Customer Reviews

Purely Positive Training: Companion to Competition

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I found this book not only easy to read, but the authors genuine love and appreciation for her dogs is evident on every page. The information regarding how and why dogs react to emotional energy, body posture, breathing and even eye contact is fascinating, and the training techniques in part 3 are extremely useful. The underlying and best quality about this book is how the fun times and the relationship a person has with their dog is the most important part of dog ownership.

This is one incredible book. It is exactly as the title states, Companion to Competition. The book starts out with basic rules or concepts that apply universally to teaching your dog good house manner or competitive obedience. The techniques are foolproof and can be easily incorporated into every day interactions with your dog. I started reading this book when my most recent dog was 8 weeks old. This book has allowed me to achieve a bond and level of trust with my dog that I did not realize was possible. I have read many dog training books and this book is the best by far.

I've read many dog training books and this is by far the best. If people could just understand how well positive training works then they could understand why negative punishment isn't the best idea.
I have an BS in psychology and specialized in behaviorism. Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement is the best way to train. I am not going to say that punishment doesn't work but I think all to often it actually harms the dog. To be the pack leader doesn't mean you beat the dog into submission. To gain respect you have to earn respect and using punishment inspires fear
not respect. Fear makes the dog obey but is that what we really want? for our dogs to fear us?!

This is the best dog training book I have read amongst many, and yet it is so much more. It is a blueprint for a wonderful relationship of understanding with your dog. Written with a sense of humor that really struck my funny bone, it says so much that you can't absorb it all on the first pass. Read it again and again, and then use it for reference. You won't regret it!

I thought about buying this book about 20 times before i click the ship.
THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING!!!!!
now i never was the jerk and crank type i used a prong collar alot i will say but i did use positive rewards. But if you read the book clearly she dont say stop correcting the dog she simply says let the dog learn what he is today before you want to choke the dog or correct. She is hard on your relationship with the dog. it is truly amazing.
i cant really describe what she says but you just got to read it yourself to really see. give it a try a must book for dog trainers.
I think if you get this book with her other book training in drive which i will be getting soon it makes a heck of a combo

This book is fantastic, one of the most interesting and engaging I've found so far.

There are a couple problems I have with this book. First, it is really only for those who wish to train their dogs for competition, it isn't for the pet owner looking for ways to deal with problem behaviors.

The second problem is the religious, preaching tone throughout. It isn't enough for the author to teach positive reinforcement based training methods, she feels the need to constantly berate any form of correction.

The author does well to indicate that not all treats have the same reinforcement value to all dogs, but fails to indicate that a simple 'No' as a correction doesn't have the same effect on a dog as being beaten to an inch of it's life just to exert dominance. Corrections of any kind are against the religion being preached.

Behavioral/learning theory isn't value based, but the author sure does spend time passing judgment on any training method that doesn't involve constantly shoving food treats down a dog's throat. The author even goes so far as to say training methods that allow for the use of corrections do not work. This lets any experienced trainer know immediately that the author has no clue what she is writing about.

If you are one of those who believe corrections of any kind are from the devil then you can pick up this book and have the choir preach to you. Otherwise there really isn't much to be gained from this book.