Training the Hard to Train Dog [Paperback]

Peggy Swager (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2008

Are you the parent of a belligerent dog, or one who resists your every effort to modify his problem behavior? Training the Hard-to-Train Dog takes a practical approach to the subject of dog training with step-by-step “power training” techniques that teach you how to be a firm yet fair leader to your dog.

This expertly written guide describes how to build on basic training techniques to regain control of a dog and help solve problem behaviors like housetraining issues, barking, growling, and biting. Case studies covering many different breeds reveal the inherited traits that make certain breeds harder to train, like herding breeds, guarding breeds, husky types, and terriers. A special chapter discusses how even the most willful dogs are trainable, so dog owners who might be on the verge of giving up their dog after having failed with other training methods will learn how to take control and avoid abandonment. Since harsh punishments can actually make dogs with aggressive tendencies more aggressive, the book f

Editorial Reviews

Review

Pet behaviorist and winner of the 2002 Dog Writers Association award for best training article, Swager has written a manual that debunks the idea that independent-thinking, dominant dogs must be trained using aversive methods. She begins by explaining characteristics that make certain breeds more difficult to train. She then discusses how a dog's pack position influences its desire to comply, and she demonstrates how a person can become the leader of the pack. She covers basic obedience commands and addresses problem behavior, e.g., housebreaking accidents, excessive barking, biting, and guarding. Unlike TV dog-training personality Cesar Millan, who believes in the alpha roll (holding a dog down on its side or back), or Kathy Santo (Kathy Santo's Dog Sense), who recommends the "jerk and pull" correction method, Swager espouses positive reinforcement. Other recent books such as Tamar Geller's The Loved Dog and Dale Stavroff's Let the Dog Decide also explain motivational methods; however, the beautiful and sometimes humorous color illustrations, the easy-to-read style, and the emphasis that all dogs, regardless of temperament, can benefit from reward-based training make this book an outstanding addition to public library collections.--Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY --Library Journal, December 15, 2008

About the Author

PEGGY O. SWAGER is an award-winning writer and experienced pet behaviorist who hosts clinics on dog training, gives demonstrations on training techniques, and helps solve canine training issues with problem dogs. In 2002, she won the Dog Writers Association of America award for best training article. Peggy regularly contributes training articles to several dog magazines and continues to help teach people to resolve issues with difficult-to-train dogs. She lives in Monument, Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 237 pages
• Publisher: TFH Publications (November 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793806674
• ISBN-13: 978-0793806676
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,347 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helped with Training, May 2, 2010

By 

L. Bollinger "bodies mom" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Training the Hard to Train Dog (Paperback)

My elderly parents have a little Maltese they call "Puppy". Puppy rules their home with velvet paws; she's so good at manipulation that my folks don't even know she's controlling them. They don't know she is the definition of a stubborn, hard to train dog. They tried to explain to her that she should go outside to potty, but she's too busy to care! Puppy is their baby since we kids moved out. They would no more think about disciplining Puppy than they would think about praising me! Obviously, their bringing up baby methods vary from their dog rearing methods. (I'm NOT BITTER!!!)

After they acquired a copy of this book the examples in it made clear to them they had to do a little Puppy training to make a better life for all of them. No spanking or bad will was involved so now Puppy is happy, but better yet there are no more frantic calls from mom about little brown deposits on the carpet. The book is positive and clear with several different ways to accomplish a training task. It is a good book for the average dog owner.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars most helpful training book I have found yet, March 8, 2011

By 

greenie (co) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Training the Hard to Train Dog (Paperback)

This book has helped us a lot. We adopted a super sensitive dog occassionally attacked our older dog. We had trainers come and help a bit, but it was this book that made the biggest difference. Being a super sensitive dog, some of the trainers basic technics were just to harsh even though we never used anything negative. She learned to trust us and look to us for direction. I highly recommend this book for a dog, not just for problem dogs. It is so easy to read and so easy to interpret the lessons into action. Lessons are short and effective.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two thumbs up, October 29, 2009

By 

S. S. Olson "00101010" (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Training the Hard to Train Dog (Paperback)

I learned a lot reading this book. I'm not a professional dog trainer, but Swager's explanations of what various dogs are looking as far as leadership goes, and how this relates to behavior problems is very helpful. This book made the most sense to me as to how to best approach training, and how to have the best relationship with your dog. Great book!