Good Owners, Great Dogs

I am a professional dog trainer. I have read many dog training books. This book is the best I have read. The exception is the extreme use of corrections. If you omit that section, the rest are the training methods I use.

The title says it all. Put the time in to be a good owner and you will raise a great dog. When my dog was a puppy, I studied this book and did what the author said. I have been rewarded with a dog who is a joy to be with. Don’t let the fact that the photos are black and white rather than color put you off.

This is the bible onOsitive reinforcement training…..I wish he had done a section on ecollars though. But it’s an old book. So if you want to know how to use e collars you have to get something else.

I have only read the first couple chapters and already am feeling more confidant that I can actually take proper care of and train our new puppy so she grows up to be a great, obedient family dog. He talks about the "psycholog of the dog" (ie. how they communicate, what's important to them, stages of growth, etc...) and how to align with that to make successful training as easy and quick as possible. I have had dogs all my life and have been torn about whether or not to use a crate, thinking it was cruel. But after reading his section on crates and how he would not raise a dog without one, it's put my mind at ease using one with our 11 week old. She has made alot of progress just in the 7 days we have had her thanks to this books recommendations. A great resource to have!

This book addresses our HUMAN qualities as they relate to training. Being overemotional, frustrated, etc. are things I'm sure many dog owners/trainers have dealt with. The book addresses these items, and often reminds you of the attitude you should have when training your dog (which is NOT emotional, not angry, very matter of fact).I find this so refreshing because as humans, if we keep in mind that neither us nor or our dogs are perfect creatures, it really takes the stress out of training. The book also explains how the dog views our requests, one example is that the dog doesn't really "get" the point of heeling -- what's the big deal about being at your left leg if we're both traveling the same way? Seeing things from the dog's point of view reminds us as humans that we are dealing with a creature that sees things differently than we do -- so we should not become frustrated and blame the poor dog for doing things when "they should know better".It is a fun read and is very helpful, even for me and I have read many training books and other dog psychology books. This is a great mix of material that covers specific training methods, dog psychology, and human psychology. Best dog training book I've read and it should be mandatory reading for dog owners, since so many of the other training books don't address our human tendencies (and foibles) like this book does.For all owner/trainers please keep in mind, your dog is doing what he SHOULD be doing based on all his past experiences and his inborn traits. This includes barking, chewing stuff, running away from you, etc. This is just to say, it is not necessary to blame the dog for his behavior, it is pointless and only makes for frustrated owners. Even though we consider certain behaviors "bad", your dog is trying his best given the hand he was dealt -- just like you are! You are here to help your dog, neither of you is perfect, and he is not a mind reader, so calmly help him to behave better and take the stress and 'taking it personal' out of the situation. This book is a great tool to train a dog and bear these important lessons in mind.

I have used Brian's book for 10 years and 4 dogs, and they have ALL turned out sweet & loving, obedient & loyal, and all-around wonderful friends. Brian's formula is firm training through kindness. The kindness comes in the form of firm, consistent vocal pitch, key phrases used repeatedly, treats, and playtime. If you follow this book like a doggie bible (that's what I call it), your canine friend will be the joy of your life, and you will be able to take him/her anywhere confidently. I give this book to friends and family that get a new puppy/rescue, and watch their furry friend turn into a devoted and treasured family member. Brian's methods are spot on with his non-conventional solutions to otherwise difficult behavior issues found in most puppies and dogs. Good luck with your dog and trust me, this book is a dog-changer (and life changer).

Me recomendaron este libro porque compramos un cachorro y ha resultado una excelente referencia para aprender a educar a nuestra mascota.

Excelente libro. Su sistema de entrenamiento sirve. Yo personalmente he entrenado por lo menos 4 perros de la manera que se indica en el libro. Muy recomendable!

It is a very good book. Any dog owner should read it.

We first bought this book in 1998 when we adopted a puppy and realized we had no clue how to train a puppy (we were in our early 20s). It was so very helpful and we have recommended to everyone we know.Over the passage of time our copy of the book got lost. We find ourselves about to adopt another puppy over 20 years later and I bought it again to review before we bring the puppy home.This book is so helpful in training the human to understand how dogs think so that you can live in harmony. I highly recommend it to any new puppy parents or as review if it's been awhile.

Excellent learning or refresher tool … a dog is a reflection of their owner. Good people have great dogs!