Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 151-155 of 157
 absolutely a must for the dog owner/trainer July 13, 1998
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I have a breed that is often misunderstood, and does not respond well to your usual training methods. Donaldson has given me a way that I can train and progress in training, and still enjoy the process. She also encourages one to be inventive to get the results needed. If you are only going to buy one book on dogs this would be the one.
 Never be ashamed of your Halti & your Clicker again. June 22, 1998
106 out of 114 found this review helpful
I have read many dog training books in the past 6 months, but this is the only one that really rang true for me. Jean Donaldson articulates what many dog owners have felt for some time: that yanking, yelling and regimentation do NOT constitute positive training methods. She rightly calls slip-collars and choke chains "strangulation collars," and makes it clear that the "leash correction" is simply a punishment -- and not a very effective one at that. Her whole training ethos is based on the premise that dogs are dogs, not people. That may sound pretty obvious, but it doesn't seem to be, at least not to traditional dog trainers. If you have a dog that likes to be a dog (interacts with both humans and dogs in the same manner, and doesn't like to be restrained in any way) Donaldson's training methods will save your sanity -- and perhaps your dog's life. This book is more than a manual, however, as it fully explains the theory before detailing the methods. Along the way, it provides a good read and some great laughs. This is also the first book I've read that describes some fun and effective training games to play with your dog, rather than just saying "play with your dog." It's not all fun and games though: I dare you to read the section called "Empathy 101" and remain unmoved toward the plight of the average family dog. My only (minor) complaint about "Culture Clash" is that it needs either a more detailed Table of Contents, an Index, or both. That said, however, I urge you to buy this book, and leave the traditional methods of dog training back in WWII, where they began, and where they belong!
What a refeshing gust of fresh air Jean Donaldson is! June 16, 1998
DGodley@alz.com (Palm Desert, Ca)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I love my dog so much and we have such a bond that I have to admit that, like so many people who love their pets, I have been guilty of trying to see only the human attributes in her.No wonder training has been progressing so slowly! Jean Donaldson's book has given me a whole new perspective - to appreciate dogs in their own unique way, and to finally realize that they are another species of being, not just children in fur! Thanks, Jean- and I am sure my dog would thank you too - she has been trying to be a dog but I have insisted on trying to make her a human.
The only book I recommend to ALL dog owners! May 18, 1998
Elizabeth TeSelle (eteselle@geocities.com) (Nashville, TN)
53 out of 57 found this review helpful
I am a professional dog trainer, and *Culture Clash* is the only book I recommend to all dog owners, regardless of experience with dogs, training knowledge and ability, etc. Donaldson covers what I feel is the most important aspect of dog ownership -- bite prevention -- with a thoroughness that no other book does. Rather than blaming the dog for doing what comes naturally, she teaches the reader how to change the dog's natural responses to ones that are acceptable to human beings. And this will save many dogs' lives.Donaldson has been criticized for her up-front language, particularly when it comes to her criticisms of traditional (largely competitive) obedience trainers. But this is one of the things I like BEST about the book. Rather than pussyfoot around the issue of punishment, she confronts it head-on and then offers alternatives. A wonderful book that is not only very informative, but so well-written that you read it like a novel.
Best dog (and owner) training book around... May 6, 1998
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Donaldson not only knows dogs, she offers practical and constructive advice that makes dog training a joy. You'll want to read this book at least once, preferably before bringing a new pup or dog home.
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