Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence: A Positive Training Program

by Carol Lea Benjamin

Book Overview

In Praise of Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence

"Carol Benjamin has brought her usual wit and insight to bear on what is one of the most troubling phases for dog owners.... Whether you're having difficulties with a youngster or have a puppy who will soon be an adolescent, you can't help but benefit from reading this book." Robert G. Maxwell President, The American Kennel Club

"A concise and practical guide Zthat] confronts almost every...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0876057423
• ISBN13: 9780876057421
• Release Date: October 1993
• Publisher: Howell Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

I'm a Survivor!

I survived my dog's adolescence thanks to this book. Aside from good training tips and practical information on dealing with adolescent dogs, this book also gave me encouragement to keep working with my dog and let me know that I was not alone. Now I know almost every dog owner goes through this...

This book was a life-saver

12 years ago, I remember sitting on my bed in tears. My adorable Golden Retriever puppy had hit a point where she was really hard to handle, and I felt overwhelmed-- like a failure as a dog owner! I knew I needed some good advice, and I ended up finding this book at the library. It was incredibly helpful, reassuring, and positive. Needless to say, my Golden eventually grew into a lovely, kind, and affectionate dog. This book helped us get through a rocky point in our relationship, and I am really greatful to Carol Lea Benjamin for helping me to handle this stage of my best friend's development effectively/helping me to understand my dog better. A year after reading this book, I adopted an elderly Irish Setter. Benajamin's book "Secondhand Dog" was helpful to us. If you like the Monks of New Skete and Brian Kilcommons you will find Carol Lea Banjamin's approach to be slightly different (but similar) and very helpful. You may also want to check out Patricia McConnell's humane, wise dog books (The Other End of the Leash, Beginning Family Dog Training, etc.).

An informative, intelligent and entertaining book

I have read about a dozen books on training and caring for dogs, and while some were pretty good none of them alerted me to the fact that dogs go through an adolescence phase just like human teenagers. I read this book when my puppy was 7 months old and not displaying any "bratty" behaviour, but I implemented many of the author's suggestions anyway as a precautionary measure. A couple of months later he was showing just slight signs of adolescence (thinking things over for a couple of seconds before obeying commands) but none of the extreme stubbornness that miniature schnauzers are known for, and I'm sure it is thanks at least in part to the precautionary measures I took after reading this book. I re-read this book and applied the advice, and my puppy is back to making immediate responses to my commands. I highly recommend this book to any dog owner, preferably before your dog enters adolescence, but definitely as soon as he or she starts displaying problem behaviours.

A ground breaking insight into the mind of your dog

Ms. Benjamin leaves an indelible mark on the understanding of dogs with this work that recognizes that the time between puppyhood and adulthood is not limited to us humans. The excellent methodology outlined in this text denotes a person with an uncommon insight into the minds and behavior of dogs. The techniques described in the book are both helpful and thorough - follow them and you will get the job done. This is not a book for those who would build a relationship between a dog and the liver snaps in their pocket. It is a book for those who want to enjoy a warm relationship between themselves and their dogs. It DOES NOT recommend alpha rolls in shape or form.

A must for every dog-owner's library!

An excellent analysis of problem dog behaviors and training methods for overcoming them, aimed toward younger dogs but appropriate for all ages. The author correlates breed type and original function with the particular sorts of mischief the dog may get into, and explains what to do to redirect the dog's energy and attention into positive activities. Especially helpful for first-time dog owners.