Customer Reviews

Shelby Marlo's New Art of Dog Training: Balancing Love and Discipline

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I saw Shelby Marlo on Oprah and was impressed so I bought the book. Our dog has a few problem areas we wished to correct and had tried everything. The first thing I read was how to teach a dog not to jump up on people. I was truly amazed when her adviced worked! On the first try!Our dog has not jumped up on anyone in two days now. She has a wonderful approach to training dogs. Can't wait to incorporate more of her ideas.

The only thing I didn't like about the book....all the name dropping. Who cares about big-time star's dogs, problems, etc. If the advice wasn't so great in the book, the name dropping would certainly make me throw the book out. She should have focused entirely on what she knows, which is a lot, rather than who she knows. For this reason I dropped my rating from a 5 to a 4.

All that aside, I would highly recommend the book.

Shelby Marlo is called the Dog Whisperer, according to her clients, and you could really see it on Oprah (6/9/00). She has a terrific gift and it is so evident in this book how she loves animals and wants us all to use kinder, gentler methods of training our pets (no choke chains, yelling or humiliating them, etc.). Her methods really work. I used them to stop my dog from barking and chewing stuff up and it works! I recommend this book 100%...there is nobody better!

I have read so MANY books on pet training - from The Monks to Dogs Are From Mars, Cats Are From Venus (Okay maybe there really isn't a book called that.). And I have to say that I was completely lost until I found Shelby's book. In addition to agreeing with her organic and loving method of training, I was delighted to find so much time and attention paid to the treatment of "Rescue dogs." I rescued two dogs myself and Shelby's book has helped me make the transition from frightened un-socialized barky animals to confident, playful dogs that I can bring to the outside world. My friends and co-workers can't get over the change in my puppies - not to mention the lack of that stressed out look on my face! Whenever my friends tell me that they are getting a puppy - or are thinking about it - this book is my first gift!

I just read Shelby Marlo's excellent book on dog training. I have a six month old pug named Maggie who has been a handful. The information in the book is very clear and insightful. Ms. Marlo explains why dogs do what they do based on their natural instincts. Her philosophy of training does not use harsh, cruel punishemnts. These common sense methods that stress motivational training with food give me hope that Maggie will eventually come when I call her. She is already sitting after one day. Throw away your choke collars and read this book if you have a dog. I wish she could explain my cats too.

When it comes to the art of training dogs, Shelby Marlo has a mysteriously magical touch. I experienced this firsthand when she came to my home to train my 10 month old puppy. After an hour with her, he was a perfect 10 in every sense of the word! Her book reflects her uniquely sensitive philosophy and simple but amazingly effective techniques, allowing any reader who cannot take advantage of Ms. Marlo in person to benefit from her experience and talent. She has managed to put into words what most people in this field can never convey. I've had dogs all my life and have adored them, but never one who behaves as well as the one who has been lucky enough to benefit from Shelby Marlo's techniques. I didn't know it was possible, but it makes me love this puppy even more than I did before. And I have Shelby Marlo and the New Art of Dog Training to thank.

A wonderfully written book. Very easy to follow. Good for the beginner or 'old dogs' like me.

A special strength of Shelby Marlo's book is giving you a variety of methods for treating training situations and not a general system of training that won't work for each individual situation. She also gives you the freedom to make decisions about the training based on what you want in your relationship to your dog. She has helped me with both my Vizlas, individually and in puppy class, and her attunement to their needs and mine have allowed me to include them in a wide variety of situations from hiking in new places to going to restaurants. Her methods always benefit the dogs and make us sensitive as owners to whose needs are or are not being met and what our responsibility is to our pets.

Within the first half hour of reading this book, I was able to apply a technique to our headstrong little puppy. She's smart and sometimes sweet, but very mouthy right now and very dominant. After performing a muzzle grab on her, as described by Ms. Marlo, she quit biting and started licking. It was like a miracle had occurred! Yeah, I've had to repeat the lesson a few times, but it seems that our little puppy is finally accepting that we're the pack leaders.

Ms. Marlo's other advice on training puppies and dogs also seems very sound. For example, it makes sense to me to use food as a motivator, at least at first, whereas other trainers say to use the dog's desire to please you as a motivator. I like her advice on using crates for housetraining and generally keeping your new pup out of trouble. Most of her tips on how to teach the basic commands seem right on. Even her suggestion that you use instructive commands instead of "no" all the time (eg, leave it, off, sit...) makes sense, although I find myself using "no" frequently.

I especially like her insights into dog behavior, based on their natural pack roles, and how you can use these insights to communicate with your dog her role in your pack.

I'm not sure I agree with everything she suggests, however. But I've read a number of books on dog training and dog behavior, and none agrees completely with another, and some disagree with each other vehemently. Folks, just read several sources and use your own common sense with your own situation. Be kind, be firm, and be consistent. I would suggest this book as one of several you should read.

I have been trying to find a way to train my dog since I got him at 7 weeks old. Unfortunately, I was not very serious in doing anything but to play with him, although deep inside I know I should be giving him a bit of discipline (it's my 1st dog). My dog is 6 months old now (and I just started to train him). Three things that I was able to teach him were his name (also equals to "Come"), crating, and potty sessions. I did this through conditioning, without directly training. When I read about this in the book, I was happy that what I did was right. After reading further, I became more determined to apply what I read. So I started last week with the sit command, and yes, Shelby's method of using food really worked! You have to read the book and apply the methods with determination and patience. The book is simple to read, easy to understand, and covers a range of ideas and topics from the time you bring your new puppy in to correcting bad behaviors. It's hard to imagine the method working if you don't do it. I was lazy before, I read some training tips on the net quite similar to Shleby's, still I didn't have the patience to follow through. This book gave me a new undrstanding, somehow pushing me to just do it. I don't understand why some would complain about Shelby not offering solutions to problems presented in the book, actually they are very clearly stated. If you are lazy, or doesn't have the drive to apply the method, this book, and any other training books for that matter, will not work for you. I found this book effective, and as a dog lover, I enjoyed the author's little background about herself (although not necessarily important) and her fight against harsh training methods. I also like the side stories and real life cases presented, and I don't mind the name dropping either. All in all, a good training book for the novice, and for people who would like to move to the new method and "throw away" the old harsh military-method of training.

Ms. Marlo put her heart and soul in this book... I have read all of the dog training books out there ... This is the 'VERY BEST' .... She tell people how to train their dogs with love and understanding....I have been in the dog business for over 40 years and thought I knew everything about dogs... but after reading Ms. Marlo book... she really opened my mind to new ways of training dogs with love.... After reading Ms. Marlo's book all you have to do is follow her guidelines and you will have the 'PERFECT TRAINED DOG'... TLCLady107@AOL.com Kim Brown