Rating: 
Summary: The Most Essential Dog Behavior Book For All Dog Owners
Review: Noted dog behavior expert Jean Donaldson, with contributions from another well-known expert, Ian Dunbar, explains the "why" of dog behavior in straight, simple terms. The first page of Chapter 1. Getting the Dog's Perspective sets the tone for the book by openly discounting the commonly held Walt Disney image of dogs in favor of the more logical B.F. Skinner view. Jean describes dog behavior from the dog's point of view.This book is about motivation, positive reinforcement, and empathy. There is actually an excercise in empathy starting on page 97 that makes the reader think twice about punishing a dog for being a dog. (read the book and you'll know what I mean) With easy-to-understand, logical dog behavior theory and chapter titles such as "It's all Chew Toys to Them" and "Lemon Brains but we Still Love Them" I couldn't put this book down! I now have two of the most well-trained mongrels on the planet! Ok, that last part was a bit exaggerated but BUY THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: Culture Clash
Review: If you want plain, no nonsense advice about dog trainig, buy this book. Jean Donaldson, much like Ian Dunbar, bases training techniques on positive reinfocement. In a nut shell her, advice works. In time, so will your dog.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Essential
Review: As breeder of Australian Shepherds, this is a book I will be sending out with every puppy I sell. I have not enjoyed a dog book more. So much of what Jean says..is "oh my god, of course, that makes sense! ", but seldom put into use. If you don't have this book in your personal library yet, GET IT!
Rating: 
Summary: not a fad, not a quick fix
Review: Be warned: Jean Donaldson's writing style is abrupt. Like the (few) negative reviews mention, she does lecture and there is a tone of "my way or the highway". But that's because the stakes are so high. Watching people spend time, money and tears hurting their dogs in the name of "training" is enough to make anyone abrupt. My dog is another dog saved by Culture Clash. The traditional trainers (all three very effective, very experienced) I hired recommended that I "try again" and give my aggressive dog back to the shelter. She would have been put down--she was snappy, growly, and obnoxious. The positive trainer I consulted with recommended that I start treating my dog like a dog and told me to read the Culture Clash. We've worked in small increments using positive methods and made AMAZING progress. My dog is not a sweet, love-everyone kind of girl but she is a well trained, well socialized girl who gets lots of compliments. the training techniques and the approach to dog-human relationships described in this book are not quick fixes. You won't get instant results. You will get rock-solid information grounded in behavioral (dog and human) science that allows you to create a training program that will produce results.
Rating:
Summary: Makes you want to get up and train your dog!
Review: I liked most of this book, but was bothered by a few flaws. Donaldson seems to have a good intuitive understanding of dogs, which is probably why she can train so well and use clicker training so effectively. I enjoyed her insights into dog behavior and how dogs and people are truly different creatures. I was less convinced by the later chapters addressing specific training issues, more because they didn't seem to be follow in any particular order. I also am not quite as convinced as she is that dog's are 100% Skinnerian, behaviorally oriented beings. If you're particularly sensitive about your relationship with your pets, you may find Donaldson's attitude a bit off-putting. I found it humorous, and sometimes a little helpful to know just how silly I'd been.
Rating:
Summary: She's not the head of Behavior & Training for nothing!!
Review: This book is at the very top of my must read list for clients. I completely disagree with the previous review. Jean donaldson is one of the best, most experienced trainers out there. She is also in charge of the Behavior & Training course at the SF SPCA. To put it bluntly, she knows her dogs! As a professional dog trainer who works with aggressive dogs regularly I can tell you that her methods DO work. If the other reviewer had problems it was probably due to inacurrate application of the methods. After all, training is a mechanical skill.
Rating: 
Summary: Some Unsound Advice, Can Be Dangerous
Review: Many of Jean's techniques are innocuous enough for most pet dogs, but I've seen some disastrous results w/aggressive dogs. I would encourage owners to find books that are not so faddish and rely on trainers who actually have experience working the more challenging dogs. I can't recommend this one to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous and Informational!
Review: This is such a great book! It completely blows old myths about dogs and dog training out of the water. Thankfully, as a first time dog owner, I'm on the right path with my new dog. Give this book as a gift to any new puppy owner and, of course, get it for yourself. Your dog and dogs everywhere will thank you!
Rating:
Summary: A must have
Review: I was gifted this book by a dog loving friend who knew that I'd love it. And I did. While I found moving around it hard at times - the author knew what she was talking about so sometimes everything wasn't in the sequence I would have liked it explained to me. However, it is all there. I wish I'd had this book or excerpts from it when I bought my first dog 11 years ago. I did my best as an owner, but after reading Jean's book it became apparent that my lack of knowledge about the true nature of dogs meant I was wandering around in a wilderness - and unfortunately so too were my beloved pooches. Not an easy read but worth perservering - there are gems in this book that need to reach a wider section of dogdom. The sooner the better for both species!
Rating:
Summary: Culture Clash
Review: This book will fool you. It is unassuming...Just another in the parade of books on dog behavior...NOT AT ALL! I have been training dogs since 1979, put a boatload of titles on dogs (Siberian Huskies mind you, not the easiest of breeds for obedience training), even taught obedience classes. I thought I had it made with a new Border Collie. Smart? Yes. Easy to train? Not exactly. He's got some complex behavior pattern going on, part prey-drive, possibly part aggression, and part obsessive compulsive behavior. I can't "shape" some of his behaviors, but he certainly "shaped" some of mine (such as lightening fast reflexes that I now have). THIS BOOK may have opened the door to understanding a very complex animal. It was like a breath of fresh air for someone who had "tried everything." I have tried so many techniques on this particular dog... clicked myself silly, jerked on the chain collar, the force collar, and (my heavens) even (when nothing else worked) used an electric collar. FORCE is not the ANSWER! THIS BOOK helps provide answers! It is an absolute MUST for anyone involved in dogs. NO KIDDING -- it will be a boost to the novice dog trainer, and the "expert" alike.
| 
