Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 Not Just a Training Book June 6, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Don't let the title stop you from buying this book. While the author draws parallels between parenting and puppy-raising (and there are many; I have no children but can carry on a pretty detailed parenting discussion!), she does NOT advocate viewing dogs as human/children.
This delightful book is a guide to raising your dog through all life stages. As such, it talks more about teaching and manners and liveability than about formal training. How many of us really need to obedience train our companion dogs? But all of us need to raise them to be mannerly and to adapt to a mostly-indoor, human-oriented life. Couching her excellent advice in child-rearing terminology makes it easier to grasp and apply. Even when she disagreed with some popular advice, I understood her logic and largely agreed with her.
This book, along with a current veterinary guide, are really all you need to embark on a great life with your dog companion. (If problems arise later, you can always supplement. Some great options are Outwitting Dogs: Revolutionary Techniques For Dog Training That Work!, and also the tv show that is the basis of It's Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet (the show is more problem-focused.)
Don't Let the Title Mislead You April 25, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The author does not recommend owners treat their dogs like children, rather that a good parent shares the same qualities as a good leader. Trish King is a popular trainer, speaker and now author and her book addresses practical approach to common dog training and behavior problems at all stages of a dog's life, including the difficult adolescent stage, where most dog owners have trouble.
Without trendy phrases like "calm-assertive" or "dominance", Trish King effectively educates readers on actual dog behavior and how to avoid and address behavior problems.
 Good for all owners March 2, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book has chapters from choosing a puppy to handling aging dogs and a great chapter on the most common behavior problems. Since I handle most of the behavior problems in my area, I read carefully how the author approached these in puppies and adults and was very pleased with what I read. Wouldn't it be great if all dog owners would learn to use such great information!
A wonderful resource March 5, 2005
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This book is a great read for anyone who is interested in maintaining a trusting relationship with your dog while providing the structure and boundaries required. It is very readable, with good humor, and the recommendations very doable for anyone who owns a dog. The dogs will be grateful if you read this book.
Ways to deepen the bond February 1, 2005
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Trish King is a font of canine information. The notion that an unwanted animal behavior can be eliminated, not by using punishment, but by encouraging an overriding *desired* behavior, a seemingly simple theory, works as well with my Boxers as it did with my human children. Why didn't I make the connection sooner? I attended a dog training seminar last Fall in Madison WI at which King was a featured speaker, hoping that King's in-person speaking style would mimic her writing style, and I was not disappointed. Speaking as a pet owner who is ever on a search to learn new ways to deepen the bond with my canine companions, I found King's book to be insightful.
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