Customer Reviews

Oh My Dog: How to Choose, Train, Groom, Nurture, Feed, and Care for Your New Best Friend

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(72)

 

 

In which chapter does she talk about her own dog being trained by a professional? Or getting her dog from a breeder, despite telling others to adopt from shelters?

The reviews here are pretty disappointing.

On one hand, the negative reviewers dislike the book based on premise rather than substance. That is to say, they dislike the fact that the author seems to be putting out a product to further her cause (the NSAL) and to make money. I'm all for someone making money by selling a product, but they do have a point in that the NASL is a pretty low-rated charity. Their attacks on one of the authors based on her marital status are pretty insulting.

On the other hand, there are obviously planted pro-reviews which all seem to ding the same bulleted talking points (i.e. she never claimed to be an expert) and ignore the fact that the book is only 2 days old, and yet they have not only already read the book cover-to-cover, but have also implemented the advice given in the book and seen results. Its either an amazing book that will let you see results so quickly, or someone's lying about having read and/or implemented said advice.

I have to admit, the reviews have piqued my interest in purchasing the book yesterday, and, after reading a substantial portion of the text, I rate this a definite pass (as in try something else). The book reads like it was written by Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde in that there was minimal attempt to blend the writing styles of the two authors. The so-called "tips" in the book are somewhat interesting at times, but I found it odd that there is a lot (too much for my taste) of steering the reader into purchasing products in which they apparently share some monetary benefit to the authors.

The book seems hastily written and thrown out to the public in the intent of solely providing revenue streams for the authors. Sadly, I feel that the negative reviewers are more correct in their assertions than the positive reviewers and the "advice" given in the book is nothing more than what anyone with access to the internet can find on a common search engine.

Boring and full of nothing new. Alot better books out there, by far!!! Pass on this one.

My favorite part was chapter three where Ms. Stern teaches us the difference between a European bent-knee pose and the less formal Pittsburgh bent-knee pose. I also love how the publisher was able to put all her teeth on the cover.

This book is kind of like the Holiday Inn commercials. Hey Beth are you a dog expert? Well no, but I did fly over a Holiday Inn in my private helicopter. This woman bought her dog trained, and does little more than pass on regurgitated information that could be found in a simple Internet search.

I read this book because I am a fan of the "author's" husband, howard stern. Howard stern has been talking non stop about how great the book is, and I was curious. There are two major problems I have with this book; first, there is no new information and second, the author actually augments any concerns I had about her credibility in a variety of ways.
*It is worth pointing out from the start that as a long time listener of the howard stern show, I know for a fact that Beth and Howard's dog Bianca was bought fully trained from a breeder. She is not a rescue dog. She was fully housebroken when Beth brought her home. Despite this fact, Beth felt empowered to write this book. She has gone on the offensive to say she is not an expert, but has compiled information from experts---why not just skip the middle man.
I have two dogs that I have trained myself. I have read a few books, mostly by veterinarians, and there is nothing new in Beth's book that can't be EASILY found in more credible sources.
Also, the product shilling that infests each tip from Beth further weakens her credibility and the implication that owners should buy unnecessary products, makes the book feel like exactly what, I suppose, it is: the pet project of a woman with too much time and money on her hands. I cringed when I saw her appearance on Regis and Kelly and not because the dog she brought made a mess or because she sprayed sun tan lotion right in her dog's eyes, but because her tips were so commonsense if not vapid and at one point she told Kelly "flea and ticks are a huge problem right now....IN THE HAMPTONS as you know" . Flea and ticks are a problem everywhere. Even if you destroy nature to build a mansion on the beach in the Hamptons, as Howard and Beth did, some wild life will undoubtedly linger.
Despite the tone of that last comment, I do not want to come across as bitter because my problem with Beth is not about her potentially being a "gold digger" or "fame wh**e". My problem is not with Beth at all, actually it is with this book (and I suppose the NSAL a little) because I am also an Animal lover/advocate and while I don't doubt her sincerity, I question her judgments.

Same old story told by a pretty face. Tried to find something positive about the book, but quite frankly, I have learned more from the yearly visit to the vet than I did trying to wade through glamour shots. There are far better informational books out there for serious pet owners. Talk to your vet. Even free pamphlets are better and you will have money left in your pocket for a new calendar.

Horrible excuse for a book. Obviously written by a ghost writer. I really can't recommend this for anyone looking to train their pet as the "author" got a pet or two from a breeder.

I'm a dog owner and really wanted to give this a shot, but this is nothing more than a collection of advice from various experts with Beth O Stern clearly ultimately deciding which expert's opinions are relevant for what. In other words, this is somebody who's not a dog expert giving her own advice by proxy.

If you're going to purchase a book in order to better care for and understand your dog, find a dedicated behavior and diet expert and get your advice strait from the horse's mouth.

I could probably find all of this for free via a google search, and even then I can guarantee I'd find some contradictory advice as well. Not as useful as I had hoped.