Dog Training For Dummies

by Joachim Volhard, Wendy Volhard

Mit der richtigen Methode lernt ein Hund gerne, was der Mensch von ihm will. Mit "Hundeerziehung für Dummies" erfahren Sie, wie Sie mit positiver Verstärkung Ihrem Hund alle wichtigen Kommandos beibringen, aber auch wie der Welpe stubenrein und das Stöckchen tatsächlich zurückgebracht wird. Das Autorenteam Jack und Wendy Volhard geben Ihnen Antworten auf Ihre brennenden Fragen: Wie spricht man ein Verbot aus und welche Hilfsmittel gibt es? Wieso lässt mich mein Hund nicht mehr auf das Sofa? Muss er mich zur Begrüßung wirklich immer anspringen? Diese freundliche und leicht verständliche Anleitung macht aus Herrchen und Frauchen stolze Hundebesitzer mit einem zufriedenen, gehorsamen Hund.

Genres: Nonfiction, Dogs, Reference, Animals, Ebooks

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2001

Reviews

[Odette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm. Puppy's voor Dummies vond ik fijner.

Dit boek is nogal wollig geschreven. Alles had veel korter en bondiger gekunnen. Daardoor vind ik Puppy's voor Dummies een hogere informatiedichtheid hebben.

Ik vond Puppy's voor Dummies ook concreter. Dit is wat algemener, over het idee bijvoorbeeld, en in Puppy's voor Dummies staat dan ook hoe je het moet doen.

Nog een derde minpunt voor deze tov Puppy's voor Dummies: daarin worden verschillende aanpakken naast elkaar uitgelegd, zodat je je eigen weloverwogen keuze kunt maken. Deze beargumenteren een bepaalde methode, en raffelen dan nog even wat alternatieven af.

Ik denk dat het deel over specifieke problemen oplossen wel nuttig kan zijn, maar dat soort onderwerpen staan ook in Puppy's voor Dummies... Die heb ik in de kast staan (en daar ben ik erg blij mee, zoals je kunt merken!) en ik denk niet dat dit een hele nuttige aanvulling is. Heb twee of drie interessante dingen hieruit gehaald.. Niet heel veel dus.

Als ik later een specifiek probleem blijk te hebben sla ik hem misschien nog een keer open in de bieb ter referentie, maar ik verwacht het eerlijk gezegd niet echt.

[Mackenziedugas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dog Training for Dummies by Jack and Wendy Volhard ©2005 (a dog training guide) wasn’t a great book. I think it is a good beginner guide to dog training but explains mainly just the basic commands. It does, however; go deep into explanation on why a dog does or doesn’t listen. For example if the dog isn’t sitting when you want him to sit, most likely it is you. Think about your tone of voice or your posture. Use a firm, not necessarily loud but distinct voice when talking to your dog. Don’t hang over your dog because they may feel threatened or be forced to worry about you at all times. The stages of development in a dog are of course the most important; same as for a child, at a certain point you have to let the puppy figure out things on their own. I think it also went too much into detail about certain trials and shows for your dog. If you were looking specifically at certain event such as an obedience trial then this is the way to go. However; it did get a little repetitive again with the same theme of basic obedience; sit, stay, down, come, leave-it, etc. Jack and Wendy Volhard are both dog trainers and are American Kennel Club judges. They also compete for obedience trials with their own dogs. Overall, I was not impressed with this book. I wish it could’ve explained more about certain tricks and when a dog gets older, why they don’t listen as much.

[Bárbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book for beginners but from the half to the end it concentrates on training for winning prizes and stuff in which I dislike very much. my dog is now half-well-trained and that is absolutely good and essencial to our comunication, but animals in general are inocent and lovable, we should not want to win money with them, we should not focus on the breed, we should not buy animals at all. there are many lovable friends in shelters that need our love and help.

[tris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Wish there's an updated version of the same topic, like with new(er) methods and training techniques.

[Becky Loader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good refresher manual.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Published in 2001, this book relies on several outdated and disproven dog training beliefs, like the "owner" should eat and walk through doorways before the dog, to show him who's boss. (Eye roll.) The authors also call prong collars "very safe" and "the most humane training collar". To be fair, these were the accepted norms at the time.
I was interested to read the section on difficult dog behaviors. We have an anxious barker and this book's advice is to use a shock collar or one that sprays citronella at the dog when they bark, both of which have been proven to increase anxiety in dogs, particularly those who are already anxious. (Sargisson RJ, Butler R, Elliffe D. An evaluation of the aboistop citronella-spray collar as a treatment for barking of domestic dogs. ISRN Vet Sci. 2012 Jan 23;2011:759379. doi: 10.5402/2011/759379. PMID: 23738115; PMCID: PMC3658554.)
They also spout the "tug of war causes aggression" myth (also disproven - Johnstone, G. (2024, March 26). Is tug-of-war bad for dogs?. American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lif...)

