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Betty Fisher
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So Your Dog's Not Lassie: Tips for Training Difficult Dogs and Independent Breeds Paperback – March 4, 1998

by Betty Fisher (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 48 ratings
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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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Previous page
  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    William Morrow Paperbacks
  4. Publication date
    March 4, 1998
  5. Dimensions
    6.12 x 0.5 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0062734571
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0062734570
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

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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

About the Author

Betty Fisher, is an accomplished dog trainer who has been breeding and training for more than twenty-six years. She is an obedience judge for several national breed clubs and a tester for the American Temperament Test. Her own bulldogs have won numerous obedience awards.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks; First Edition (March 4, 1998)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062734571
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062734570
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.12 x 0.5 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 48 ratings

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Betty Fisher

Betty Fisher

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
48 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Hannah Doyle
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2012
Verified Purchase
I was looking everywhere for a book on training. I have a Chow and she is very hard headed. If she doesn't want to sit. She ain't sitting. I understood that she was an independent breed but no other books covered "How to Train" well when it came to your independent dog. I saw the title of this book and had to get it right then! I am a few chapters in and I am starting to understand that the training starts with me and my attitude about it. I'd recommend this book to anyone with a dog with a mind to be the Alpha of the pack.
This book is easy to read and has pictures that illustrate the point. Plus it has little tips every now and then that are helpful.

Thanks Betty!
2 people found this helpful
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Kiwi Aussie
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful guide that will increase the quality of life for our beloved dogs and their beloved owners (mums &/or dads!)
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2010
Verified Purchase
As a devoted parent to my first puppy (second dog) i.e. both flat coated retrievers and as a trainee dog instructor at a dog club in Sydney (Australia), a totally volunteer club, might I add!, it is a privelege to be amongst good people trying to train, communicate with their beloved dogs, and to train others to truely understand and enrich their own and their dogs lives. This book gave me a deeper and more accepting understanding of my beloved Thomas and how I might enagage others in classes to truely understand, enjoy and effectively train their wonderfully individual dogs,wart and all.!!!
One person found this helpful
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jane in palm Bay
3.0 out of 5 stars how to tech your dog not to nip
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2019
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I wanted help to tech my dog not to bite and hoa to reinforce the training he already had
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shenjw12000
5.0 out of 5 stars Second best dog training book I've ever read. First one is Cesar Milan's "Be the Pack Leader."
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2016
Verified Purchase
Second best dog training book I've ever read. First one is Cesar Milan's "Be the Pack Leader."
I wished that I read it before I even got my dog. It would have avoided some much headache. It is now the fourth year of my having my dog, Jack. He's a miniature poodle, but he's stubborn as a mule. He always takes me on a walk, never the other way around.
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cassabb
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for all breeds
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2005
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This book focuses mainly on very independent or dominant dogs. However, the methods shown can be used with all dogs. The main idea throughout the book is that the biggest reason for a lack of success is a lack of leadership on the owner's part. Dogs who don't respect you as alpha, or leader, will not follow through on commands or behave in an especially polite manner. He thinks he's the boss, so really you ought to be listening to him.

One thing I really liked about this book was that the author used her own bulldogs as examples. I know from experience that bulldogs are sweet, but difficult to train. If she can earn titles on a bulldog using these methods, I have faith it will work for my dog (a Cane Corso).

The first few chapters cover dog behavior, equipment & logistics, becoming alpha of your "pack", body language, rewards, and treats. Chapters 7-13 cover various specific exercises: attention, sit, down, stand, etc. They are all very in depth, discussing why the behavior is useful and how it can be used in the real world. She also goes over exactly how to teach your dog the exercise, the steps to having the end result (ex. basic heeling to competition level heeling), and some common problems you might encounter. The last chapter covers competition and how to get the best performance out of your dog.

The only thing I didn't like about the book was the high reliance on food and bait. She does cover other methods of rewarding and how to develop a reward system, but throughout the book she relies on food extensively for nearly all of the exercises.

Overall this is a great book for all breeds, but especially those who like to push the envelope or take charge. This book is not intended for dealing with aggressive dogs, but it will help immensely if you have a dominant dog.
8 people found this helpful
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Samantha A
5.0 out of 5 stars worked out fine
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2018
Verified Purchase
condition was as expected, there was a crease in the cover but it was a used product and not advertised as perfect condition, so that's fine with me (plus it was more for practical purposes than a collectors item, haha).
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B. Delisi
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book for the dog with her own agenda!
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2006
Verified Purchase
This is a great book. I have several dogs, and the techniques for training work on them all. However, it is great for my independent pup, a Dogue de Bordeaux.

She was always interested in something else, shutting down when she had enough. Which she will still do, but now I have a way to impart information in a manner she learns while still keeping training sessions short enough to keep her interest!
5 people found this helpful
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animalsandmagic
2.0 out of 5 stars Not a good or true book for owners looking for help with adult dog training.
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2013
This book is probably fine for puppy owners but what I really didn't like about it was that it said that adult Chihuahua's could not be trained, and I was looking for how to teach my adult Chihuahua some new tricks, which from help from the show, It's Me or the Dog, and Victoria Stillwell's book also titled It's Me or the Dog, I was able to successfully train my dog what I wanted to. I believe there are better dog training books out there, such as the one I mentioned here. And as a side note, my Chihuahua is currently a senior dog and is still learning new tricks and he is a normal, everyday, stubborn Chihuahua but he has proved it is possible to teach an adult Chihuahua.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Wistiliamos
5.0 out of 5 stars For the loveable but stubborn beast in your life
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2007
Verified Purchase
Have a Boxer and Bullmastiff - two fantastic but pretty independent dogs and stubborn at times.

The writer clearly knows her stuff from many years of dealing with the best dogs imo, loveable but independent types.

This book by 3/4 of the way through gets you in control and enjoying your dog/s more than ever, with simple but effective techniques that you can only possibly taste at a Dog School.

All explained in a way that gets you to know your dog and bring out the best in his/her behaviour and to do what you want, when you want happily.

It's a bit like a dummies for owners of stubborn dogs guide, very easy to pick up and the info stays with you as it is given in different ways as you read through.

The last 1/4 1/3 of the book is about Show obedience training and the such, not my cup of tea but if you want to get your english bulldog, bullmastiff or boxer performing tricks, this book is for you.
One person found this helpful
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Yvette P
4.0 out of 5 stars No Lassie @ our house
Reviewed in Canada on July 14, 2015
Verified Purchase
There were MANY tips in this book that we were able to use on our 120 lb rotti.
Easy to read & Lots of great info!!!
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Jayne
3.0 out of 5 stars So my dog's not Lassie
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2013
Verified Purchase
Some good tips and guidance on different temperaments, although it was a bit repetative in parts. Good to use along side a good training class
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lizi hunt
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2015
Verified Purchase
load of funny
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