Customer Reviews

Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence: A Positive Training Program (Howell reference books)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm not sure why one reviewer said this book used negative methods for dog training such as alpha rolls and scruff shaking, because I saw neither mentioned in the book. The author does recommend "a quick pop followed by an immediate release" when using a leash to train, but this is a perfectly sensible and harmless way of getting the dog's attention.

The author continually emphasizes the importance of praise, praise, and more praise in teaching your dog the proper way to behave, and her methods really live up to the "positive" claim in the title. This is a very reader-friendly book as well. The writer presents her information in an easy-to-read and often humorous format, all the while providing sound advice. I highly recommend this book as both human and dog friendly!

Ms. Benjamin leaves an indelible mark on the understanding of dogs with this work that recognizes that the time between puppyhood and adulthood is not limited to us humans. The excellent methodology outlined in this text denotes a person with an uncommon insight into the minds and behavior of dogs. The techniques described in the book are both helpful and thorough - follow them and you will get the job done. This is not a book for those who would build a relationship between a dog and the liver snaps in their pocket. It is a book for those who want to enjoy a warm relationship between themselves and their dogs. It DOES NOT recommend alpha rolls in shape or form.

I found this book highly interesting and helpful. It gives practical training tips in ways the new dog owner can understand and easily put into practice... There is absolutely no negative training in this book. It all focuses on the positives of relationship, describing and teaching language a dog can understand. I found it extremely helpful. I would highly recommend it to any current or prospective dog owner.

12 years ago, I remember sitting on my bed in tears. My adorable Golden Retriever puppy had hit a point where she was really hard to handle, and I felt overwhelmed-- like a failure as a dog owner! I knew I needed some good advice, and I ended up finding this book at the library.

It was incredibly helpful, reassuring, and positive. Needless to say, my Golden eventually grew into a lovely, kind, and affectionate dog. This book helped us get through a rocky point in our relationship, and I am really greatful to Carol Lea Benjamin for helping me to handle this stage of my best friend's development effectively/helping me to understand my dog better.

A year after reading this book, I adopted an elderly Irish Setter. Benajamin's book "Secondhand Dog" was helpful to us.

If you like the Monks of New Skete and Brian Kilcommons you will find Carol Lea Banjamin's approach to be slightly different (but similar) and very helpful. You may also want to check out Patricia McConnell's humane, wise dog books (The Other End of the Leash, Beginning Family Dog Training, etc.).

An excellent analysis of problem dog behaviors and training methods for overcoming them, aimed toward younger dogs but appropriate for all ages. The author correlates breed type and original function with the particular sorts of mischief the dog may get into, and explains what to do to redirect the dog's energy and attention into positive activities. Especially helpful for first-time dog owners.

This is an excellent book that discourages treat training and encourages understanding and praise. It covers the differences between puppies and adolescents, winning your dog's respect, having an appropriate relationship with your dog, tools you do and don't need, understanding how breed and character affects behavior, trade secrets, how to train basic commands, rules for rehabbing a problem dog, dealing with problems, and how to 'build' the dog of your dreams. Behaviors covered range from aggression to grooming problems to wildness. Although it is geared for the adolescent dog, this book would also be suitable for someone adopting a dog or just needing to retrain his or her own difficult pet.

People don't realize that dogs are very similar to kids. They go through growing phases just like the kids do and one day they do what you expect very well and the next day they act like they have no clue as to what you are talking about. This book puts it all in perspective.

I purchased this book when my first Golden Retriever, Bailey, reached adolescent in 1994 and found it invaluable. She went on to get her CD in obedience and NA in agility, became a therapy dog and lived a wonderful 15-1/2 years. Now my new Golden, Riley, just turned 7 months so I got the book down to re-read it. It's just as helpful now as it was then. I'd forgotten all the "fun" of adolescence, but now I'm prepared and can catch some of these before they become real problems. If there were more stars to give this book, I would easily give it 10.

I have read about a dozen books on training and caring for dogs, and while some were pretty good none of them alerted me to the fact that dogs go through an adolescence phase just like human teenagers. I read this book when my puppy was 7 months old and not displaying any "bratty" behaviour, but I implemented many of the author's suggestions anyway as a precautionary measure. A couple of months later he was showing just slight signs of adolescence (thinking things over for a couple of seconds before obeying commands) but none of the extreme stubbornness that miniature schnauzers are known for, and I'm sure it is thanks at least in part to the precautionary measures I took after reading this book. I re-read this book and applied the advice, and my puppy is back to making immediate responses to my commands.

I highly recommend this book to any dog owner, preferably before your dog enters adolescence, but definitely as soon as he or she starts displaying problem behaviours.

This is a really good book, although I think it is too long and wordy. I like things to be straight and to the point. This book does help you realize why sometimes your dog does what he does. And also it helped me to stop giving my dog treats to obey my commands. We still have problems but my dog is stubborn as can be.