5 comments about Playtraining Your Dog.

1. If you are lucky enough to have a sighthound (greyhound, borzoi, saluki, whippet, italian greyhound, etc.) in your life, you know how special these creatures are. They are NOT brainlessly obedient, and it takes a special touch to communicate with them - and that is why too many dog "experts" consider them to be "untrainable" and "stupid." The reality is QUITE the opposite, folks! A sighthound's brain is a complex wonderland of cognitive reasoning and intelligence ("What's in it for me?"), and because of this, most attempts to train them by traditional methods fail miserably - and the stupid HUMAN blames that on the "stupid" dog - and that is absolutely unfair. It is the failing of the human to understand how the sighthound thinks, learns, and loves that causes the training to fail. Let me be clear: The sighthound did not FAIL to learn; the trainer failed to teach.
   
   Gail UNDERSTANDS the glory of the sighthound brain; she speaks their language, and she understands that when training a sighthound, one must create a PARTNERSHIP lead by the human alpha pack MEMBER, rather than a slave/master dynamic that most dog training books advocate. One must absolutely assume and protect the role of alpha when working with a sighthound, but the challenge comes in nourishing that relationship, making the hound WANT to follow the alpha's lead - rather than simply smashing the ability to think out of the animal and crushing it to your will.
   
   People who know, love, and train sighthounds snicker when we see our intelligent, creative, problem-solving hounds consistently appear on "Stupidest Dog" lists. We KNOW the truth: It's the not intelligence of the HOUND that is reflected on these lists - it is the ability of the human trainer to UNDERSTAND the unique and beautiful brain of the sighthound that is really gauged here!
   
   If you have a sighthound in your life, this book is a MUST.
   
   If you are one of the special angels who have rescued a sighthound, this book MUST be on your shelf!
   
   If you know someone who is failing miserably in their attempts to train their sighthound using the same techniques they use on their German Shepherd, THEY need this book - desperately!
   
   This book WILL save a sighthound's life - if you are on the brink of being giving your hound up, or worse, destroying your hound for behavioral issues, PLEASE BUY THIS BOOK BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING RASH!



2. This book is written for competition obedience, not the average household pet. Ms. Burnham's "recipes" for training from Novice to Utility include breaking down the exercises into smaller bits and then putting everything together.
   
   "Corrections" are a matter of opinion. If you consider putting your dog back into the last position that they were right and trying again, then this book includes corrections. If you think "corrections" are yelling at your dog for being wrong, harsh collar pops, etc. then this book does not include "corrections." In fact Ms. Burnham's well balanced method of praise, physical placement, teaching slowly and play breaks makes a wonderful alternative to those that may not be inclined to go clicker but want something more positive than traditional, military based methods.
   
   Ms. Burnham sums up her philosophy with: "The qualities of a good trainer are adaptability, resourcefulness, observation, concentration, a spirit of fun, a will to play, curiosity, love for the dog and respect for the dog."
   That's really perfect for today's competition training.
   
   For the first time trainer, ignore most of the specific AKC rules listed in the book. They are out dated. However, the exercises and titles are still the same.



3. I enjoyed reading it even if it's outdated. It tells you how to have fun!



4. This was one of the first books on training that mentions prey/play drive, and is an interesting casual read for the dog obedience enthusiast.
   
   In essence, training in play (or prey) drive means rewarding the obedient dog with a tug or chase game, instead of a food treat. This system is very useful when training breeds that have little desire to work for their dinner, but have a strong instinct to chase - breeds like the author's greyhounds. However, Ms Burnham isn't a pure play drive trainer; she also utilises food rewards for some exercises, as well as a certain degree of punishment and negative reinforcement.
   
   "Playtraining your dog" is directed towards competition obedience, instead of day-to-day manners. Obedience exercises from novice to open are covered, including sit, down, heel, stay, send outs, retrieve, and scent discrimination.
   
   The methods and techniques presented here are fairly haphazard. One gets the impression that the author has no real understanding of learning theory or conditioning: she has merely trained her own dogs by trial-and-error, and is now sharing her results with us. The result is that the methods discussed here are all useable, but they are rarely the most sophisticated or effective methods that modern dog training has to offer. They are also relatively chaotic in presentation - there is no particular section about building drive, for example, although Ms Burnham touches on this topic several times throughout the course of the book.
   
