The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training
Thursday, September 23rd, 2010 at
9:24 pm
The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training
Product Description
In this updated edition, Paul Owens and Norma Eckroate offer more in-depth training with additional notes, tips, and problem-solving to make training even easier! In addition to the bestselling nonviolent training features from the previous edition, this new edition includes:
- Updated material on the power of non-force training
- Information on the newest, most effective gear for all levels of training
- A new trick section that will provide fun for both you and your dog
With guidance from The Dog Whisperer, you'll learn compassionate training methods for even the most sensitive dogs. This revolutionary, humane, and logical approach to raising and teaching promises to make training your dog the most positive experience possible.
The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training
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US $27.89
Paul Owens Nonviolint approach allows your dog to keep its personality. Where as the other methods break the dogs spirit. the old methods of controlling through domination is just that OLD. This book taught me many things I paid hundreds of dollers to learn by having a in-home-trainer,However this book continued on where my trainer left off. This book also helps you see things from the dogs mind of reasoning and understanding. I was able you use the lessons and get results in as little as 5 min. and as long as I practice what Paul tells us in this book I am a happy dog owner with a dog that obays me very well. There truly is no need for the old way of training and the proof is in this outstanding book. I can not praise this book enough. please if you are going to get a dog or have one already do yourself a favor and get this book.And please do not let any one tell you that those cruel training methods are better until you try this first, you will be amazed.I love the hide and seek game and the “find it” with my dog.
Rating: 5 / 5
This is a must have book for true animal lovers. Based on a philosophy of “Raise With Praise”, Paul’s approach is all about love… and let me tell you, it works! Paul covers every facet of caring for your dog, including: training, a truly healthy diet, and great insight into how dogs think.
I’ve read alot of books on dogs and this is by far the most original and compassionate approach I’ve seen. He really makes it fun! We trained our dog to sit, stay, come, crawl.. and absolutely had a blast doing it. His biggest asset seems to be that he really gets animals, he knows how they think and this has allowed him to develop a way to communicating with them that is positive and effective. Enjoy.
Rating: 5 / 5
I liked this book very much. Paul does a great job of conveying that the best results come from a basic understanding of how dogs view the world and how they learn. It is a huge stretch to getting the humans past thinking and acting as though the secret to training companion dogs is imposing your will on a dog and then correcting it for “disobeying”. Without knowing any better, many, many people think that the ONLY way to train a dog is by teaching it to avoid corrections. I think that is killing an ant with an anvil and happily, many other dog owners do, too. The only criticism I have is that the book may have a narrow appeal. Some may be turned off by the spiritual overtones. I found that aspect refreshing myself. It’s pretty hard to learn how to use a clicker well by reading a book, but I guess it won’t hurt anyone if the human screws up, right? If I had a client who was “into” a holistic approach, this would be my first pick.
Rating: 4 / 5
My roomate made me read this book so that we’re on the same page while training her puppy (a standard poodle, 6 mos.). I like the non-violent approach, and wholeheartedly agree that shocking, kicking, and hitting are abusive ways to train an animal. The positive reinforcement and clear techniques are great. Owens guides you through phases of mastering commands with clear instructions and what to expect. I found his methods of teaching the puppy who’s in charge (establishing dominance) to be great because you don’t have to be rough or aggressive to do it. This is with several different forms of witholding rewards/attention and restraint so that the dog learns that it gets cut out of the fun when it does something wrong.
Paul Owens studied yoga in India, and is very into some New Age ideas and methods. These, you can take or leave. The relaxation and focus techniques are good for me to keep me from over-reacting or forgetting that he’s just a puppy and can’t be expected to behave all the time. However, I will not be doing any yoga breathing and bonding with the dog or playing him music or sending him vibrations of love, peace, and acceptance. Sometimes, the author seems to forget that it’s a dog and not a furry person with the emphasis on spiritual communion with your dog.
There are some things that he doesn’t address, most likely because bigger behavioral problems that don’t stop with training probably need to be addressed in a few personal sessions with a good trainer. With a large breed like ours, there are some specific concerns that aren’t addressed. Anything our horse of a dog does is magnified because of his size. Jumping isn’t just annoying, but dangerous. If he stands up, anything on any surface is accessible to him. Baby fences won’t be an obstacle in a few months. Destructive behaviors may need a negative to make them stop. Ignoring the behavior won’t save the kitchen or anything else he wants to mess around with. When we trained the lab I had growing up, we worked with an excellent trainer who used a positive approach similar to this one, but with the addition of some non-violent negative reinforcements like a firm NO and a light tap on the nose with a finger (it’s annoying, not hurtful–tap yourself and see).
Should you buy this book? Yes. It’s worth it for the second half where you get away from the philosophy and zen vibes and into the training. That part is excellent. This book is ideal for what you do at home with your puppy to enforce rules and teach obedience to commands. However, this book should not be your one and only source. Nothing can take the place of a few hours in person with a good trainer who works hands-on with you and your dog (if you’re going somewhere to watch videos of what to do at home, find a better trainer). Your dog has a very unique personality, and a trainer will teach you how to curb bad behaviors in the most effective and efficient method for your particular situation.
Rating: 3 / 5
As an owner and trainer of many dogs and cats, and as a person whose Ph.D. is partly psychology-based, I loved this book, but …
The problem is that it best fits the person with ideal patience and ideal time-availability. It also best fits the person who does not have a very large, strong, determined, alpha-willed dog. There’s really no secret here; education of animals (and people) includes both reward of desired behavior and negative reinforcement of unwanted behavior. It also depends in part on the genetic predisposition of the individual being trained. If there is enough time, and the dog is not a strong-willed alpha personality, working only with positive reinforcement can be effective. But many dog owners just don’t have enough time, and some dogs are genetically aggressive, naturally domineering and stubbornly (even manipulatively) willful. My experience with dogs indicates that a few negative reinforcers are sometimes useful, and need not be harmful to the dog. For example, prong or choke callers need not be used harshly, but with dogs such as my 100 lb. male Bull Mastiff the extra control can sometimes be helpful because of his pulling strength and the toughness of his “bull” neck as he suddenly lunges after a bird or squirrel, etc.
The book’s insightful comments on developmental psychology, explaining aspects of canine emotional and cognitive maturation at different ages are, alone, worth the book’s price. Dogs, like children, best learn certain attitudes and behaviors during growth periods that occur at specific ages which the author outlines. He mentions, for example, that dogs are especially sensitive to negative input from eight to ten weeks of age, which is due to the type of brain development that occurs at this age. The author explains that negative-conditioning mistakes that occur at this age often require months or years to attempt to undo. Those of us who have adopted dogs that experienced unfortunate treatment during that age know that these “childhood” experiences in dogs often leave lasting behavioral scars that sometimes barely, if at all, can be undone.
Overall, this is an outstanding book, but the methods recommended work best for people with lots of time for patient training, and with dogs of relatively cooperative temperament.
Rating: 4 / 5