Customer Reviews

There's a Puppy in the House: Surviving the First Five Months

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was perhaps the single most helpful investment I made since getting my puppy. The timeline in the back was particularly helpful as it walked me through the day by day process of raising my puppy and pointed me just to those pages I needed on that day. And the piles of photos clarified everything and allowed me to put it into practice with my pup right away. And the results speak for themselves: my pup hasn't started formal training yet but already knows more than my last dog ever did.

Thanks for a great book!

Finally, someone who knows what new puppy owners need: answers and fast. Devoid of long and abstract tracts on training theory, this book goes right to what the owner needs, explains what you need to know and solves your problems asap. But it's much more than that. It contains a systematic, rigorous and totally thorough approach to raising your puppy along with tons of photos that show you how to do everything. There's more in this book than in books twice the size. In fact, once you read this you'll set all the others aside for good.

If you could only read one book about raising dogs this would be the absolute best one. Between the excellent illustrations and direct writing you will develop the perfect relatiionship with your dog.

I read several training books before I found out about this book, and I seriously wish I'd known about it when I first got my Goldendoodle pup. It would have saved me so much worry and guessing! Let's face it, young puppies are adorable but for the first several weeks in your household, they're obnoxious little monsters that drive you crazy. They pee and poop everywhere, they chew *everything* they can get their mouths on, they bite your fingers, your nose, your clothes... Mine also barked and whined every time we confined him to his crate or pen. There's a lot of advice on this stuff online, but this book book gives very detailed, well organized, step by step instructions on how to deal with the scenarios you're likely to run into.

For instance on potty training via crate training, the book gives several scenarios depending on whether you'll be home and what kinds of puppy confinement arrangements are available in your home. I also like the many photographs illustrating how to train your pup various commands. He also gives you really helpful tips on how to curb unacceptable behaviors like stealing food from the kitchen counter.

What this book does that most training books don't is outline the process of developing your relationship with your pup and establishing his/her place in the household in a holistic way. Also, most popular training books these days are "positive-only," forbidding you from ever reprimanding a pup; while Wombacher relies heavily on rewards, he also stresses that pups need and want to learn limits for their own sense of security. Now I know how to say NO to my pup in a way that he understands, and without hurting or psychologically damaging him in any way.

For the record I'm taking Wombacher's Puppy II course in SF with my doodle. We switched over because the advice from positive-only obedience trainers we saw were not very helpful for dealing with his more obnoxious habits like mouthing and acting bonkers on walks. Now my pup walks nicely on leash and gets lots of compliments on his manners whenever I take him out--not bad for 4 1/2 months old!

This is a great resource for new puppy owners. Having taken some Mike's training classes in the Bay Area, I can say with certainty that he is an expert. This book is an easy read, and great for reference.

This book is so comprehensive that it overwhelms sometimes. It is written well, very easy to follow and covers every possible situation you might have. I wish I had bought this book 3 months before I got my puppy. I felt like I was behind the curve, even though I was right on with the timing given by the book.

If I could give every new puppy owner this book I would. It is truely The Puppy Bible. With photos, a timeline and entertaining and easy to follow methods, I was able to teach my puppy more in 3 days than in 7 weeks with other puppy manuals.The book was so well written and interesting that I found myself rereading it just for my own pleasure and entertainment.

This is a very good book for someone who wants to own a puppy, it is simple and easy to comprehend. I would like to recommend this book for anyone prior to get a puppy.

There are so many really disturbed dogs out there, failed by humans who haven't known how or been willing to invest in training. But by not training and socializing, dogs live a less than ideal life - reactive to every noise or terrified to make contact with other dogs and people. Not a good life for the humans too. It was very important to me that I do my part to learn as much as I can how to help my puppy grow into a solid, confident, happy, social dog. "There is a Puppy in the House" was a tremendously helpful resource. I honestly don't know what I would have done without it.

This book is incredibly well organized, easy to read, with very concrete helpful guidance. When I got my very first pup I read it over and over, and regularly referred to it through out the puppy year. It made a HUGE difference to not only understand some of the challenging puppy behavior, but gave me very clear guidance about how/why I should respond. I have just brought home another 8 week puppy, and again I return for very wise, specific advice.

Really, the best puppy book out there! You wont be sorry!