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Author: B.R.G
Rating: 5
Review: It's not so much a how-to book, though it does have step by step instructions to help the issues it listed, along with some step by steps for teaching certain cues. Its more of an overall guide to help people understand why dogs act the way they do, and give tips on training as a whole. Personally I love Victoria Stilwells methods - they are effective, kind, and will work with ANY dog because they are reward based, meaning you use whatever motivates your dog most (food, toys, play) to reward them for doing well. Some people misunderstand the term 'positive reinforcement' or 'reward based' to mean you never say no, and you bribe the dog so it will only work for treats. That just isn't true. You still correct unwanted behaviours - but you have to work to find the cause (for example, instead of just telling your dog not to bark, you have to look at WHY your dog barks - is it afraid of something, is it bored, is it agressing? Then take steps to help its fear, control its aggression, or relieve its boredom). She also teaches distraction and redirection techniques that help turn unwanted behaviours into wanted ones. As for the 'bribery' arguement - again, not true. The rewards are used as a motivator at the beginning of training. Its a method that has been scientifically proven to work with most animals. With dogs however, because they are social creatures with a desire to please their people, you can phase out the rewards - once they understand the cue you are giving them and perform it well, then rewards become intermittent, until they become praise only. Some might not agree with her hard line view on punitive techniques and quick fixes (eg: shock and spray collars). But being from an area where its illegal for trainers to use those methods I can tell you that they are not needed. You don't have to make a dog even slightly uncomfortable to train it well, no matter how 'badly behaved' it is.
