Grrr!: The Complete Guide to Understanding and Preventing Aggressive Behavior | 
 enlarge | Authors: Mordecai Siegal, Matthew 'uncle Matty' Margolis
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Category: Book
List Price: $23.95
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You Save: $23.94 (100%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 583360
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.7 x 1.1
ISBN: 0316790222
Dewey Decimal Number: 636.70887
EAN: 9780316790222
ASIN: 0316790222
Publication Date: April 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
If your dog is displaying signs of aggressiveness, he's not the only one. Grrr!: The Complete Guide to Understanding and Preventing Aggressive Behavior in Dogs author and dog trainer Matthew Margolis says that more than 80 percent of his clients seek him out because of concern about their dog's aggressive behavior. The signs of an aggressive dog are obvious: one who growls, bites, jumps, barks, or nips without being provoked. Yet, as Siegal and coauthor Matthew Margolis explain, it's much more difficult to get dog owners to admit that there's a problem and that the owners may be contributing, even unintentionally, to the aggressive behavior. Margolis identifies the major characteristics of an aggressive dog and the 10 different sources of canine aggression, including fear aggression, dominant aggression, and territorial aggression. Because each type of aggression stems from a different source, each requires a special treatment. The next step, then, is identifying your dog's aggression type, which dog owners can do using the book's definitions and tests. Once you understand where your dog's behavior comes from, Siegal and Margolis theorize, you can then begin to properly train, socialize, and desensitize him, processes that are covered in subsequent chapters. By retraining your dog, you can once again assert the proper ways for your dog to behave. Along with helping aggressive-dog owners gain control over their animals, the book also advises prospective dog owners on what to look for when picking out a nonaggressive dog. Siegal and Margolis explain that aggressiveness sometimes stems from genetic behavior and can be identified as early in a pup's life as six or seven weeks. They outline several tests you can perform on a dog to pinpoint whether the animal has an aggressive tendency. Siegal and Margolis's love of dogs and respect for caring owners is evident in the tone of the book. Grrr!'s sensitive and informative approach to dog aggressiveness should help owners retrain their animals and hopefully prevent some unfortunate situations.--Kris Law
Product Description
A practical and comprehensive guide to handling aggressive dogs and preventing further aggressive behavior by recognized dog experts Mordecai Siegal and Matthew Uncle Matty Margolis. GRRR! is the essential guide for dealing with aggressive canine behavior. It defines the various types of aggression and examines causes and solutions, providing owners with a complete program of prevention, socialization, and proper training. It includes an invaluable test to gauge if you have an aggressive dog, and useful tips on how to choose and train a puppy or older dog.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Behind the times January 30, 2008
Uncle Matty is old stuff. Leave him behind and check out Patricia McConnell, Ian Dunbar, Jean Donaldson, Brenda Aloff, Ali Brown and the like. Uncle Matty is almost as bad as Cesar Millan is rehashing old info that has been debunked and discredited.
 I found this book to be disappointing and not particularly insightful. March 14, 2006
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
As an amateur trying to learn more about canine agression, I was actually quite disappointed with the content of this book. Overall, there is no significantly new or insightful information in this book, and frankly, much of the information about specific types and symptoms of agression problems in dogs can be had for free, often in better detail and more scientifically presented, on the internet, particularly if one searches for information generated by professionals in the field of canine agression, such as scientific papers presented to veterinary journals.
I DID, however, find the chapter on agression testing to be helpful -- I haven't seen this type of testing recommended elsewhere, and I did find it interesting and helpful to see the results of these tests on my young puppy. That being said, I am working on canine agression issues from more of a preventative than a curative or treatment basis, and I would have to give SERIOUS second thoughts about trying some of the suggested tests on a large, mature, and seriously agressive dog. To be fair, the authors also suggest a great deal of caution when performing these tests on older dogs.
The vast majority of the book is merely a recycled basic obedience course book -- sit, stay, heel, come, etc.. And, while I certainly would agree that a firm command of obedience is especially important to a dog with behavioral issues, I alread have several good books on the subject, such as those by the Monks of New Skete. Had I known that most of this book was just a rehashed obedience manual, I would have saved my money and skipped it. Based upon the title, I just expected a lot more out of this book than I got. For someone who really wants a good, in depth book about canine agression issues and their treatments, I'd say to spend your money on a copy of "Clinical Behavioral Medicine For Small Animals" by Dr. Karen L. Overall from the University of Pennsylvania. Although this is a very expensive book (it is a textbook for veterinary students and also a reference book for clinical veterinarians), it had the answers I was seeking and was definitely worth the money.
Not Enough Specifics January 25, 2004
12 out of 14 found this review helpful
My 3 dogs recently start fighting and was frantic about what to do since they live inside with me 24/7. I had fights that landed one of my dogs in the ER room so this was a serious problem. I have obedience trained all my dogs so I am not a novice. I heard this author on the local radio station where I live and thought his book may be helpful. It was not. It is very basic stuff I already knew. I found Patricia McConnell, PH.D.'s 30 page pamphlett "The Cautious Canine"to be much more helpful than this author's 230 page book. If your problem is strickly aggression and or fearful shy dogs then this book does not address enough detail about what to do. I think it may be a good book for any new or inexperienced dog owner that covers basics. I have since restored peace in my house with some new ground rules and appointing the right dog to alpha status so it can be done.
 CAT'S MEOW (OR GETTING RID OF THE PROBLEM, NOT THE POOCH) January 1, 2003
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Your pooch bites the postman. Your dog nips at your hands when you pet her. Your canine companion chases cars and bicyclists and joggers. You call this man's best friend? This has got to be one of the best dog-training books we've ever sunk our teeth to, as author Matthew "Uncle Matty" Margolis, the renowned dog trainer and host of "Woof! It's a Dog's Life" (along with Mordecai Siegal), teach how not to allow Fido or Rover to sink their teeth into it as well. The advice is practical and easy-to-follow: The authors identify 10 distinct categories, describing each one and explaining why problems occur. There are also aggression and puppy personality tests that will help owners identify and correct specific behavior. Finally! You can get rid of the problem --- not the dog.
Makes a complicated issue easier to understand February 14, 2001
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
When your best friend that you take everywhere and spend so much time with suddenly turns on you or exhibits aggressive behavior, it is devasting. How can my dog do this to me? It's like any other member of the family turning against you. This book helped me get over that feeling and look at the problem from my dog's point of view. I read the entire book and when I finished, I realized that aggressive behavior in dogs is a dog thing and I learned to understand the factors. I was able to determine that I needed some professional help. I have to say the book is the reason I got help and the reason we're back to normal. I think everyone who lives with a dog should read this book.
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