Parenting Your Dog

This is a very comprehensive book on how to handle and control your dog. Everyone enjoys being around a well-behaved dog. We've seen rude dogs far too often. In the old days people let their dog run loose outside for hours at a time never knowing for sure where they went or what they did and some still do. Then the only dog training available was for the show ring. This book gives you instructions on how to get a handle on a variety of dog behavior problems. The first hand knowledge stories of client consults also helps put into perspective problems other people have with their dogs. It would be fun to read a compilation of consulting stories on "too dumb to be a dog owner" by giving, anonymously of course, examples of problem dogs and problem dog owners. Unfortunately there are no special qualifications for owning a dog just as there are no special qualifications for becoming a parent. Those that care, take obedience classes and/or work with their dogs to control problem behavior. This is a great book for those who want step by step instructions and examples on how to control your dog. This is also a great book for those who can't afford either time or money to take obedience classes or just want a reference on hand to consult when behavior problems crop up. This book says it all. "Good job Trish" now you can have your treat.

Ever since I began reading Parenting Your Dog, it has been at the top of my recommended reading list for all my clients, from new adopters as they prepare to bring a dog into their lives, to my obedience class students who have had dogs for years. The order and layout of the book make finding relevant information easy, and the suplemental boxes draw readers' attention to important related advice. Ms. King's parallels between raising children and raising dogs are practical and will help anyone who has had children or who remembers being raised as a child understand dog behavior and learning theory. Some may criticize Ms. King for being anthropomorphic -- which she is, as she fully discloses in her prologue. However, rather than using anthropomorphism in ways that may be dangerous, such as attributing human thoughts and intentions to our dogs -- "my dog is peeing in the house because she's mad at me" -- she uses human understanding of ourselves to create a common language for comprehending dog behavior. This bridges the gap between dog trainers who may fixate on the latest jargon, and everyone else, who doesn't need a fancy name, just how and why it works. If ever there were a good use for anthropomorphism, this is it. Parenting your Dog provides readers with some of the best advice around, from one of the best canine behaviorists around in a highly entertaining and accessible read.

Taking a better route than the tedious and often emotionally disconnected learning theory based dog books, and a far kinder and saner route than the punishment based jerk and swat dog training books , King focuses instead on creating a dynamic and loving relationship between dog and humans, and provides real-life based, easy to understand, dog and human friendly training techniques that anyone can follow . From picking a puppy, surviving doggie adolescence, adopting an older dog, adding family members, common problems, and seeing your canine friend into it's final days, King covers the entire span of a dogs life as part of a household , providing a wealth of information and wisdom along the way . This is a must have book for those of us who regard our four legged and furred companions as full fledged family members . Wonderful for the first time dog owner, as well as those of us who have had dogs all our lives.

I keep buying this book for myself and then giving it away to friends. I have taken a lot of classes and read more that a few books on dog training and learning theory. Friends and acquaintances, who are aware of my obsession, often ask me dog behavior and training questions. I finally have a book I can recommend that is easily understood by the average dog owner and yet really delves seriously into cutting edge theory and practical everyday issues. If you only have one dog book, this should be it!

Professional dog trainer Trish King presents Parenting Your Dog, a witty and insightful look into how dogs really "think." Though their behavior and reactions are strongly shaped by animal instincts, their unconditional love brings joy to an owner's heart and raising a dog can easily be compared t o raising a child. Offering strategies to resolve common problem behaviors, guidelines for aiding a dog's adjustment to family life, an overview of canine physical, mental, and emotional development from puppyhood to old age and more, Parenting Your Dog is a superb supplementary resource and instructional reference for dog owners of all experience levels.