Final Hope: Gaining Control of Your Aggressive Dog

by Stephen J. Joubert

Book Overview

The first truly comprehensive approach to dealing with an aggressive dog.The book looks first at the roots of aggression, examining the different types of canine aggression and what can cause them. It then turns to practical solutions: The physical and mental tools you'll need, patterns of training that can head off trouble and correcting specific problems. Help in setting realistic goals and expectations, and on permanently getting control of an...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0876053657
• ISBN13: 9780876053652
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Howell Books
• Length: 262 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Review For the confused consumer.

You may find it strange that this book either recieves a five star or a one star rating with very little in between. Final Hope is an excellent book on handling aggression in pet dogs. That said, the ratings posted reflect a rift in philosophy of dog training techniques. Modern techniques involve gadgetry and food rewards - a Pavlovian behavior/reward system. Classic techniques engage the dog as a thinking animal, an animal that is capable of more than simple reactionary behavior. The training is based on building a relationship with the dog. To say that one philosophy is all "good" and the other all "bad" is too simple and shouldn't be debate here. As it pertains to this book, if you are working with a modern trainer who works with food and gadgets this is not the book for you. It will contradict everthing your being told by the trainer. If you are working in the relationship building, classic method, this book will enhance your understanding of process.

Very thorough book. Excellent

As a professional dog trainer and behaviorist I frequently recieved requests for literature on aggressive dogs. I came across this book, and I now require all my aggressive dog clients to read this book. It is the most complete book I have seen on this subject. It includes all types of aggression. It is also very well written. It can help even the most aggressive dogs.

I have found no better publication on dog aggression.

This method of "tough love" behavior modification is THE answer to dog aggression. This is the best and most compassionate alternative to the usual responses to dog aggression: isolation or death.

Valuable instructions to manage your aggressive dog.

Stephen Joubert must be applauded for writing a book that specifically addresses the most severe and problematic forms of canine misbehavior: aggression. He talks about this often tabooed topic in a sympathetic but nonetheless firm voice. His philosophy is that an aggressive dog will always be a potentially aggressive dog, capable of inflicting serious injury to owner, family members, strangers or other dogs, but that aggression, in most cases, is managable to a point where it can be de facto eliminated from a dog's behavioral repertoire. Another strength of this book is Joubert's firm stand on the owner's responsibility for his dog's behavior and the emphasis that managing an aggressive dog is a life-long committment to air-tight obedience training -- that there is no "quick fix" or 10 minute-miracle cure. The book offers typical examples of aggressive dogs, based on the author's own extensive experience as a professional dog trainer and ways to go about managing the animal. A more detailed discussion of how to best assess the kind of aggression problem a dog has and how to adapt the procedures described in the book to less well defined cases could have added to the book's value. END