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Top positive review
18 people found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 starsVery highly recommended
BySBPon May 10, 2017
As a professional zoo animal trainer, I have given and recommended this book to dozens of people. In the zoo community we train animals with this method of operant conditioning, which is more ethical and effective than the traditional training that the vast majority of dog and horse trainers use. This book is one of the gold standards. It is very easy to read and understand, and covers a lot of ground. It does delve into some of the quirks and harder parts of animal training, but in an accessible way. It also provides examples of training a behavior using different methods. For anyone wanting to train their pets, or understand a positive reinforcement system of training for animals or even humans, this is a must-read.
Top critical review
3 people found this helpful
3.0 out of 5 starsJust ok
Bymegs2on February 26, 2014
I had to read this for a veterinary science class as we were learning to clicker train. It was definitely helpful but I feel like some of the things were a little outdated. If you really want to learn to clicker train I would recommend this book but I didn't find clicker training to be much better than regular positive reinforcement training.
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As a professional zoo animal trainer, I have given and recommended this book to dozens of people. In the zoo community we train animals with this method of operant conditioning, which is more ethical and effective than the traditional training that the vast majority of dog and horse trainers use. This book is one of the gold standards. It is very easy to read and understand, and covers a lot of ground. It does delve into some of the quirks and harder parts of animal training, but in an accessible way. It also provides examples of training a behavior using different methods. For anyone wanting to train their pets, or understand a positive reinforcement system of training for animals or even humans, this is a must-read.
18 people found this helpful
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5.0 out of 5 starsMy friend who's a police & service dog trainer recommended this & Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson to me ...
Byreyjitsu02on December 7, 2016
My friend who's a police & service dog trainer recommended this & Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson to me after I told her I'm getting my first dog. I'm glad I read this book before I read Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson! Karen Pryor did an excellent job explaining learning theory & behaviorism to a complete novice like me. I even started applying some of her ideas in my daily life in trying not to be so hard on myself when I'm sucking at sports.
I would highly recommend this to everyone, not just dog people.
I would highly recommend this to everyone, not just dog people.
ByProfRiceon March 2, 2017
I bought as I heard it applies to humans as well, and parts do, but this book is mostly for training dogs. I wish people could be clicker trained! That said, it is full of wisdom and interesting stories, and if you want to train a dog, it is even better. I am sure I will use it when I get my next dog but I bought for working with people. One thing she writes that I immediately adopted was to praise people as soon as they do good, just as you would a dog. I used to wait and tell them, or send a nice email, or even a snail mail note. Now I know it is most impactful and will grow more good behavior if expressed immediately.
Byrecyclabilityon September 4, 2017
Here's what I knew about this book: Pryor originally wrote it as a self-help book, but partly because of the title and partly because of Pryor's reputation, it exploded in animal behavior and training circles. Btw, Pryor is pretty much THE NAME in clicker training. So, of course I had to read it.
Love it! It's not as explanatory as Donaldson's "The Culture Clash," but it's a great how-to novel. I read this book and am now clicker training my dog, my horse and my betta fish. All are doing fabulously.
Love it! It's not as explanatory as Donaldson's "The Culture Clash," but it's a great how-to novel. I read this book and am now clicker training my dog, my horse and my betta fish. All are doing fabulously.
ByKWon July 30, 2017
This is the third time I've ordered this book... I have one at home, one at work,... and the rest I keep giving away. One friend read it in her graduate cognitive behavioral therapy coursework, another during her PhD for clinical psychology, another in an upper level seminar during psychiatry residency. Karen Pryor puts it rather directly -- aren't we all always trying to get other people (or ourselves) to do something, to act in a particular way? Pryor offers many compelling and accessible examples of how positive reinforcement is the most effective way to do this. Additionally, using positive reinforcement builds the relationship -- affection, love, connection -- pick your term -- rather than distance and resentment and hurt feelings that often happens when the older/former methods are used. So more than the five stars I have awarded above, I will continue to order copies to share around...
ByMollyon May 25, 2018
I recommend this book to any and every bird owner on our forums that has a badly behaved bird or wants to know more about training their bird. It teaches not only how to train behavior but also the principals behind WHY the training method works. You learn how to develop your own training program because it's not just a step by step "How to train your pet to sit" book. It's a dive in to the thinking that helps you come up with the step by step process.
