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

~ Carol Lea Benjamin (Author) "He starts out life as he always has, blind, deaf and helpless, a small, soft, furry thing whose round head, plaintive cries and sweet, milky..." (more)
Key Phrases: adolescent dog, little dog gone, leash correction, Dog Law, Golden Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

As any parent knows, adolescence is the most challenging part of raising a child. However, as Carol Lea Benjamin proves in "Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence," illustrative cartoons, pertinent case studies, and good advice can certainly make that challenging age easier to handle.

As a professional dog trainer, Benjamin focuses her advice on positive training techniques designed to help both parent and teen through the tumultuous adolescent period. Many of her insights are portrayed through the eyes of a canine, and help to illustrate the types of thoughts entertained by the teen dog. These range from the dog who responds to his owner's calls of "Come" with "When Pigs Fly," to the dog who demonstrates his tenacity by staking out a mole hill with a flag that says "Never Say Die." Also included are techniques for effective training, guidelines for appropriate dog-owner relationships, and tips for dealing with specific dog "problems." Case studies of real-life dogs offer substantial evidence to back up Benjamin's recommendations.

A must-read for any owner of an adolescent dog, "Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence" can help any parent understand the teen dog and help to provide guidelines that result in a rewarding relationship for both dog and owner. --Jennifer Pugh

From Publishers Weekly

Lest any dog owner think thorough puppy-training sufficient to ensure happily-ever-after canine camaraderie, the author of the puppy-training classic Mother Knows Best pinpoints a trouble spot in doggie development. At anywhere between five and 10 months of age, warns Benjamin, the typically "underemployed" family dog will hit adolescence, and even a previously obedient dog may become "bratty," "moody" and easily distracted. The language here may be anthropomorphic, but Benjamin quickly goes on to offer sensible solutions to a legitimate set of canine behavior problems. She bases her training on the well-known model whereby the owner assumes the so-called Alpha role in the "pack"; while she has explained her theories and methods in previous books, and while most of her strategies for "winning your dog's respect" are more explicitly discussed in her colleague Job Michael Evans's People, Pooches and Problems , her focus on the adolescent dog is unique and her insights about general training are stimulating. The tone is chatty and the pace leisurely--which may reassure those in need of sympathy and aggravate others who want to get down to business. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (October 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876057423
• ISBN-13: 978-0876057421
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #183,660 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Positive, Sensible Advice, July 18, 2001

By A Customer

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!

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A ground breaking insight into the mind of your dog, September 12, 1999

By A Customer

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.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent help for dog owners, March 16, 2002

By A Customer

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.