So Your Dog's Not Lassie: Tips for Training Difficult Dogs and Independent Breeds

This is the first training book I've owned that really translated into results with my dog. My dog isn't a "difficult" breed (she's a border collie mix), but she is highly energetic and distractable. Most books tell you "do this and your dog will respond this way." My dog rarely did what the book said she would. "So Your Dog's Not Lassie" instead gives detailed troubleshooting, covering a bunch of different dog reactions. With the book's help I've *finally* gotten her to stop pulling on the leash when we walk. She is 9 years old. This is a real accomplishment. I have a much better understanding of the need to get her attention (there's an excellent chapter called "Earth to Dog") and how that is the key to making our training work. This book made me excited about learning and working with my dog again. I recommend it highly.

This is really a great book. I grew up with dogs that were easily trained and lived to please. I now have a terrier who does not follow that same philosophy.I got lots of insight and real instructions about how to train a dog who does not live to please. I have used many of the training exercises in the book and have found they really work. I recommend this book all the time to people who have free-thinking dogs.

Perhaps living with many dogs which are allowed certain permissions, such as sleeping on the bed, but with rules, has allowed the authors certain insights that I have not seen elsewhere. I have a golden retriever, which should be classified as highly trainable. After reading many behavior books, nothing was really working. The authors explained that this is because first you must deal with the dominance issue.The authors are very specific in what your actions mean to your dog, which you would never guess on your own. I found our family was making many mistakes even though it was obvious we had a dominance problem. Another insight was that the dog knew exactly what we were asking for; when he didn't respond, he had his own reasons.This book clearly shows what your dog wants for rewards and is great fun to read. I learned that what dogs want for motivation for learning is no different than any of us humans.

Unlike so many other training titles, So Your Dog's Not Lassie is founded on a respect for dogs and their individual personalities, and a deep interest in the development of a strong relationship between handler and dog. The authors's philosophy: "Owners who will be successful with their independent dog dispense with the common mind set that they are the master and their dog is the slave. Instead, they know that respect and accommodation must go both ways." Fisher & Delzio emphasize making learning fun and relevant from the dog's perspective. This book will help anyone convince their dog that there is a good and pleasant rationale behind your training requests while simultaneously strengthening and enhancing the dog/owner relationship. Humane and sensible, the training methodology is totally congruent with the philosophy espoused - a rare find in dog training books. If this book has a failing, it is in the subtitle. While aimed at handlers of difficult or independent breeds, So Your Dog's Not Lassie is eminently suitable for training any dog of any breed. This humorous, well written and informative book is notably fluff free, and one that readers - both professionals & novices - will refer back to time and again. Highly recommended!