Dog Problems

This is an excellent source for all first time dog owners and should be purchased and read, along with Benjamin's other book--Mother Knows Best--before the dog is purchased. Little problems remain small when dealt with quickly and efficently using methods that dogs understand. Training right from the beginning is the key. Benjamin also tells how to fix a problem before it becomes worse. I have had dogs for over 40 years--terriers--and can testify to the success of Benjamin's methods.

This is an excellent book for people who have mild or moderate dog problems. It is well written with a sense of humor, and with insight into the behavior of dogs. It is a book by a professional trainer, not for professional trainers. Carol Lea Benjamin does not advocate punishment. In fact, she advises to NEVER hit your dog. Appropriately correcting a dog is not a punishment any more than appropriately correcting a child when they run into a street is a punishment. In addition to describing how to properly correct your dog, she points out human behaviors that inadvertantly encourage dog problems, when and how to use praise to encourage positive behavior, how to redirect behavior, and that sometimes, we can eliminate a bad behavior just by removing the trigger.

This was a well-written book aimed more at the novice dog-owner or someone who's experiencing a problem they've not experienced before. The book is written with a good sense of humor; for example, her final comment about ticks. She also recognizes that there are some "problems" that can not be solved, they are just part of being a dog, while other problems that people say are just part of being a dog can be solved. I enjoyed the book and have started trying her method on my German Shepherd, who back-talks as bad as any teenager when told to do something.

The writing style is great-- easy to read, fun, and shining with the author's love for dogs. In general, the advice is sound too, but in several places the recommended "punishments" are harsh, violent, or simply bad training. Read and use this book by all means, but have a look at Karen Pryor's _Don't Shoot the Dog!_ to get a better handle on effective training techniques.

This is a must-read for any dog owner! Carol Lea Benjamin did a terrific job of describing pack behavior and the unique differences between canine and human needs. She is realistic in the assumption that most households have two working adults and she allows you to explore effective options in dog-rearing without a guilty conscience. The reader walks away with the information and confidence necessary to assume the alpha role. Most significantly, Carol Lea Benjamin stresses the importance of problem identification and prevention, which makes this an essential reference for people who are rearing puppies. In my search to ensure my two Jack Russell puppies are raised properly, this is the one book I have been unable to put down. Excellent work.