   Ms Burnham also uses rather a lot of punishment by today's standards, including during the teaching of several exercises - heeling, retrieving and recalls, to name a few examples. The worry with using punishment while teaching an exercise is that the dog could easily develop a resentful or fearful attitude towards either these particular exercises or towards training as a whole, as he has no idea how to avoid the corrections. To preserve a dog's willing attitude towards work, I personally feel that you are better off using modern "positive" methods to teach an exercise, relying on corrections only if necessary to proof the exercise.
   
   This was a revolutionary book in 1980 - but dog training has come a long way since then. Ms Burnham pushes her dogs into a sit - today we can choose between this method and either luring the dog into a sit with a food treat, or capturing the sitting action with a clicker. Ms Burnham teaches attention heeling with a choke chain - it is more easily shaped off leash, with animation achieved through regular food or prey drive rewards. In short, there are better training books out there.
   
   This book is certainly worth a read if you're interested in competition obedience - some of the suggestions are worthwhile, and the photos of the greyhounds are lovely. If you're a beginner trainer who is after a practical book to teach your dog manners or basic obedience, then give this one a miss.



5. If you are interested in the dry technical aspects of training it's a good book, but as an educational tool to be read by the whole family, it was not the book of choice. The New Complete Dog Training Manual was read by the whole family (ages 7 to 18) numerous times and served as a guide.

5 comments about No Bad Dogs: The Woodhouse Way.

1. this book is awful and does not go into detail on how to train your dog. she says you should have your dog killed for way to many reasons.she uses choke chains and never speaks of praising.



2. If you've never trained a dog, start here. Barabara's philosphy is that most dog problems are "owner" problems. That dogs key into what their owners are thinking. That said, Barbara uses corrective training techniques with a choke chain. The current thinking is that you need to also use "reward" based training.

   Some trainers use only one of the other. I claim you need to tailor it to the particular dog. Some dogs couldn't care less how much you yank them around by the neck, others will quit behaving after they've had enough treats. Anyway reward based training requires lots of variations in the reward, sometimes its a game of frisbee.

   With corrective training you need to assert yourself as the head of the pack. Seems to work well with some dogs, especially those more alpha pack dogs. But all dogs require lots of rewards to be well adjusted. And as you can see from the cover photo Barbara does reward her dogs.




3. We have a problem dog, and had heard that this book was excellent for learning how to train dogs. However, we found it's an excellent resource for training PUPPIES. This book assumes you'e starting out with a puppy, and does not address how to deal with problems already ingrained in an adult dog.



4. A timeless dog training classic. Great theory.



5. A decent book, with a sound enough training method, but very lacking in several areas. First, it doesn't go into hardly any detail. When I do something, I would like to know not only IF it will work, but HOW and WHY it will. She only tells you what to do, not why. Also, I felt talked down to, and I really don't like that feeling. Get this one from the library, and save the money for a better book, by Joel McMains or Karen Pryor for example.

3 comments about The Dog Lover's Companion to the Pacific Northwest: The Inside Scoop on Where to Take Your Dog.

1. This book is a MUST-HAVE for any dog owner(s) that takes the pooch with em when they go! It has a GREAT rating system and also highlights "people-interests" as well as places to dine, places to stay and of course detailed "dog-places". I say, "Buy one for yourself and one for the dog-lover in your life." Awesome book!



2. For those of us who like to include our dogs in our adventures, this book is a great guide. It covers western WA & OR, as well as the southwestern corner of BC, Canada. Each of these areas is subdivided into regions such as the Kitsap Peninsula or the San Juan Islands. Within that region dog friendly locations are rated and described. You get the scoop on the good and bad of each location, which helps when you're trying to decide if it's worth visiting. You can also tell which locations allow your dog to be off leash. Places to eat and stay the night are also noted and described.
   
   One thing I didn't like about this book is that it only covers Western WA. I had hoped it would cover Eastern as well.



