Customer Reviews

I Love My Dog, But...:: The Ultimate Guide To Managing Your Dog's Misbehavior

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have mixed feelings about this book. She debunks many old ideas, and that's good. But using "Alpha" techniques on a dog has its risks. We do not want to raise wolves, we want to raise household companions. "Alpha" training includes using the hands to deliver such reprimands as scruff-shakes and muzzle holding. This can lead to a hand-shy dog more apt to use wolf-life reprimands on other dogs or even children considered subordinate. For timid and small dogs especially, I would recommend hands-free methods that rely on vocal tones, eye contact, and rewards.

This book truly saved a life...the life of my own dog. When our adopted dog attacked a friend's dog we didn't know what way to turn. Joy Tiz provided us with direction, encouragement, and the tools necessary to both understand and manage his dog-aggressive tendencies. Her book is not only filled with wonderful insights on how a dog thinks and reacts but tells us how we, as owners, can build a stronger relationship with our canine friends. The book is fun to read, too. Thanks to Joy, I have developed a deeper understanding of canine behavior and a stronger dog/owner relationship, built through a foundation of obedience, respect, and control. I couldn't have done it with out this book. Thank you, Joy.

I have 2 adult stubborn Bichons that I adopted as adults. They were never obedience trained as pups. This book addresses all of the issues I have with them. I'm currently in the process of following Joy's instructions and I'm amazed at the results. They are a work in progress but I see light at the end of the tunnel.

**Citywulf - Dogs don't think like humans. Joy only recommended grabbing the muzzle or scruff on the neck as last options. She also recommends increasing the confidence of timid dogs. She has advocated posturing and looks - hence the ALPHA***

Ms. Tiz certainly hits the mark with this book. She aptly describes dog behavior, and how to improve and correct negative behavior, both the dog and the owner. She does all this with a great deal of humor and wit. I enjoyed her personal experiences with her own dogs. Her strong-suit, however, is how well she describes proper training, and what training devices to avoid. I especially agree with her that the best way to train a dog is with praise and love rather than bribery (treats). Every dog owner should absolutely read this book. My highest recommendation.

I have read many books on the subject of dog behaviour and training and this one is refreshing. Particularly helpful if your dog is male or has any sign of aggressive tendencies, this book could be a real life-saver. Although Joy does tend to repeat herself several times, I get the feeling this is because she feels strongly about the subject and I, at least, have clear recall of all the ideas presented. Follow her advice even if you don't have a problem dog - it will improve your bond. I hope every dog owner in the world reads this, for the sake of both the dogs and the owners!

From: Publisher's Weekly, 8/30/99 (pg. 71) *Most canine relationships are the result of a faulty dog/owner bond,* writes trainer Joy Tiz in her guide to handling problem pooches, *I Love My Dog, But . . .: The Ultimate Guide to Managing Your Dog's Misbehavior*. Tiz provides an amiable, no nonsense outline on how to set things right by redirecting a dog's natural inclinations. And her *Puppy Head Start Program* is loaded with valuable advice on how to circumvent future problems. Tiz's short, snappy paragraphs make this book an exceptionally easy guide to follow*

I recently got a puppy that had a few problems such as wetting in his crate and being aggressive towards other dogs. Ms. Tiz addresses a variety of problems that most training manuals do not address. For example, most dogs do not urinate in their crates and most books do not address those cases in which a dog has lost his sense to keep his crate clean. Even if your dog does not have serious, problematic behaviors, Ms. Tiz conveys the importance how your body language and words can contribute to your dog's bad behavior. I can't thank her enough for this wonderful book. I have a wonderful puppy that now keeps his crate clean and is friendly towards the majority of dogs. Note: I initially purchased the book because it was one of the few books that address multi-dog households.

Teri Callahan

The absolute best book for owners of aggressive dogs! Her advice is honest, straight forward, and proven. I saw a change in my terrier the first day I tried Joy's ideas.

I am a professional dog trainer and I recomend this book to my clients. I enjoy this book a great deal and find it to be a super starting point and reference source for my clients. Whereas, I find most other dog behavior books to be either dry and unreadable or simply ridiculous in the nonsense they contain, advocate and recommed to the hapless pet owner. With this book, one does not have to wade through a lot of fluff, and the writing is both entertaining and informative. If you are having problems with your pet, I would recommend this book as an excellent starting point for restoring, reparing or redefining and restructuring your relationship with your dog.

This book is a good introduction to effective dog behavior management for beginners because it explains the reasons "why" dogs do what they do. The author explains pack behavior, establishing dominance, as well as techniques to handle problems such as aggression, fear, and general misbehavior. I don't agree with everything the author proposes, since her objective is to help train a pet, a household companion animal. Someone interested in dog sport and competition should consult an experienced trainer or handler before taking everything the author says to heart. Nevertheless, this book is by far much better than the trite books of the past which attempted to explain dog behavior in human terms and suggested a rolled-up newspaper as a panacea. Well worth reading.