Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

When someone walks in to the dog training center I work at and says I'm reading this great book by the Monks of New Skete, I pause and then find some tactful way to say, remember, if something seems like it might not be right for you and your dog, it isn't right for you and your dog. Then an instructor who also is very involved in "black-spotted dog" rescue will walk by and say "Whatever you do, promise me you'll never do an alpha roll. You wouldn't believe how many dogs I see because of the alpha roll." The alpha roll is a technique espoused by the Monks, although I hear the main author of these books no longer recommonds the roll. It is to teach the dog that you are dominant. Basically you roll the dog over and hold it on its back until it quits struggling. Problem is instead of learning that you are dominant, many dogs learn that you are scary. And a fearful dog can grow up to become an aggressive dog. If you want to read a harrowing tale about what the alpha roll can do to a dog, pick up Patricia McConnell's The Other End of the Leash. Some of this book is helpful. I particularly like the interview with Maurice Sendak (whose dogs have clearly unlearned some of the Monks' training.) The food/potty training schedule is very helpful. That's what people rave about when they come into the center. Up to about chapter 11, I don't see anything majorly wrong with the book. The chapters on early development and socialization provide a lot of useful information. If the "Who should have a dog" chapter persuades one person that they aren't ready to provide the environment needed for the type of dog they are thinking about, I have to applaud it. But, their main methods of training don't feel right to me. Enough said already about the alpha roll. No food? I understand their point that you want the dog to work for you, not a bribe. But I have seen several dogs I.Q go up significantly when the reward is changed from kibble to cheese. Treats go an awful long way towards getting your dog to focus on you, and getting your dog to figure out what you want it to do. We teach sit by putting a piece of food by the dog's nose and moving it up. They catch on pretty quick! Once they've figured it out, then we start backing off on the "bribes." And no food, just corrections and verbal praise, might work on German Shepherds but forget it on Basset Hounds. And I wouldn't expect it to work well with labs, chessies, basenjis, many spaniels etc etc. As for corrections, doing things such as holding a dogs forefeet up when they jump on you until they squirm is unnecessary. And that makes me cringe when I think about the still-growing hips of a young dog. Most dogs eventually get it if they get no attention when they jump but lots of attention when all four feet are on the ground. It takes patience to train this way, but withdrawing attention works wonders if a dog has learned that your attention is good (that is, attention doesn't mean an alpha roll). I could go on, but oh well. I'll say it again, if something doesn't feel right for you and your dog, it isn't right. You have to be the judge. And as for "The Art of Raising a Puppy" take the good out of it and erase the bad from your brain cells. If you are in need of a basic Puppy Primer, everyone I asked when I was getting my first puppy said to get "How to Raise a Puppy you can Live With" and I agree. "How to Raise a Puppy You can Live With" is one of the best places you could start.