Dog Problems (Howell reference books) (Paperback)

by Carol Lea Benjamin (Author) "Human nature being what it is, and dogs being as clever as they are, it is fair to assume that, for as long as man..." (more)
Key Phrases: confine your dog, housebreaking problem, fearful dog, Serendipitous Method, Board of Health, Fox Terrier (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Carol Lea Benjamin, dog trainer extraordinaire and author of five books devoted to dog behavior, shares her expertise in managing unruly canines in Dog Problems. One quarter of America's 55 million pooches suffer from some form of serious behavioral problem, and for all those frustrated owners, Benjamin's down-to- earth, humane approach provides practical steps toward owning a healthy, happy pet. Dog Problems outlines every conceivable canine problem, from petty larceny to chronic leg lifting and fear of random objects. Benjamin offers easily executable training methods for each predicament. Cited are many encouraging examples of cured dogs, such as Cybil, the timid German shepherd who, thanks to Benjamin's training techniques, overcame her shyness by learning to take walks with strangers. Dog Problems entertains with lighthearted language and hilarious drawings of dogs in compromising situations, all without detracting from the solid, humane training techniques certain to help most problem dogs.

Product Description
Praise for Dog Problems, Winner, Best Book on Care and Training, Dog Writers' Association of America

"Delightfully written and abounds with common sense." —Deborah Lawson, The Philadelphia Inquirer

"A must-have for every dog owner in America." —Mordecai Siegal, House Beautiful

"Not only the pet but the owner can benefit from this sensible, humane treatment." —Publishers Weekly
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 2 edition (February 24, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876055145
• ISBN-13: 978-0876055144
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #201,238 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, November 27, 1999

By A Customer

This book is misnamed. Its supposed to be for professionals, yet it contains exactly the same overly-general advice in all of her pet-owner books. At one point, in the discussion on aggression, she states that if the dog is really out of hand the reader should seek the help of the professional! Duh!

I've enjoyed and learned from Ms Benjamin's books over the years, but found nothing new in this one - its all recycled material. And way too vague to be truly useful to the advanced trainer, much less the professional.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Violent, aggressive approach to training, April 12, 1999

By A Customer

There are better ways to train dogs and other animals that do not advocate "stringing the dog up" by the neck when it misbehaves. When I read this in what is a widely acclaimed book, I removed it from my recommended reading list. This jerk and puke method of training is outdated and ineffective. Operant conditioning is the way to go for long-lasting results that does not cause your dog to fear you. For dogs with an aggression problem, do NOT use Benjamin's methods or you will likely get bit!

37 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Should say "How to dominate your dog", August 11, 1999

By A Customer

Punishment, punishment everywhere. I recommend that you skip Carol Lea's books -- she way overemphasizes the outdated dominance model.

All of these behaviors are natural dog behaviors. We're asking them to live in a very unnatural environment with what are, to them, very unnatural rules. Skip this book and choose ones that treat dogs as dogs, not as furry humans trying to take over your world that must be dominated at all cost.

I'd pick Jean Donaldson's books or Terry Ryan's Toolbox for the Problem Dog before this kind of book any day.