books. Common sense, down-to-earth approaches by Amy and her experienced
trainers! You'll love this book even if you don't have a hyper dog!

1. This book is great for dog owners who, despite their best intentions and the love they give to their unruly pets, need help in curbing their dogs' troubling habits - like constant barking, growling, chewing, jumping up, straining on the leash, rolling in do-do, ignoring commands, running away, soiling the carpet, and just plain manic behavior. The authors don't offer a magic bullet. They make it clear that if owners want to be the masters they need to be persistent trainers of their dogs. That takes tough, but gentle, love.
2. The book provides clear, no nonsense techniques to get the job done. Some of these seem counter-intuitive to those of us who may think we can simply rely on innate "feelings" to train and care for our pets. But they are time-tested, and Ms. Ammen promises that they will work. Your dog is trainable. Being a pack animal, it actually seeks direction from someone (that would be you) who knows how to give it. The secret is communication.
3. I was impressed by the book's upbeat tone. The joy and rewards of having a spirited dog comes through. It talks of the dog, as well as its owner, having fun, even during their training sessions.
4. Ms. Ammen has owned many dogs, and she's found that once she has invested the time and energy in training them, the ones who started out "hyper" are usually the most fun to be around.
5. The book also has a lot of other information about dogs, like how to teach them tricks, and how to get them used to a new dog, cat or baby, or to traveling, moving or visiting the vet. And there's plenty of things I didn't know, like:
* "Come" is the most important command
* Use the leash, not your hands, to correct bad behavior
* It's not cruel to crate your dog: many dogs love their crates
* Dogs need mental direction: physical exercise is not enough
* Dogs don't experience shame or guilt, despite how they look
* Repeating an unobeyed command doesn't reinforce it; it teaches the dog to ignore it
* There are a number of books on doggie massage, but there's much more to winding down the hyper dog than massage.

The book is very useful - even essential - if you have a hyper dog. And I'm thinking it will be a great gift for a friend of mine who's got one of those dogs.

Our poor puppies! No wonder they've been so confused about what they needed to do to please us! I didn't realize until I began to read "Hip Ideas for Hyper Dogs" just how easy it would be to eliminate all those mixed messages, and open up real channels of communication with our two endlessly energetic twin-sister Lhasa Apsos; they now take great joy in showing off how well-behaved they are, and how good they are at their "jobs." Back when they were trying to puzzle it all out for themselves, it's no wonder that chaos reigned. (What makes perfect sense. viewed solely from the standpoint of an inquisitive dog, is seldom what we stodgy humans would choose.) As the authors point out, it's often the most highly intelligent and motivated dogs who, when all they know is that Mom is yelling a lot -- and they don't have a clue as to why -- tend to leave the most devastation in their wake. Don't wait any longer to discover what an absolute joy your playful pup is eager to become -- with just a little help from you.