The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training: Amazon.ca: Paul Owens, Norma Eckroate, Michael W. Fox: Books

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From Library Journal

Owens, founder of Raise with Praise, Inc. and a certified evaluator for the Delta Society's Animal Assisted Therapy Program, has written a good, basic, reasonably priced introduction to dog training based upon rewarding "successive approximations" of correct behavior. Gone are the leash "pop" and harsher corrections of earlier obedience methods. Nonviolent dog training shapes appropriate behavior with rewards such as food and games. Incorrect behavior is punished by ignoring the dog and by verbal cues such as "oh-oh." There are chapters on clicker training, target stick training, and training gear such as collars and leashes; the nine ingredients of canine optimum health (high-quality diet, play, socialization, quiet time, exercise, employment, rest, training, and healthcare); and human-canine communication. How to teach "sit," "stay," "down," "stand," "come," "heel," "take it," and "drop it" are explained step-by-step and illustrated with photographs. For public libraries.AFlorence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"After working for years to expose trainers' cruelty to animals in the production of movies, I applaud a book that encourages the compassion and nonviolence that dogs so richly deserve." -- Bob Barker, Host, The Price Is Right

"This is an important book. Paul Owens offers a powerful voice of nonviolence and a truly enlightening approach to raising and training your dog. I wholeheartedly recommend his message of compassion and joy." -- Jack Canfield, Co-author, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul and Chicken Soup for the Soul

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Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
Within weeks after their birth, dogs know how to put their behinds on the floor (sit), lie down, stand, stay, bark and not bark, run and walk toward us (come), walk by our side (heel), and find things with their noses (track). Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

36 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (36 customer reviews)

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars No other way to train, Jan 16 2004

By

Yoko (Dogtown, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training (Paperback)

As far as I am concerned, there is no other way to raise and train a dog. Hopefully you don't own a shock, choke, pinch or prong collar, but if you do, throw it away and order this book! This gentle, effective training method concerns the whole dog, not just a behaviour issue! I've trained all my dogs this way and I own two obedience (yes obd trials without aversive training!)and agility champions!

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5.0 out of 5 stars The Dog Whisperer, Oct 15 2001

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Madeleine (Glendale, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training (Paperback)

This book offers the best training method imaginable. Our seven year old bulldog, thought to have been "untrainable," amazingly began to respond with hand signals and literally whispers after only a few days. I never thought it would have been possible. Contained within its pages is more than a practical training method: it's a philosophy of living which is truly transformational. No more jerking or scolding, no more frustration or anger in our home! Paul Owens' method teaches us about who we and our pets are and that our relationship with our four-legged friends and with ourselves will thrive with the use of non-violence. We are happier than ever before. It is truly a gift from a generous and dedicated teacher devoting his life to improving the lives of dogs and the people who share their lives with them.

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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Extremist point of view!!! NOT a fast training method!, Feb 26 2002

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Jack's Mommy (SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training (Paperback)

This book allows for absolutely NO kind of correction in dog training..It teaches that the slightest correction is abuse!! It is very extremist.(Not that that is bad. Its good in the fact that it makes you aware that HURTFUL violence should NOT be a part of any dogs life.)

The methods taught in here would most likely benefit either a dog who has been sorely abused (and therefore cant take any correction) or a person who is extremely sensitive and wants to try a radical new approach in dog training. (Techniques in here take way longer than the normal "leash correction" training.. Do not get this book if you are looking for a way to get your dog trained in a few months!!!)

This book did provide good reading, and it does make good points in the fact that you should spend wonderful, decent, quality, loving time with your dog and prove to him you're there to protect him--BUT it goes in the opposite direction of the basic dog instinct. Anyone who has studied dogs of the wild, has learned of the "Alpha" dog--the one in the pact who "is in charge," giving security to the others in knowing there is someone there to lead them. This book contradicts that and says its NOT true--going against everything people have learned about typical dog pact roles!!! It states that there is no such thing as a "dominant dog" (except in emergency situations) and that in the household, you and your dog are "existing together as family", and you should never try to show dominance over it--undermining any power you have to show your dog that you are a capable leader for him to follow..setting the stage for your dog to start thinking that HE runs the show (and we know how aweful that can be!)!! Now, anyone with a dog knows that dominance and submissiveness ARE a part of a dogs pact life..and the human family is looked upon by the dog as part of his pact--someone HAS to be the dominant one.. and you dont be it, your dog will!!

This book is on lines with giving your dog rewards, rewards, rewards.. and praising him for every little thing. WHICH IS GOOD.. however, if a dog needs correcting for something, the book goes against it! You are not allowed to correct your dog for anything-- not even a tiny leash tug when your dog wanders the other way!!!! I highly disagree with the fact that you can't correct your dog. Dogs can and should be corrected..not abused, mind you.. but corrected. GOOD Correction, when done the right way, and not abusively (such as the terrible teaching of rubbing your dog's nose in excrement) is very helpful. I firmly believe lots of love, praise, and affection should be giving to your dogs (I baby my 2 adorable collies!!) and have never hurt them or hit them or any other drastic thing--but I would have never gotten them trained if I would have followed the techniques in this book and never corrected them! (Have you ever seen a dog jump in a rose bush twice? NO ..immediate correction has its place in a dogs life!!)

The good things about this book is the wonderful blanket teaching of being kind to your animal and respecting it, the wonderful chapter on nutrition that it includes (even recipes!!!), and the deep breathing/get in tune with your dog exercises!! For that I gave it 3 stars.. otherwise I would have given it 2

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A library must have
I love this book- and call it a mandatory for those
who really want a well-behaved dog... stress free.
Buy it today!!

Published on May 22 2004 by Lynn Sparling

5.0 out of 5 stars Best dog training book EVER!
Regardless of what others might say, it IS possible to train your dog well AND be completely compassionate. I absolutely love this book. Read more

Published on Nov 13 2003