Customer Reviews

Positive Perspectives 2: Know Your Dog, Train Your Dog

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The name of this book makes it confusing, but this is NOT the second edition of Positive Perspectives. This is an entirely new book, for more advanced owners/trainers. Highly recommended. Pat Miller really knows dogs and positive training, and this is the most advanced book she has made...yet -- Pat, please write more!

I am the Director of Cattledog Dreams, a Cattle Dog rescue operation in California, and this book is on our recommended MUST HAVE list for our adoptors. If you are just starting out in dog training, read POSITIVE PERSPECTIVES first. It has more information on puppies and basic training, while this volume offers excellent guidance in more advanced topics related to reading dog body language and modifying behavior. Both books are great for all dog owners, and both are highly recommended by my organization.

One of my biggest pet peeves is 2nd edition books that change a few minor things about the first edition and rename it "2"; this is not the case with PP 2. There are many new things that build on Positives Perspectives. I highly recommend this for anyone who is interested in using positive techniques to train their dog!

I'm the proud owner of a very smart German Shepherd AAA/AAT therapy dog, and since I've had/loved/trained Shepherds (who sometimes trained me)for 30 plus years I have an extensive library of books on dogs and training. The books I could rave about are far and few between. This book is in the RARE RAVE category! My dogs have been raised from young puppies so haven't had behavior problems, which are covered in this book, but the body language Part 1, and fun and games Part 2, and Part 3 on teaching behaviors are worth far more than the price of the book. The title says it all, KNOW YOUR DOG (and if you do, you can) TRAIN YOUR DOG.

THIS BOOK IS WORTH DOUBLE ITS PRICE!!!!!

I have used many Of Pat Miller's books.
I have a Weimaraner and a pug, these books have been priceless in our household.
It less on "training", it is more about teaching, helping a dog learn in the most humane, non threatening, non punishing, positive methods which are conducive to learning. The lessons have stuck with my dogs, the boys will be 10 yrs old and are the joys of my life.

Thank you Pat Miller!

Very helpful book that helped me understand more about the dog's view of our relationship.

Look, people use treats for teaching dogs some cute tricks.

Umm... sit is not a trick. Stay is NOT a trick and neither is a down command. Am I the only one who's missing something?

Reward is usually something you get AFTER you do something good or something you've earned. So how can you call it reward based training?

Despite my previous dog listening to me to my voice, I still went out and bought me a stack of these "treat-based" training books.

Here's my thoughts and experience after reading all these food bribery books:

Any moron can bribe a dog with treats constantly and call it dog training. Your dog should listen because you said so. He needs to respond because of your love, technique and proper knowledge, not hot dogs, cheese, beggin strips or salami. Where is the common sense here?

Also, it's best to use treats for obedience competitions or if you are dealing with an extremely fearful dog. Is that really you?!?! Is your dog that afraid of you that the minute he sees you, he pees himself or is nowhere to be found? I seriously doubt that.

Again, you can bribe your dog yourself. You don't need to read this book or even work with some trainer. Here's how I will make you think twice:

***** Can you honestly call this method practical, smart or even natural? ********

Reality Check!!! Give your dog treats, but at the very "end" of your training sessions and once in a while. If your dog sees or even smells the treats in your hands, sorry, you are relying on treats instead of your bond, love and your leadership. If you honestly think that dogs love to please, you wouldn't need to use a milk bone every single time.

Face it; it doesn't take much skill or talent to give a dog treats for everything. We didn't teach our kids this way. Did you learn your ABC's with Twinkies and Kit Kats? I hope not.

Conclusion: This positive reinforcement got me negative outcome. A fat dog that always licks its face, looks at my hand, sniffs my pocket with explosive diarrhea every time I ask him to sit, stay or lie down for me. Kudos to the author.

Fast forward to today. I totally had to re-train myself and the dog that he needs to listen to mommy because mommy said so. Not because of treats, not because of fear, not because of my husband's tone, but because I love you and take care of you. It never made sense to eventually STOP all the treats for good. What's fun or fair about that?

FYI: They call this positive dog training.