Better Behavior in Dogs by William Campbell was
written by one of the pioneers of non-aversive dog training techniques. Campbell was the
originator of a puppy behavior test that was then adapted by the Volhards and
popularized to the general dog-loving public. Campbell discusses how dogs think which then helps
us understand why certain training techniques are more or less successful. He details
a number of reflexes that dogs have and how to work with or around them. There
is a section of cartoons drawn by R. M. Miller, DVM which illustrate various
dog body language and what the dog is trying to tell us. The author also
categorizes various types of dog owners and how they could change their own
behavior for the good of themselves and their dogs. Finally, Section III can be
used as a reference regarding various problem behaviors. I own it.
Clicking with Your Dog by Peggy Tillman magicpaws.com is basically a picture book
that is the best initiation to clicker training that I have seen. You can pair
up with your dog, open the book and make excellent progress. This one is in my
top five, it definitely is a keeper. I own it!
Complete Dog Training Manual by Dr Bruce Fogle is
based on the premise that a picture is worth a thousand words; it is a
beautiful book, you could, I suppose, put it on your coffee table. The
photographs show you exactly what you need to know and do. If you are a visual
learner, this book is a must! I own it.
Dogs for Dummies by Gina Spadafori is an excellent
reference for all things dog. I read it from cover-to-cover, but you could read
the headings just to know what’s there so that you can refer to those topics
when the need arose. I’m glad I have it on my home library shelf and will be my
first stop when I have a question or concern. I own it.
Don’t Shoot the Dog, Revised Edition, by Karen Pryor karenpryor.com is one of the last books I read. It is not really a dog training book. Rather
it covers the broader topic of operant conditioning and it does so in lay terms
so that it is easy to understand. Pryor sprinkles the text with many personal experiences and examples
that amplify the point she is making. She also shares a number of her own
personal experiences when she was a dolphin trainer at Sea
Life Park in Hawaii. This book definitely influenced me
in my decision making process and stimulated me to try clicker training first,
and to use other techniques when I was not successful. I own it.
Golden Retrievers for Dummies by Nona Kilgore Bauer addresses
all things Golden and obviously is specifically for those readers who are interested
in this very special breed. I found it interesting that these three dog books
in the Dummies series each offered quite a bit of material that was not offered
in the other Dummies books. Obviously, I own
it.
Good Dogs, Bad Habits – The Complete A-to-Z Guide for
Solving Your Dog’s Behavior Problems by Jeanne Carlson with Ranny Green goodpuppydog.com is as the title suggests;
it is a reference book. You name the problem, you can easily find the solution.
I purchased this because the author was highly recommended by the Monks of New
Skete, especially regarding her video on dog massage, titled “Good Puppy.” I started to
read it but realized that some things are better utilized as needed, and
honestly, I hope I won’t need much of it, but if I do, it is there on my
bookshelf! I own it.
Good Owners, Great Dogs by Brian Kilcommons mysmartpuppy.com is a well rounded
approach to owning and training a dog. It was published prior to My Smart
Puppy, and deals with information beyond puppy-hood. I own it.
The subject of housetraining a pup is not rocket science and
almost every book about puppies deals with this topic. Nevertheless I read
these three booklets and each has a trick or two that might be worth your
consideration: Housebreaking and Training by Michael Kelly; How to
Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days by Shirlee Kalstone; Way to Go! How to
Housetrain a Dog of Any Age by Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.
How to Raise a Puppy You can Live With, 4th
Ed by Clarice Rutherford and David H. Neil is a very complete handing of
the topic matter. They go into wonderful detail regarding the various
developmental stages through which the puppies go. There are also helpful
lists, charts, drawings, and photographs. The various appropriate training
techniques are discussed in appropriate detail. On the cover it says that over
300,000 copies sold! Might as well be part of that pack! I own it.
Marley and Me, Loving and Living with the World’s Worst
Dog by John Grogan. I probably would not have even been aware of this book,
except for the fact that on one episode of The Dog Whisperer, John Grogan and
his wife Jenny Vogt appeared with their dog Gracie. When Cesar came on the
scene he mentioned that Marley and Me was on the best seller’s list
simultaneously as his book Cesar’s Way. Therefore, John and Cesar had
previously been friendly competitors. I got a very positive feeling about John Grogan
and read his book shortly thereafter. This is light reading at its best – it’s
not meant to be a dog training manual per se, although you can spot a number of
things that you probably should avoid doing with your dog. Nevertheless, like
everyone else, at times I laughed out loud, and a tear trickled out from time
to time. I’m glad to have been exposed to the talented writing of John Grogan. I
hope that his present relationship with Gracie is all smiles!