While there is plenty of worthy advice here that is still relevant over 20 years after publication, that is weaved in with outdated methods and beliefs. If you do choose to read this anyway, take it with a grain of salt and research more recent methods before believing anything you read here.

[Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars because there were a few helpful tips (especially the recall game and the step by step instructions for teaching a dog to retrieve). This book is probably a very good guide if you are getting a purebred puppy from a reputable breeder.

If, however, you adopted a 6 month old mutt like me - not so much. Lots of the "lessons" and training methods rely on the owner having had the dog from 8-10 weeks old, and even the ones that didn't had notes that rescue and/or older dogs might object, etc. - but no tips on how to deal with that.

Some of the advice in this book also did not agree with the other research I did independently of this book, and much of it felt like an advertisement for their other products. I found many of the explanations for how to teach specific commands extremely hard to follow, as well.

This is by far my least favorite I've read in the Dummies series - I definitely recommend the more generic (but WAY more helpful) Dogs for Dummies book, especially since that is written more for the everyday dog owner - this book assumes you are getting a small puppy from a breeder and that you want to enter some form of competition(s) with your dog.

[Shauna Gowans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dog training for dummies has some good information, but overall I wasn't too impressed. I felt like a good portion was the authors promoting their products like dog food, vitamins and holistic remedies for health issues. I was a little disappointed especially in the sections where they talked about food and veterinary care. I feel like some of the health information was misleading, especially since that stuff should be discussed with the veterinarian that the owner of the dog works with. They went to school and have the training and should be the source of that information for owners. I feel like they are good dog trainers, but needed to not include their opinions on types of food and health care. I liked the insight they provided on typical pitfalls that owners make when training and the tips on avoiding those pitfalls. Overall it was a decent resource, but I will only be referencing so much.

[Cara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some of the methods used in this book were a bit sketchy to me. Although this book had useful advice and information, most of it was in the first 25-40% of the book. After that it just dives into different dog competitions. So if you're looking to train your dog competitively this might be a good one for you, if you're looking for simple commands there are probably better books out there. My puppy has responded to some other book methods better.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really great advice. I was horrified when this book suggested using a spiked walking collar but after reading more decided to try. Bought a higher quality one on Amazon and I’m a believer. My pulling street rescue dog acted more secure and no longer pulls on the leash.happy dog and happy owner. Lots of other good advice esp on training.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for people that want a general view on all areas to train their dogs. But I felt they didn’t go into enough details in some areas that I personally need help on with my dog. Also they sometimes it was feeling like a sales pitch for products they have to sell. It also took me a while to complete all the chapters in the book.

[Johan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lost interest in the book and didn't finish it.
Too wordy. Lack of pictures or drawings as in a picture is worth a 1000 words, for example when explaining the different types of dog collars without illustrations. They not only recommended buying stuff, but also buying the stuff at specific online shops. Seriously?

[Henk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful and comprehensive book when you're getting a puppy. The instructions for exercises could be a bit more practical, and a bit too focused on the US/Europe situation, not meant for rescue owners. Nevertheless, easy to read and useful.

[Bekah Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was really good at covering a lot of the basics, but was unclear on a lot of things. For example, throughout the book it talked about performing a "check" with the leash, but it never fully explained how to correctly perform a check.

[Joanne Pinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well constructed, but maybe a bit more information than I actually wanted. I would have benefitted more from an abridged version... but absolutely great if you are just setting about getting a puppy.
One thing I did learn: terriers are not like other dogs.

[The Cook book nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son summarized many sections of this book for homework this month. He found it very helpful as he worked with our sheltie puppy and golden retriever.

[Trevor Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much to say except this is a comprehensive book on raising and training a dog. It covered literally every question I could think of. Well worth the read!

[John Majerle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found too much of the advice unreliable.

[Ilias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative. I learned more things and I will use them. Well written and straight forward.

[Ben Kellermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Make training fun and effective

This friendly guide shows you how to select the right training method for your dog, based on his unique personality, to reach your desired goals. Whether you want to teach Buddy to sit or master retrieving, you'll get expert training tips and techniques for you and your dog — to ensure a mutually respectful relationship with your four-legged friend.