3. Found the book to be very informative and accurate, even down to "where the road may seem to end but look to the right and you'll see the sign for" ... etc. Very helpful guide. Loved the advice of the Wonder Weiners!

5 comments about Miller's Anatomy of the Dog.

1. I used this book as a first year veterinary student. I found the suggested text for my class (Dyce) to be useless. While it isn't logical to think you will sit down and read this book through at a thousand and some pages, it makes a great reference to read on a particular topic and fill in questions you have. I found it very helpful to clarify points my professor breezed over but would surely be on the test. Contains hundreds of detailed pictures and way more info than the dissection guide in a concise easy to read format. I look forward to always having this book as a reference to come back to.



2. This book is for anyone who understands medical terminology and wants to know in depth information on dogs.
   If you are looking for an easy guide this book is not for you.
   However if you want a professional quality medical guide on anatomy buy this book, you will not regret it.
   (See the review by: By - A. D. Fails Pierce, CO
   Quite Simply: The Best, August 9, 2004)
   He has said in great detail what you need to know about this book and I concur with his descriptions of the textbook.



3. For clinical practice, more insights on specific issues are available in other books.



4. This book is a comprehensive guide to canine anatomy for the veterinary student. It contains excellent illustrations and written descriptions of the location and anatomical significance of the bones, muscles, nerves and vessels. Although very detailed, the layout is logical and easy to use, with a nice balance of illustrations, radiographs and written descriptions. It also describes the embryological derivation for different tissues and overall, perfectly complements anatomy lectures and practicals. It has been very helpful for the locomotor apparatus and cranial anatomy. The detail contained within this book make it ideal for any student planning a career in small animal practice.



5. This book is very comprehensive and a great refrence book especially when used with Miller's guide to the dissection of the dog. It really helps fill out questions and has color diagrams to aid in understanding.

5 comments about Best Hikes With Dogs in Western Washington: Western Washington (Best Hikes With Dogs).

1. This is a very good book, My dog and I have gone on many hikes after reading this



2. If you like hiking and want places to take your pooch THIS is your book! It has hikes all over the state of Washington from easy to challenging that you can take your dog on. Anything from a couple hours to a couple days! I love this book!!!



3. I agree with both the two positive reviews and (somewhat) the one negative review prior to mine. It is an excellent, inspiring book full of good information. It does not--and I don't see how it possibly could--give you essential up-to-date information on these trails. Dan Nelson even acknowledges as much on page 48: "No guidebook can provide all the details of a trail, nor stay current with constantly changing conditions of trails, stream crossings, access roads, and administrative rules." He goes on to list sources of current information. For that, one useful resource is the web site of the Washington Trails Association, http://www.wta.org . They have trip reports that give you details such as where trees have blown down, which roads are washed out, and where trail crews have recently made improvements. The book's lack of up-to-the-minute information is a legitimate point to raise, but not a reason for a negative review.
   
   Besides the information on specific trails, Mr. Nelson provides valuable tips on caring for your dog while in the backcountry. You will be miles from help, so it is vital that you anticipate your dog's needs in addition to the Ten Essentials for humans. He gives tips on Doggie first aid, trail etiquette, and canine equipment.
   
   If I had to find a flaw with this book, it is that some of the pictures that would have looked spectacular in color end up rather bland in black and white. This is no doubt a compromise on printing costs. Other than that, it is an extremely useful book that will repay you many times the purchase price in avoided headaches. Dogs make excellent hiking companions, with the proper training and preparation, and this book will help you form some of the fondest memories of your life. Further, if you don't know the information in this book, you have no business being on wilderness trails with your dog, for the sake of your dog and for the sake of others. Read this book, or else stay home.



4. I disagree with the first two reviews. If you want a book to give you dog friendly hikes this is a start but the trail information on the hikes I tried was not very accurate. I even got stopped on one hike where the trail had been washed out several years prior to the publishing of this book. Use another source to actually make the hike or you will be disappointed.