I'm studying to be an avian behaviorist so I have a couple of college textbooks on positive reinforcement that are required reading for most courses and they all recommend reading this prior to starting the textbook because it's that wonderful of a resource. The knowledge you obtain with this book is absolutely invaluable. I've been able to apply what I've learned to many different areas of my life (family, dealing with kids, difficult friends, and most importantly helping me to tame and bond with our rescued 30 year old cockatoo). I've also made suggestions (based off what I learned from this book) to bird owners who were struggling with their bird's behavior and a couple weeks later they always email me back and tell me what an improvement their bird's behavior has made. This works like a charm!
I'm studying to be an avian behaviorist so I have a couple of college textbooks on positive reinforcement that are required reading for most courses and they all recommend reading this prior to starting the textbook because it's that wonderful of a resource. The knowledge you obtain with this book is absolutely invaluable. I've been able to apply what I've learned to many different areas of my life (family, dealing with kids, difficult friends, and most importantly helping me to tame and bond with our rescued 30 year old cockatoo). I've also made suggestions (based off what I learned from this book) to bird owners who were struggling with their bird's behavior and a couple weeks later they always email me back and tell me what an improvement their bird's behavior has made. This works like a charm!
ByMN white male middle-aged resident #2769on September 26, 2016
It is a quick easy read. I am using it to train my dog, my work colleagues and my kids because I tend to be a push over and typically get little compliance from others as a result. These techniques are effective without having to feel like you are being overly aggressive, selfish or inconsiderate.
ByJes Joneson October 19, 2014
A previous coworker recommended this book, among many others, when I was coming into my interest in canine behavior and training and it's definitely a worthwhile read, or reference book, for those interested in training anything, or anyone.
Karen Pryor created an easy to read book breaking down positive reinforcement training, as well as other types of training and how they can be applied not only to animals, but to the people around us, within our work and school environment and pretty much in our day to day life. She explains how positive reinforcement provides better results over alternative methods of training by making plenty of comparisons to punishment based training methods as well as negative reinforcement training methods. I loved the incorporation of her personal stories, and training sessions, in order to emphasis certain drawbacks to punishment, and specific benefits to positive reinforcement training.
There was plenty of material in this book that overlapped with the novice clicker training course that I had taken a month ago which it allowed me to breeze through some parts but enough new material to keep me engaged and actively reading till the end.
Overall, a worthwhile read for those interested in pursuing training of any kind (or are looking for healthier ways to improve the relationships in their lives).
Karen Pryor created an easy to read book breaking down positive reinforcement training, as well as other types of training and how they can be applied not only to animals, but to the people around us, within our work and school environment and pretty much in our day to day life. She explains how positive reinforcement provides better results over alternative methods of training by making plenty of comparisons to punishment based training methods as well as negative reinforcement training methods. I loved the incorporation of her personal stories, and training sessions, in order to emphasis certain drawbacks to punishment, and specific benefits to positive reinforcement training.
There was plenty of material in this book that overlapped with the novice clicker training course that I had taken a month ago which it allowed me to breeze through some parts but enough new material to keep me engaged and actively reading till the end.
Overall, a worthwhile read for those interested in pursuing training of any kind (or are looking for healthier ways to improve the relationships in their lives).
Byregular Joeon April 26, 2018
Read Don't shoot the dog a couple a couple of times, then keep as a frequent reference. Also read Daisy's Gift by Claire Guest, and Dog Smart: Evidence-based Training with The Science Dog by Linda p. Case (cover two dogs at end of pier). and download clickety Quick and clickety Dog apps to phone to become proficient BEFORE using a clicker on a real dog. Doing all this will result in super fast training, a tight bond and respect, and expand where you can go/travel with your pet.
ByShaniceon March 20, 2015
This was a supplement for my PSYC 210 class: Psychology of Learning. Its a fun read. It's not the typical boring textbook set up. Pryor teaches though examples and personal experience. Her positive outlook on life compelled me be more conscious of how my attitude towards certain situations can make things more or less challenging.
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