Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 31-35 of 155
 other methods October 22, 2006
SB (Canada)
3 out of 14 found this review helpful
Meanwhile a lot of other people written very good books in a very different stile:
Suzanne Clothier (Bones would rain from the Sky)
Patricia McConnell (The other end of the Leash)
Turid Rugaas (Calming Signals)
We have three Irish Setter and we prefer a soft method for our dogs.
 good advice for dog training September 13, 2006
Ana P. Hofling (Laramie, Wyoming, USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Although I do disagree with some of the punishment techniques suggested in this book( I still haven't read the revised edition), I can still say that this is a great book. Of course this book doesn't replace obedience classes, but it's a great way to start training your dog and learning to communicate with it. I have read it several times and given it to friends who were getting ready to adopt a dog. It has helped me train three dogs, with obedience classes in addition to at home training, of course. It is definitely a classic and a must on any new dog owner's nightstand.
Dogs are NOT furry children September 1, 2006
W. Gibson (upstate New York)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
I have had an earlier version of this and have ordered the latest. I have used methods in this book to raise and train four Dobermans and a Great Dane. As others have said, the negative reviews come from people who have not read the book (one admits just flipping through it in a bookstore) or did not absorb what they read or have bought into the notion that dogs are really furry children. You can discipline your dog (or child) physically without being cruel. Sometimes for your safety or the dogs behavior must be corrected immediately. A physical reprimand (smack undeer the chin) is the fastest way to make your point. As others have also noted, there is so much more to this book than just dog training. The monks are kind, compassionate men who have developed an unmatched understanding of dog behavior through years of study and interaction with them and they convey that knowledge in clear, charming prose. Anyone with a dog or planning to get one should own this book.
Read the NEW EDITION before you criticize July 11, 2006
GramBee
18 out of 20 found this review helpful
I am astounded at the number of negative reviews of this book that blithely ignore what's actually in it. As others have stated, the recommendations to hit a dog come with plenty of warnings and caveats that it only be done in extreme situations and only if you're comfortable doing it and only if that's how you chose to deal with some specific, serious problem your dog may have. They never, ever recommend hitting a dog for say, simply refusing to come, the way some of these reviews make it seem.
Also, many people keep harping on the Alpha Dog Roll. Here's what the 2002 edition states, verbatim: "(in italics) We no longer recommend this technique and strongly discourage its use to our clients. Though it can be argued that it has a natural basis in pack life, in a dog-human context it is potentially very dangerous and can set up the owner for a serious bite on the face (or worse), particularly with a dominant dog. The conditions in which it might be used effectively are simply too risky and demanding for the average dog owner; there are other ways of dealing with problem behavior that are much safer and, in the long run, just as effective.
Let us repeat: the disciplinary techniques explained in this section should not be applied haphazardly and for a slight misbehavior. There is always the chance that autocratic dog ownders, having learned discipline techniques, will misuse them. Watch yourself - owners whe are physically or verbally domineering wind up with cringing, neurotic dogs. Discipline, like praise, must be meaningful. It must communicate the owner's displeasure clearly, and on the dog's level of understanding and perception, for unacceptable behavior."
 Good resource for the new dog owner June 22, 2006
A reader (New Zealand)
22 out of 22 found this review helpful
"How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend" is an excellent reference book for the first time dog owner and trainer. As well as the normal chapters on how to choose, socialise, feed, groom and train a puppy, the Monks cover topics as varied as how to read a puppy's pedigree, how to massage your dog, and how your dog's living environment will impact upon his training needs.
Unlike many training manuals, the Monks of New Skete strike a nice balance between "dominance" based training methods and formal training. The Monks stress the importance of earning your dog's trust and respect and the importance of being a strong pack leader for your dog; they also recognise the need for formal training, and spend several chapters explaining how this is best accomplished. Most training books are heavily biased towards one or other method, so it is nice to read a book which realises that both are ingredients in successful dog training.
The training methods discussed are fairly traditional, with the Monks either luring or gently moulding the dog into shape, then praising. However they also advocate classically conditioning a positive reinforcer (keys jingling), which can then be used at strategic times to help a dog relax; and they do discuss and recommend clicker methods for "sensitive" dogs.
Contrary to some reviews posted below, the Monks of New Skete do in fact advocate using plenty of positive reinforcement in their training. Confusion on this issue probably stems from the fact that the Monks do not advocate constantly using food treats while training. However, food treats are not the only positive reinforcement method available to a trainer. As the Monks point out "Food treats are an extremely effective motivator to help dogs learn...however, they are not meant to replace sincere verbal and physical praise." The Monks advocate that puppies are regularly praised, petted and played with during training. Punishment only ever comes after a dog has been shown an exercise multiple times and fully understands what is required of it, and far from being harsh or abusive, is normally limited to stern eye contact or a verbal growl. Scruff shakes and chin cuffs are reserved for the worst transgressions. The Monks take care to emphasise that any punishment used should be immediate, fair and consistent.
There are certainly gaps in this book. The "Problem Solving" section is rudimentary at best (for example, the section on interdog aggression only recommends limiting the dog's opportunity to mark territory, desexing him and muzzling him!). Readers with a problem dog would be well advised to get some more indepth resources regarding their dog's particular problem. The obedience exercises covered are quite limited, covering only the sit, down, stay, heel and recall. Owners wishing to teach their dogs more advanced exercises will need to seek additional resources. It is also disappointing that the Monks only discuss one method of teaching each exercise. With the plethora of options available today to teach even something as simple as a sit - for example, shaping, luring, capturing - it is a pity the Monks did not discuss several options for training each behaviour.
Despite such flaws, "How to be your Dog's Best Friend" is one of the three training books I generally recommend to new dog owners (the other two are "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell and "The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson). These three books complement each other very well. "The Other End of the Leash" is a great primer on canine-human communication, whereas "The Culture Clash" is an excellent manual on operant conditioning-based positive training. "How to Be your Dog's Best Friend" both fills in important gaps left by the other two books, and puts the case for kind and fair "traditional" style training.
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