5. Dogs belong with us on the trails. I gnash my teeth every time I think that they are prohibited from so many National Park Trails! After all what does more damage, our heavy lug sole boots or their soft, quiet paws? As a woman hiking, I feel so much more comfortable with my friendly canine companion There is something special about being in the wilderness with another species, almost like having a translator along, Dan cathes this feeling. He gives excellent advice on excellent hikes. The directions are clear, the hikes well described and well chosen. I have used and enjoyed the book.

   For all of you contemplating a hike with your furry friend, plseas keep the canine on a leash, pleas pick up any dog droppings, please do not let your animal frighten people or other wildlife. I want to keep hiking with my dog! No one wants to step in dog droppings, no one wants to be lunged at or barked at, no one wants to see a dog chasing wildlife. So please be an exemplary dog companion. If we show dogs and their humans can be responsible on the trails, maybe more trails will open up to us! If we are rude and irresponsible we will loose the trails we can now walk.

   Dan wrote a great hiking guide. I hope he expnads it with some companion books. How about hiking with your dog in Oregon, Idaho, etc.

5 comments about Beagles For Dummies (For Dummies (Pets)).

1. My granddaughter acquired a beagle puppy and sent an inquiry to all family members asking for information on training it. I sent her this book in response. She was quite pleased with the book, saying it seemed to cover everything about Beagles from puppyhood through maturity and it was nice to have all the information she needed in one book.



2. Bought this book while waiting for my beagle baby to arrive. It has told me everything I needed to know not only for the preparation for homecoming, but through out the puppy/traing life of my new pet.



3. As the owner of a beagle and one who loves the breed, this book is ideal for providing a plethora of information about beagles. Readers cover the basics from raising puppies to old dogs and owners, breeders and happy pet owners will get a lot out of this book.



4. Though it's not plenty of images or photos, this book covers a wide range of subjects a new beagle owner should know. The best is that it has a lot of practical suggestions on how to take care of the dog, including a schedule for activities/meals, a set of tricks the pet can learn to do, health and care issues, and plenty of other information very useful for begining owners. I bought three books on the subject, and this is by far the most useful of all them.
   The missing star is only for the lack of photographs, but I guess it is a matter of "dummies-series" design.



5. I bought this for my sister because she just got a Beagle named him Rufus.
   She called me and was so excited to get and said she loved the book.

5 comments about Dog Is My Co-Pilot: Great Writers on the World's Oldest Friendship.

1. If you love dogs, this is a must read. If you don't love dogs, you might by the end of this book. There are so many heartfelt stories. My favorite is the one about Bloodlines. Volunteering with the local animal shelter really makes you appreciate people who believe in the same things that you do.



2. Most of the stories in this book "hit home" with me and I found myself saying "I've had that experience with my dog(s) - I could have written that". Some stories were a little long, just a few I found not as interesting. A good read for dog lovers.



3. If you are a dog lover this should be required reading it is such a great book! It is a little treasure of great writing from some of the best writers ever....I wanted this book to last forever I enjoyed it so much!



4. There's a lot in this book for dog owners--namely, 42 stories on some aspect of dog. Some of the information is factual, but most has to do with relationships--dog to person and dog to dog, the former being much more prevalent. Most any dog owner would gain something of value from this book.
   
   I like the stories from Caroline Knapp, Alice Elliott Dark, and Bonnie Jo Campbell the best. Knapp's and Dark's stories are serious and compelling. Campbell's story about her dog Roscoe, who she comes to believe is a reincarnation of her former and erstwhile fiancé Oscar, is hilarious. The ties between the two are numerous. Even the dog's shortened ear (frostbite) is linked to Oscar's untimely and embarrassing demise.
   
   My pick of three female authors should not be considered unusual in that most of the stories in this book are by females ("A dog is woman's best friend"). Most, also, are about medium- to large-sized dogs. Labs and herding dogs (blue heeler or cattle dog, Border collie, kelpie, and German shepherd) get the most ink.
   
   If you're like me, meaning you often don't do what trainers recommend, you should find some comfort in instances where an owner didn't do what trainers recommend, and things turned out okay. Amusingly, one owner and her dog celebrated their graduation from training by going home and climbing onto the sofa, something the dog had been forbidden to do during the twelve-week training course. The story's message is two-fold: Loving your dog the way you wish is sometimes more important than rules. And since dogs are infinitely variable, what works with one may be useless or even counterproductive with the next.
   
