So Your Dog's Not Lassie: Tips for Training Difficult Dogs and Independent Breeds (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: liver cookies, independent dogs, formal heeling, Grizzly Bear, Novice Note, Companion Dog (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In this well-written, easy-to-follow dog training manual, authors Fisher and Delzio provide gentle, humorous advice for training "hard to train dogs." They outline specific training disorders and motivational techniques that will work with many breeds of dogs, and they advise common sense, patience, and diligence, especially when working with animals that were originally bred to display qualities of independence and dominance. Readers will appreciate the encouraging, simple instructions and examples, the humorous anecdotes, and the easy recipes for baking training treats. The book will appeal to dog owners frustrated by previous training attempts, and even those interested in training for show purposes. Kathleen Hughes

Product Description

OK.You're dog doesn't live to please you. There, we've said it. Contrary to what you've always heard, not all dogs want to earn their owner's approval. Sometimes they seem as if they could not care less. But this is no secret to you -- you know your dog's not Lassie.

With this book you will come to understand and appreciate that for hundreds of years dogs were bred for qualities like independence, dominance and determination. While these traits make dogs excellent hunters, trackers and fighters, they can make day-to-day living with your pet a real challenge.

Betty Fisher and Suzanne Delzio will teach you how to employ or overcome the traits that make your dog difficult to train. They will show how to use body language, food, voice, training structure and style to convince your stubborn dog to do what you ask. Without force, you can turn your difficult dog into a perfect pet, or even a successful show dog.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 1st edition (March 4, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062734571
• ISBN-13: 978-0062734570
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #150,761 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My most treasured dog training book, June 7, 2000

By	Gunilla Melkersson (Upplands Väsby, Sweden) - See all my reviews

I am a Swedish girl teaching obedience classes and competiting in obedience. My ever-growing library of American dog training books started with this book. I stumbled across it one happy day searching for a new book to help me further on the way to making my Icelandic sheepdog (a spitz breed) Swedish Obedience Champion. I fell in love with the cover within two seconds and the contence was even better. Since then I have bought many more dog training books, with the help from "customers reviews" here on Amazon.com. I have books from the Monks, Kilcommons, Karen Pryor, Ian Dunbar, Morgan Spector, Terry Ryan, "everyone", but you know what? This is still my favourite! And, of course, it was a great help for us. She has her title now.

It may not be exactly what the ordinary dog owner (not too interested in training) is looking for, but it's absolutely perfect for someone like me, wanting to convince my free-thinking, independent dog that training for obedience competition is fun.

The book is packed with great information. It convinces you that you must BOTH be your dog's boss (without physical confrontation, of course) AND "give fat pay checks to the reluctant worker". The text is also easy to read and the photos of bulldogs and other unusual obedience breeds performing do contribute. If I could give it 10 stars, I would.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best, Most Detailed training book I've read, October 24, 2000

By	S. McFarland (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the first training book I've owned that really translated into results with my dog. My dog isn't a "difficult" breed (she's a border collie mix), but she is highly energetic and distractable. Most books tell you "do this and your dog will respond this way." My dog rarely did what the book said she would. "So Your Dog's Not Lassie" instead gives detailed troubleshooting, covering a bunch of different dog reactions. With the book's help I've *finally* gotten her to stop pulling on the leash when we walk. She is 9 years old. This is a real accomplishment. I have a much better understanding of the need to get her attention (there's an excellent chapter called "Earth to Dog") and how that is the key to making our training work. This book made me excited about learning and working with my dog again. I recommend it highly.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the most helpful book I've read on the subject., September 2, 1999

By A Customer

Perhaps living with many dogs which are allowed certain permissions, such as sleeping on the bed, but with rules, has allowed the authors certain insights that I have not seen elsewhere.

I have a golden retriever, which should be classified as highly trainable. After reading many behavior books, nothing was really working. The authors explained that this is because first you must deal with the dominance issue.

The authors are very specific in what your actions mean to your dog, which you would never guess on your own. I found our family was making many mistakes even though it was obvious we had a dominance problem. Another insight was that the dog knew exactly what we were asking for; when he didn't respond, he had his own reasons.

This book clearly shows what your dog wants for rewards and is great fun to read. I learned that what dogs want for motivation for learning is no different than any of us humans.