The Culture Clash

by Jean Donaldson

Book Overview

Jean Donaldson Offers an Exciting New Perspective on the age-old relationship between mankind and dogs. Her work with her own dogs and those of her clients, combined with her research and her study with other canine behaviorists has led her to the realisation that, in all likelihood, dogs learn exclusively through operant and classical conditioning. Donaldson demonstrates that the all-too-common anthropomorphic misconceptions about dogs and dog behavior...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1888047054
• ISBN13: 9781888047059
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: James & Kenneth Publishers
• Length: 223 Pages
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Good!

100% recommend

A must-read for all dog-lovers, trainers, and plain ol' owne

This book is hands down one of the best ways to a better relationship with your dog. A little advanced for the average owner, but OH SO helpful. I had read all the Carol Lea Benjamin books, and I think they are great. I do a lot of rescue though, and slip/nylon collars on the rescues was not my cup of tea. So many of the dogs come thin and so food/love motivated, so I thought it was time to start with food. My, oh my, I'll never go back. I have read some of the reviews that allude to Jean being holier-than-thou in her approach. I think you need to read the book again, and rethink the title. She is indeed challenging many of our notions about dogs-- like wanting to please us always. I had already figured out that my dog was out for #1. He likes me and all, but when push comes to shove, he wants what HE wants when HE wants it-- especially attention. And that makes him no less of a dog. I think Jean is simply passionate about what she has come to believe to be true through research. OH-- THE CHAPTERS ON DOGS AND KIDS-- WOW!

Training from the dog's point of view

I was originally turned off by the beginning of this book. The author's ideas about dogs having no "desire to please" their owners was so contrary to everything that is considered basic about dog training and dog behavior that I didn't believe it to be true. However, she thoroughly backed up her ideas and completely clarified the difference between "desire to please" as we see it and "desire to get treats or attention" as the dog sees it. It's difficult to get beyond the "Disney" approach to dogs as she calls it, the way society and Hollywood have taught us dogs should behave, but the book opened my eyes to what sort of relationship dogs really have with people.The book takes dog training from a dog's point of view - and that is the best way to get results. The empathy for the dog's position that the author encourages was a completely new experience for me. I adopted an adult dog from a shelter four months ago who had never been indoors before. She had been abused and you could hardly say "no" to her without her cringing and running away. I needed a training method that was completely positive and non-abusive in every sense of the word. More importantly, I needed a training method that worked.My dog can sit, down, stay, come, wait, drop, and fetch; she doesn't jump up, she doesn't chase the cats, and she's housebroken - all thanks to this book.The author thoroughly takes you through the way dogs learn with specific examples and exercises. It's hard not to get excited about teaching your dog after learning so completely how to teach!I highly recommend this book to new dog owners and to people looking to improve their relationship with their pets. Getting rid of unrealistic expectations makes all the difference in understanding and relating to your dog.

Food for thought

A new way of understanding dogs from the dog's point of view. The book is brimming with empathy, humor, and understanding. Jean Donaldson is above all a very PRACTICAL lady - and her approach is very functional - it works! I particularly liked the insight that biting is natural behavior for dogs, i.e. that even the "nicest" dog will bite and it is therefore extremely important to train bite inhibition with ALL dogs. Donaldson also reminds us that dogs have no sense of morals and that they see a large percentage of the world as "chew-toys" or "food" (even your italian shoes and gum on the sidewalk), unless they are TAUGHT otherwise. The last section on practical training is brief, but extremely well written - if you follow this program you will end up with a recall proofed against virtually everything (yes, I've tried it). I recommend "The Culture Clash" to everyone interested in dogs.

It really works

I lend out lots of books to friends and neighbors. This is the only one I make sure is returned. Within a few weeks of bringing our shelter pup home, she was agressive and totally out of control. Among other problems, the choke collar seemed to enrage her and I couldn't figure our why! After reading this book I RAN out and bought a halti harness and a huge bucket of treats. The results of positive reinforcement and intensive food reward training were immediate and dramatic. Now the days of choke collars and alpha rollovers are are in the past and I think (I hope) my pup has forgiven me for my bad judgement. I can't reccomend this book strongly enough. I feel like it has allowed me to understand my dog (as much as a human can).

The only book I recommend to ALL dog owners!

I am a professional dog trainer, and *Culture Clash* is the only book I recommend to all dog owners, regardless of experience with dogs, training knowledge and ability, etc. Donaldson covers what I feel is the most important aspect of dog ownership -- bite prevention -- with a thoroughness that no other book does. Rather than blaming the dog for doing what comes naturally, she teaches the reader how to change the dog's natural responses to ones that are acceptable to human beings. And this will save many dogs' lives.Donaldson has been criticized for her up-front language, particularly when it comes to her criticisms of traditional (largely competitive) obedience trainers. But this is one of the things I like BEST about the book. Rather than pussyfoot around the issue of punishment, she confronts it head-on and then offers alternatives.A wonderful book that is not only very informative, but so well-written that you read it like a novel.