Concentrate on canines — discover why your dog acts the way she does, understand her nutritional needs, and ready yourself for the task of training your dog

Prep for your pup — prepare your home for your puppy's arrival, discover the importance of socialization, and get started on housetraining

Put your best paw forward — teach basic commands like Sit, Stay, and Down, and get the scoop on how to deal with doggie don'ts like chewing, digging, and excessive barking

Take training to the next level — get involved in organized dog activities and competitions, where you'll both show off impressive tricks like retrieving, figure 8s, and much more

Open the book and find:

Step-by-step instructions for teaching your dog basic commands

Helpful advice on crate training

Safe ways to address aggression and separation anxiety

Tips for teaching Buddy to behave himself around people and other dogs

Techniques to keep your senior dog feeling young

Health issues that can interfere with training

Experts to turn to for training help

Learn to:

Use positive reinforcement as an effective teaching tool

Select the gear you need for training success

Teach the basics including Sit, Stay, and Down

Eliminate unwanted behavior

**

[Jordy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Om alvast voor te bereiden op het houden van de hond in de toekomst, heeft mijn vriendin mij dit boek gegeven. Over het algemeen wordt je op een rustige wijze door alle zaken heen geleid waar je op een gegeven moment tegen aan zal gaan lopen vanaf het moment dat je een hond in huis neemt. Vooral de uitleg van verschillende commando's en hoe je ze stap voor stap bij je hond aan kan leren worden erg gewaardeerd. Ook lijkt het of de schrijvers goed weten hoe je jouw hond gezond moet houden door hun ervaring.

Wel zijn er een aantal minpunten aan het boek. Zoals ik net noemde hebben de schrijvers veel kennis over de gezondheid van honden, maar een aantal punten verbazen mij toch wel enigszins. Zo raden ze aan om honden aan acupunctuur te laten doen en om homeopathische (jawel, die enorm verdunde "medicijnen") geneeskunde toe te passen. Nu zijn natuurlijke geneeskundige kruiden geen probleem voor mij, maar ik denk eerder dat de methodes die de schrijvers voorschrijven eerder een psychologisch effect hebben op de hondenbaasjes, dan dat de honden er echt nut van gaan hebben.

Op deze punten na is het boek wel een aanrader. Ook de gevorderde sectie is goed om door te nemen, want dat kan je goed voorbereiden op het lastigere werk. Wel gaan de schrijvers is te lang in op professionele hondenwedstrijden, want daar kom je als beginnend baasje niet zo snel aan toe. Voor de rest biedt het boek een mooi overzicht en leest ook makkelijk weg.

[Kateri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like some of the advice offered, but I will definitely say that much of it didn't work for us and our stubborn Schnauzer/Terrier mutt. In one section about curbing barking they said that dogs do not understand cause and effect. I can tell you with 100 percent certainty that our dog understands cause and effect. We live in an apartment building and every time the doormen calls our dog knows that there is a high probability someone is coming up to the apartment. He then waits in high alert for any abnormal sound so that he can bark like crazy (whether or not someone is coming up). Unfortunately this book cannot help us curb his barking because the authors won't even admit that he is barking for a reason.

[Moustafa Abdelhamid · Rating 3 out of 5]

a comprehensive read on how to train your dogs effectively. I already have a 6 years old mixed breed dog and after reading this book i noticed that i did most of its guide steps by instinct but at the same time realized what i did wrong during his upbringing. The book talks about all the topics from basic training to advanced competition training which i found interesting but the only set back for me was that it needed more visual effects (Pictures) while going through each step on how to train a dog a particular command/trick. All in all, as my first for Dummies book, i am pleased with what I've learned and what i have reinforced and am looking forward to getting another for Dummies book.

[Domonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for Max, my friend Jude's miniature schnauzer that I have recently filed for possession of.

I'm still yet to perfect the nose-snatch of a dog biscuit left on Max's nose ... A new years res ...

[Jacob Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good to start, but gets way into how to make your dog perform in shows and what is required. If you're looking for more focus on how to train your dogs on the basics with different techniques, move on.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this 4 stars because it's convinced me that there is hope that our from-the-pound dog will someday understand the concept of yard=bathroom.

But...if it doesn't work, I'm coming back and taking away 2 stars ;)

[Gareth Burrows · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a broad subject, considering different breads behave differently, this is a well structured and solid introduction to the minds of dogs, their owners and how to train both of them. Ultimately if you are training a dog to be a good pet, this book will likely cover your needs

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful.

[Randy Loveless · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful tool for learning the basics of dog training with positive reinforcement. Easy reading format.

[Vive-un-Livre]

I'm sure had I done everything this book says to do, I'd have a really well trained dog. As it is, I have a semi-trained very intelligent best friend who makes his own choices.