Okay,
So I asked a question a couple days ago about socializing/training my dogs, and after looking around and reading some books I already have, I've come up with a list of books that I am going to try and get and then read them to help me with my dogs.
My list of books so far is:
-The Dog Whisperer by Paul Owens (Not to be confused with Cesar Millan) I am currently reading this - It's a wonderful book and I love it so far!
-The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson (I just got this from the library, will be reading as soon as I finish The Dog Whisperer)
-The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller
-Don't Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training by Karen Pryor
-Clicker Training for Obedience: Shaping Top Performance-Positively by Morgan Spector
-How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks by Ian Dunbar
-Excel-Erated Learning: Explaining in Plain English How Dogs Learn and How Best to Teach Them by Pamela J. Reid
-Getting Started: Clicker Training for Dogs by Karen Pryor
I will also be buying a clicker the next time I go to the store so that I can start clicker training with my dogs. I'm hoping it will work as well as I heard it has.
Have you ever tried clicker training? If so, was it easier and more efficient? Could you please share your personal experience?
I know that it may seem like a lot of books, but I REALLY want to understand everything so that I REALLY know what I am doing. Does the list seem good so far? Do you have any other sugestions for books I should read? Are there any on my list so far that you think I should take off?
Also, even though it may not relate to this section very much, but is there any other way to rent one of these books other than the library? I checked my local library's catalog and they have a couple of the books, but a lot they don't have or the ones that they do have are aready checked out for who knows how long. I would buy all the books if I could but right now I'm trying to save up some money so that I can afford a plane ticket so that I can visit my grandparents this summer.
P.S. I don't believe in hitting, yelling, alpha roll, or any other violent physical forms of training. I refuse to do that to either of my dogs.Gosh, that's a lot of questions all smooshed together, but I would appreciate all your help!
Thank You!
Dog Training Methods Uncovered
Recommended Answer:They are pretty popular books for training. I haven't read all of them, but a few.
I didnt' really care for Culture Clash (although alot of people really like it). Not that i didn't agree with the information or anything. I liked The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell far more. Both are similar themes. I also really enjoyed McConnell's book, For the Love of Dog. I would recommend both as a must read.
Don't Shoot the Dog was great for clicker training. I would read anything by Pryor.
I also read How to Teach an Old dog New Tricks. Good points for those who don't know alot about dogs. Great ideas for socialization and places a big emphasis on it. I didn't use his training method though. McConnell and Dunbar often refer to each other.
I've been wanted to read the Monks of New Skete.
Although not a training method book, one of my favorite books was Bones Would Rain from the Sky, Deepening our Relationships with Dogs by Suzanne Clothier. Must read for any dog owner. It does give training insights, not a how to.
Calming Signals by Turid Rugrass was short and very informative and has pics. Not training but it does cover some important signals that any owner should know.
I have read a few Stanley Coren books and have loved everyone. They aren't training books though. How Dogs Think goes through all of their senses and how they compare to ours. It goes over the science of whether a dog is a conscious being and how they prove things (like a dog is the equivilent of a 2 or3 year old person). Why Does my Dog Act That Way is about personalities and issues. How to Speak Dog is body language and communication, but still not as good as Calming Signals.
Just a warning about the Monks book. Depending on what version you get, they may recommend the alpha roll. When the book first came out many many years ago, they suggested using the alpha roll. They have since changed their position on this and no longer recommend it and actually apologize for it.
None of the other books you have mentioned that I have read or the ones I suggested encourage punishments for training. They all fit you bill. Bone would Rain is very much about positive relationships with our dogs and training them without damaging the bond and making it positive experience for all.
ETA- In my opinion, whether the book is good or bad, you will learn something, either something to try or something you will never do.
Dog Training Schools - What a Typical Course Covers
- I also like "The Other End of the Leash", although I'm not sure I'd call it a training book, as much as just a book to get you thinking. For those who haven't read the book, it compares and contrasts dog/wolf behavior, human/primate behavior, and dog/human behavior, so that you can see how they sometimes exacerbate problems. And it's nice to see a trainer admit that they don't always do everything right!
And I've done clicker training to teach my greyhound to sit. She's a very "soft" dog, and shuts down easily when stressed, and doesn't like being physically manipulated into a sit. And greyhounds don't do a lot of sitting naturally... they stand or lie down. But there were two times that she "sat"... when she was pawing her bed into a comfortable shape, and about 10% of the time when she lies down she sits and slides the front legs out (most of the time it's downward dog and then lowering the back end). It took me about a day of clicker training to get her to sit on command. She learned it much faster than I expected! Now, I'll admit that it's not a sit that will win obedience trials, since it's generally a pause in the process of doing a down, but it looks really cute. She pricks up her ears and sits with one leg slightly stretched out, just like a starlet posing for photos.
And a final comment: training is not one size fits all. There are "hard" dogs, those that have high dominance drives, and "soft" dogs, those who have no intention of challenging anyone. I can correct my dog with a stern "ah ah", and a harsh physical correction will do nothing but make her shut down (which is where the dog essentially crawls into a room inside their self and shuts the door to try and avoid an unpleasant situation... in which case they aren't learning anything that you are trying to teach them.) And when we are out walking, it takes me moving my hand just the slightest bit to get her to switch sides, move in, move out, slow down, or speed up. But I have seen dogs that need much harsher techniques to get them to notice that you are even talking to them. So keep that in mind when you are training your dog.
- As the saying goes, there are a million ways to skin a cat.
The more you read, the more you learn, so don't stop with your short list.
As a foundation you will be well served to first study both Operant and Classical Conditioning, and not just rely on someones interpretation. That way you will understand what you are trying to accomplish as well as why you want to accomplish it. After, and only after IMHO, you understand the methodology will anyones training program work as intended.
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"TJ: Thanks. 8)
Do you have any suggestions?"
Ya, read the ones that you disagree with. Learning all there is to know about what not to do is every bit as important as learning what to do.
Your local library is a great source.
- There are excellent books about dog training written by the Monks of New Skete. They are the best dog training books I have ever read. These books aren't just about dog training but they also tell you how to become a best friend/companion to your dog. They are excellent, I highly reccommend them. Google the Monks of New Skete to see the different books they have out.
- Just a thought on the clickers. You have to be really focused when you use them because if you don't click right away, or only do it some of the time, it won't be effective. They work great but only if used properly
