Customer Reviews:
 A not so modern view of dog training January 29, 2007
19 out of 28 found this review helpful
I wanted to read the revised edition to see what had really changed about the Monks' philosophy, and was disappointed to find that there is still such an emphasis on punishment. I prefer to "catch my dog doing something right", and reward the behavior I want. So, compared to some of the more progressive methods that emphasize dog-friendly, but still effective, techniques, this book falls short of what I expected to see. As a trainer, I am much more impressed by the step-by-step method in Peggy Tillman's "Clicking With Your Dog". I also recommend that new owners, in particular, read Patricia McConnell's "The Other End of the Leash", Jean Donaldson's "The Culture Clash" and Cheryl Smith's "The Rosetta Bone" to gain a perspective on how humans miscommunicate with dogs. Now that I have adopted a more positive approach, I have happier and more obedient dogs.
(And, for a dynamite "come when called", no one beats Leslie Nelson's "Really Reliable Recall" - even the Monks. If you want your dog to be a partner and companion, not a slave, pass on this one.
 A Super Dog Training Book! January 28, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book has it all. It is an exceptionally interesting read, well laid out and full of clear and precise instructions for a well trained dog and "how to be your dog's best friend". I had trouble putting the book down and found the information invaluable in working with my recently acquired 3-legged puppy. I have read various other dog training books but this makes sense! I particularly appreciated the clearness of the instructions; this book has become my dog "bible" which I refer to over and over again. I also purchased the Monks of New Skete DVDs which, too, are excellent!
 Great book if you're raising your puppy from the beginning. Otherwise, give consideration... January 9, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
We bought this book hoping to garner some tips for retraining our pound adopted seven month old Pyrenees/Golden Retriever mix. That's not what this book is about.
I don't want to shortchange the authors, we did garner some solid tips on overall behavior and general training techniques from the book, especially in regards to the `sit/stay', 'no jump' and 'no bite', but I think the book falls short and is not intended for the occasion when it comes to the retraining aspects that may be necessary for a 'pound dog' (I hate to call Ari that, but that's how we got him and how he behaved when he entered the family circle). This book has lots of great reviews and I'm sure deservedly so for the intended audience, but consider others if you're not raising a puppy from day one, especially if it's not a German Shepherd or like breed.
How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend: The Classic Training Manual for Dog Owners (Revised & Updated Edition) January 5, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Glad a friend and a dog owner recommended that I buy this book to read. Lots of great ideas and tips on what to and not to do.
 Limited Scope -- Training Adult Dogs December 2, 2006
6 out of 14 found this review helpful
This book came highly recommended, as being very popular with vets and dog owners. It has a lot of information on obedience training for adult dog (come, sit, lay down, heel, etc.) There is also interesting information about dog psychology. Puppies are not covered.
We got a new puppy three weeks ago. Knowing little about dogs and nearly nothing about puppy care, we purchased this book as our primary source for puppy raising advice. Got it home and discovered that this book does not have any advice on puppies -- that is in the other New Skete Monks book, with "Puppy" in the title, with which I'm also very disappointed. This book only covers adult dogs, and within adult dogs only covers traditional obedience training (sit, come, lay down).
Other topics of extreme interest to new dog owners and people with dog problems are simply not addressed. For example, there is nothing on teaching your dog good manners -- I'd call this training, but it isn't covered. There is very little on addressing problem behaviors. What if your dog barks too much -- from what I've read the most common reason for someone to give up a dog? The authors don't say, just "dogs bark". What about jumping on furniture? Nothing. The little advice they have addressing behavior problems didn't work for us (e.g., jumping on people). There isn't any advice on dogs that aren't sociable with other dogs, which would at least have helped my mother and justified this book's "highly recommended" status at least a little bit.
Overall, a very disappointing book that claims a lot and delivers little.
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