   Many of the owners in this book seem to have dogs who sleep with them religiously. My dogs never have. The closest I've come has been a miniature schnauzer, but even she had her limits and often baled sometime during the night. My current dog's routine, which matches that of the dog before her, is to stay with me until I stop reading and turn off the light. Then she's off to her familiar haunt--a fabric-covered chair near the front door (a nice arrangement, however, for the nights we forget to lock the front door). What these other owners have that I don't I can only wonder. Less body odor or perhaps--we're talking dog here--more?
   
   (I'm giving the book five stars even though I found the formatting (justified, double-spaced text in two columns) at the start of each chapter irritating.)



5. This is a book that is easy to carry with you and the stories are just the right length to read while waiting (for anything). I could relate to many of the stories.

4 comments about PuppyPerfect: The user-friendly guide to puppy parenting (Howell Dog Book of Distinction).

1. I am not a professional dog trainer but found this book this book to be extremely helpful in dealing with specific behavioral issues I was having with my 15 week golden-doodle. The book as a whole is very good and the index leading to specific problems (such as "mounting") were invaluable. There are alot of books out there, but this one is head and shoulders above the rest.



2. What a great book. Loads of information on choosing a puppy and what to do with it after. Loads of good training information. I recommend this book for anyone who is considering a puppy or have a new puppy in the home



3. As a total novice in the dog owning/training department I read every dog book I could get my hands on before our puppy came home. A lot of those books were good, but focused on house/obedience training an older puppy (4+ months). We were getting our puppy at 7 weeks and I just wasn't sure what I should be doing at this early stage. This book walks you through all of your puppy's ages starting at 8 weeks and gives you weekly projects to start working on, which I found most helpful. I now know what I can reasonably expect of such a young pup and feel that while my puppy won't learn it all right away at least I'm not sending us down the wrong path from the very beginning. I felt comfortable with the author's teaching style (calm, fun, easy-going, but authoritive) and relieved to know that it's ok to get down on the floor and roll around with your new puppy without losing your puppy's respect as her leader (as some books implied would happen). I would definitely recommend this book to anyone getting a new puppy.



4. I thought I had it all in "The Dog Bible" but this is now THE PUPPY BOOK I am going to be recommending. There are methods and ideas here that are uniquely Sarah Hodgson's and she has such a logical, kind and fun way of helping you to train your pup that you will look forward to having an active part in raising a civilized dog! This is a great gift for those friends who are first time puppy owners...you'll be doing them AND yourself a favor (their puppies won't make your life miserable!)

No comments about Not Fit for a Dog!: The Truth About Manufactured Dog and Cat Food.

5 comments about Shelter Dogs.

1. I love this book. I wish I could afford the prints, but the book itself is a treasure.



2. I bought this book because I read all the wonderful reviews and frankly I was extremely disappointed. I am a real dog lover and melt at the sight of any dog but these photos lack life. They look like mannequins and very few of them show the wonderful expressions we so often see in dogs and which make dogs so utterly lovable. For a book that is trying to tug at your heart on the subject of shelter dogs, it has failed spectacularly.
   Give this book a miss.



3. This book gives us details on shelter dogs, who the author Traer Scott, has met in her travels. So touching, uplifting and heartbreaking, especially when we learn so much about them and are told at the end which dogs lived and were adopted...and which ones were not (sniffle)...If this book doesn't convince you to adopt from an animal shelter, then I don't know what will! A portion of the proceeds from this book and Scott's other book, Street Dogs, are donated to animal charities. Worth it to buy both! Thanks for this great, insightful look at America's animal shelters.



4. This was a very good book. The descriptions were great. The pictures were beautiful. I really enjoyed reading it. There was alot of information. Shelter Dogs



5. I'm an aspiring photographer/shelter owner...and this book just confirmed why I want to do each of those things. I cried when I read some of the stories in the back, and each picture was so darn cute. I love this book, and (when I get one) will sit on my coffee table for all my guests to look at!