Mother Knows Best by Carol Benjamin was recommended
by the breeder of my future pup. The mother here is the mother dog of the puppy
and the author has obviously become a student of the natural process. Dog
trainers who use the purely positive, non-aversive training techniques often ignore
the fact that dogs in the wild, experience any number of aversive situations
and they modify their behavior as a result. I find it interesting that canine
pack leaders in the natural do not practice non-aversive training methods with
their dog followers. Just a thought for intelligent consideration. I own it.
My Smart Puppy by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson mysmartpuppy.com is quite excellent. If I
was restricted to one book, this is the one I would choose. On the other hand,
if you decide to read only one book, you would be missing an incredible wealth
of material. Of all of the approaches to which I have been exposed, the
concepts presented in My Smart Puppy seem to me to be the most balanced,
reasonable and workable. The chapters are organized so that the early chapters
represent those things you need to know and do early. Since the authors know
that some dogs may not respond to the training approach in the classical
manner, therefore, they always have a number of suggestions to help those
owners whose dogs are “originalists". The last chapter lists potential
problems, listed in alphabetical order, so that this book can also serve as a
reference. I own it!
On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas dogwise.com is a beautifully produced
book that has pictures to show exactly the particular dog behavior that is
being discussed. It also suggests appropriate human behavior when interacting
and responding to a dog. I own it.
Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller peaceablepaws.com is a treasure trove of
positive dog training techniques. The author was a successful dog trainer and a
successful competitor in the obedience ring. She had a very negative experience
with the classic punishment/correction training techniques in vogue at that
time and ultimately came over, as she says, from the “dark side” and this book
is a testament to that positive revelation. Miller was trying to teach her dog
to retrieve a metal dumbbell and the dog did not like the metal in her mouth.
Miller was instructed to use the ear pinch technique. Not only did this technique
not work, but it broke the dog’s spirit. I suppose that this experience would
turn anyone off. It is, however, intriguing to me that basically Miller was
using the wrong tool to solve her problem. A hammer is a great tool, but is
totally inadequate if you need to cut a board to a particular length. You could
throw the hammer away, but then when you needed to pound in a nail, the saw
would not get that particular job done. Punishment/correction can serve a
purpose, but the trainer has be discerning where, when and how to use it. At
any rate, this is an excellent book and among other features that are discussed,
Miller also offers a step by step, six week puppy training program. She follows
each training exercise with “what ifs” which she calls Training Tips and this
is a reflection of the fact that Miller has been very involved with training
others to train their dogs. (She is the founder of Peaceable Paws Dog &
Puppy Training.) One cute feature Miller incorporates is that when she
discusses a particular training technique, she labels the dog in her example
with a pictorial name. For example, when she discusses the Leave It command – to
stop the dog from picking up food on the floor, the dog in the example is named
“Vacuum”. When she discusses the Off command to stop a dog from jumping up on
people, the dog is named “Bounder”. This kept the material appropriately light
and playful. This book is in my top five. I own it!
Remembering to Breathe inside Obedience Competition
by Willard Bailey is a book I purchased because of a misconception on my part.
I thought it was a training manual, which primarily would help a handler
minimize ring nervousness. Instead it is a personal historical account of Bailey’s
experience with his Golden retriever, Honeybear. This is a light, easy read. Buying
this book turned out to be a fortunate mistake on my part. Bailey started at
the age of 57 as a pre-novice dog handler and over thirteen years progressed to
an outstanding level of expertise and proficiency where he and Honeybear
achieved a CD, CDX, UD, UDX, OTCH and ultimately Honeybear was inducted into
the Arizona Animal Hall of Fame. Bailey started at a time when, in dog training
circles, food training was frowned upon. Bailey, however, knew that Honeybear
was a chow hound, so he used food in his training even though he didn’t
advertise that fact. Several years later Patty Ruzzo came on the dog obedience
scene with a new approach of non-aversive training using food treats . Bailey
signed on immediately and Honeybear went from good and solid in the ring to
good, solid, and sparkling in the ring. This was not only an exciting, heart
warming read, but in the process Bailey does address his own ring nervousness
and I found that quite helpful. This was one of the last books that I read and
it helped me to decide to lean towards the non-aversive, clicker, food treats
approach first and foremost. Collar correction would be held in reserve until
required. I own it.
Successful Obedience Handling by Barbara Handler is
not a training manual at all, but rather a detailed guide to the exact details
that handlers need to know and perform if they plan to be as successful as
their abilities allow in the pursuit of the sport of competitive canine
obedience. This book is a must have if you are going after any obedience titles!
I own it.
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