17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An eye opener, November 17, 2009
This review is from: 100 Silliest Things People Say About Dogs (Paperback)
Those who favor the positive dog training methods such as clicker are also usually familier with the work by Karen Pryor and her followers, so they have a certain idea why they want to train their dogs the way they do. They also know that these positive methods work not only for teaching tricks, but also for working on everyday situations in which we'd like our dogs to behave other than they behave, for example not pulling on the leash, not barking excessively etc. If they've really delved into the subject, they know also that positive methods have been successfully used to help cases of aggressiveness. And they certainly approve of these non-violent methods as opposed to the choke collars, shock collars, water throwing, kicking, Alpha-Rolls of other so-called experts.
But what are the scientific reasons for the successes of positive training? Is positive training better than the TV methods of some quick-fix alpha professors? What does "Alpha" mean? What is a dominant dog? What role do the wolf and wolf packs play in training our dogs? What are the scientific proofs of which methods?
The interesting thing about this book is that the author takes the most common things said about dogs and gives the researched reasons why these things are silly. She gives source material for just about all of her explanations. I would have liked specific page numbers and quotes of these sources though - would have made the cross-checking a bit easier in some cases.
This book is however NOT a training manual. It give very few concrete suggestions as to what to do, but it sure gives exceptional examples as to why what people have done as a result of the violent-type trainers' methods are not only (potentially) short-term at best or even counter-productive, but can even be dangerous to dog and dog-owner.
The book has forced me, as a cross-over owner (one who raised previous dogs with the rolled-newspaper method to "mostly" positive to now simply positive) rethink even my present methods, question my own "knowledge" and as result forced me to delve even deeper into some of the source material she quoted or paraphrased from or used to support her findings. IMHO, this is what any really good book on any subject does - it entices us to dig deeper, not only into the subject, but also into ourselves.
There are things that at first glance I could not accept at face value, also a couple of formulations that may, in their manner of how presented, perhaps reflect a little too strongly on a personal POV, but I think we're all adult enough to accept that and the fact there there is no truely non-personalize sterile research, it's all done to prove one's own POV and disprove the other's. And here, what I've been able to determine is that our POVs (mine in my gut and from other sources) and her's (also perhaps from her own gut but supported by much more research and actual pertinent observations) are pretty much at the same wave-length.
Your mileage may vary, depending upon what you're looking for.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent! For normal dogs with normal people!, July 8, 2009
This review is from: 100 Silliest Things People Say About Dogs (Paperback)
An excellent, well written entertaining and incredibly thoughtful book for people of all ages who care about the best interests of their dogs in the modern community of people and domestic dogs! Many unique invaluable observations based on +14 years of studying and living with a group of diverse canines. The Author like Archimedes lacks a Ph D but her facts are more accurate and precisely based on real-world observations and science than many others authors's about Domestic dogs that I have read in 20 years. In addition, the author has a delightful sense of humor "lancing" those who deserve it and saluting those who deserve compliments. Each Chapter stands on its own. Although it is Not (or not just)a training book, the author makes many brilliant suggestions and reommendations that we have already tested and benefitted from with our two dogs. We purchased +7 copies already for friends who needed the author's insights for reforming their"nagging" dog, educating their pup, and withstanding dangerous people and their dogs.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book that will change the way you view dogs, March 24, 2010
There are a LOT of dog books out there nowadays, but this is a book which anyone involved with dogs--personally or professionally--really should read! We know much more today, based on actual research rather than just "beliefs," about canine learning and behavior. Unfortunately a great deal of older misinformation remains in vogue, even among dog trainers or other canine "experts," misinformation and myths which can lead to misunderstanding, ineffectiveness, and even damage in dealing with human-dog and dog-dog interaction. It continues to be popular, probably based on OUR human nature, to see dogs as a reflection of human society, with dominance theory, the need for human intervention in and punishment of "bad behavior," etc., as keys to dealing with domestic dog behavior and problems. Semyonova's work, based on much research and observation, gives information on how some of these popular views of dogs have arisen, helps to discredit such myths, and brings a more scientific understanding of actual canine nature and normal dog behavior. Whether you consider yourself traditional or modern in your approach to understanding and training dogs, this book is a must-read.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
