Customer Reviews

Home Dog: Revolutionary Rapid Training Method: How to Train Your Dog to Obey and Protect You

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This author was recommended to me by a breeder who competes with his dogs in hunting trials. The breeder is a firm believer in gentle methods and a trusting relationship. However, before I ordered the book,I read reviews of Mr. Wolters other books on Amazon and was prepared for the worst old fashioned, fear based, compulsion methods. I was wonderfully surprised!

This is one of the finest books on choosing and working with very young puppies I have ever read (and I have read MANY). The author's experience and love of dogs is evident throughout, as well as his very clear admonishment of EVER being too harsh, or pushing any pup past his comfort level in exercises. The goal of the exercises with very young dogs is to build trust and confidence in the dog he will become.

The book IS a little dated, very little is said about spay/neuter and crate training, and if there are any New Yorkers still tying their puppies to parking meters outside a store, they must not be very bright. But I thought the references to "Women's Lib" were cute. Its now VERY un-PC to say that to get the dog you want, you are best off with a young, good pup instead of an adult rescue, but its true. "Spanking" is also VERY un-pc. While the author refers to it, he also repeatedly states that NO harsh discipline of any sort is appropriate for young pups. Considering it was written THIRTY years ago, I think its brilliant. He was actually saying back then that people confuse dog breeds "train-ability" and "intelligence"!

Mr. Wolter's experience is obviously tilted toward more "eager to please" breeds (most training books are) but because the book deals with very young puppies who haven't really developed into the more aloof specimins they may become, the advice is still excellent. Your loving tone may be enough for a middle of the road retriever pup, but keeping focus for more independent types may require a treat or two and this can easily be worked into the exercises.

The author assumes that it is being read by a dog lover who will make loving decisions. The format is such that the book MUST BE READ, not treated like a recipe book where you can just open to chapter SIT STAY. But its a great read and his style is easy and clear.
The heartbreaking true story of a sweet pup that was subtly pushed too hard should be required reading for anyone working with a puppy.

And just to be clear, the "Protection" part of the title means bark like hell and be VERY scary on command, or when strangers approach and nothing more. The author feels very few people can handle pets that willingly attack and bite human beings. Its a good call and very expected from a dog lover who works with the public.

I really liked this guy's method. My vet suggested this 30 year old book that's really still applicable to training. My breed is supposedly "really smart" but she is doing exactly what the book promised. Additionally, I have friends with Labs who used "Water Dog" by the same author with equally great results.

Good Luck,
Stick with the program

We have not gotten to read this specific Wolters book yet. We are currently enjoying Game Dog and finding a lot of the information and ideas very useful. From previous experience I think trying to follow Wolters' instructions exactly will lead to frustrations, however, his general ideas, concepts and methods I enjoy and find very useful. After a long-ish fur-free period we'll be getting a black lab pup in the spring so we're doing research and reading now to be as prepared as reading can make you.

My order arrived promptly and in the condition expected. The book is pretty old school but it's a great help when you have a new puppy. I might've prefered something more like a reference book but this is still a great tool for training.

This book is very helpful if you plan to keep your dog in the house instead of outside.