Customer Reviews

Positive Reinforcement: Training Dogs in the Real World

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Fixed action patterns, negative punishers, unpredictable avoidance responses, bridges, and reward marks... OH MY!!!

Do these terms make you dizzy? Do you want to train your dog using the most gentle and effective way, but phrases like successive approximation make you lose interest?

Brenda Aloff has finally done it... In this wonderfully written and funny book she explains all of the terms and methods for training your dog the fun and easy way. One-by-one she shows you the proven techniques for shaping your dog's behavior into that of a well-behaved canine companion. This book also has a lot to offer the more-advanced dog trainer, and even obedience/agility instructors!

As the owner/handler of Fox Terriers, a notoriously difficult breed, Aloff makes it clear that all dogs are trainable if you know how to communicate with them clearly. She is also careful to emphasize that when training your dog it's "the journey that counts" and that the desired behavior is of no consequence if you have ruined your relationship with your dog in the process!

I especially enjoyed this book because although she stresses using a reward mark, or a "clicker," she also discusses training WITHOUT one! I have a noise-sensitive dog who is actually scared to death of clickers, so this was of great use to me. I am able to apply her methods, even though I'm not using a clicker.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in dog training... if your goals are professional, a hobby, or just for fun. This is a great book!

Our Vet recommended this book before we picked up our new puppy. It is an interesting book written more from the dogs point of view. It is helpful in understanding how a dog thinks and the importance of postive reinforcement instead of using punishment for training. It is an important idea to understand before trying to train your puppy or dog. It isn't difficult to understand and can be read in sections. I highly recommend it.

Brenda Aloff is a pioneer in her field. She knows the in's and out's of dog behavior better than anyone I have ever read.
This book explains not only what you should do, but why you should do it and helps dispell some of the "old school" trains of thought regarding dogs, behavior and training.
TRULY A MUST HAVE!

Positive reinforcement it is something that everibody should know.
You can use it for your live stile not only for training mammals.
Read this book and test it with your son, husband, wife, collegues and your dog.
Thank you to Brenda Aloff the only thing is that you should translate it in Italian.
Alessandro

How can you possibly pull off this method out in the real world?

How many of you are going to carry a pouch of treats to stop your dog from pulling, lunging, barking or trying to kill the neighbor's cat? Oh, let me guess. Don't feed the poor dog that day. Or, don't feed her for two days and start with cut up steak.

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.