The Power of Positive Dog Training

By Pat Miller

Book Overview

A renowned dog trainer gives you the positive training tools you need to share a lifetime of fun, companionship, and respect with your dog. Plus, you'll get: information on the importance of observing, understanding, and reacting appropriately to your dog's body language; instructions on how to phase out the use of a clicker and treats to introduce more advanced training concepts; a diary to track progress; suggestions for treats your dog will respond to; and a glossary of training terms.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0470241845
• ISBN13: 9780470241844
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: Howell Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Great guide!

Great guide to work with dogs and other family members ;) Very good explanation of dogs’ behaviour and the reasons of it. And advices of its correction. No force, nor fears, just love! Strongly recommend this book!

Amazing!

100% recommend! +R has helped my fearful dog so much! He's so much more confident now.

Excellent Book

This is one of the best dog training books out there (believe me I've read lots). It's clear, concise, and covers a multitude of useful things, starting with a reasonable synopsis of the fundamentals of clicker training, then taking you through a 6 week dog training course, and then addressing a number of individual concerns seperately (Housebreaking, Aggression, Socialization, etc.). If you want a fuller explanation of operant conditioning theory, or broader application, I would suggest Karen Pryor's "Don't Shoot the Dog", but Pat Miller includes a perfectly decent abbreviated explanation.My only gripe is in the Housebreaking section, where she gives a decent rundown on the theoretics of how to housebreak, but then gives a "sample" day from a theoretical family. The family in question has four adult equivalents (Mother, father, 2 teenagers), and all are actively involved in the housebreaking. This makes it pretty irrelevant (and downright depressing) for someone like me who is trying to housebreak a puppy with Mommy, no help from Daddy, and two preschoolers, who are certainly no help in training the puppy - after all we're still working on housebreaking THEM.On the other hand, this is a minor gripe, especially as I've never found a dog training book that did provide realistic housebreaking around toddlers, and the book is otherwise excellent.

Training Methods that Work and are Fun for You and Your Dog

The Power of Positive Dog Training sounds like a book which should have been written by Tony Robbins and advertised on an info-mertial though it is a quality book. The training methods are based on studies done by behavioral scientist B.F. Skinner. Many college level psychology classes teach this material. It stresses training through operant conditioning which in a nutshell is rewarding good behaviors thereby increasing the likelihood of them being repeated. There are many references about these principles and training but this book is good because it is geared specifically towards training a dog and maps out a six week program for you to follow. Even though I believe in the principles I was skeptical that my new puppy would learn the exercises in the book during a short period of time. Much to my surprise I saw results within a day or so. Included in the training plan is a number of progressively harder exercises to teach your dog for each week. A description of exercise, instructions, and training tips are included for each. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in training a dog through the previously mentioned methods.