Before You Get Your Puppy

by Ian Dunbar

When you choose a new puppy, you need to meet six developmental deadlines before your puppy is just five months old. "BEFORE You Get Your Puppy" covers the first three developmental deadlines covering the period of puppy selection until your puppy's first week at home. 1st Developmental Your Education About Puppy Education - Before you search for a puppy you need to complete your education about puppy education. You need to know how to select a good puppy and how puppies work. Selecting a puppy is similar to selecting a Do lots of research beforehand and "test drive" a wide variety. But first, you need to learn how to drive. 2nd Developmental Evaluating Your Prospective Puppy's Progress - Before you choose your puppy, you need to know how to assess your prospective puppy's current socialization and educational status. Regardless of breed or breeding, if socialization, housetraining, and basic manners are not well underway by eight weeks of age, the puppy is already developmentally retarded. 3rd Developmental Errorless Housetraining & Chewtoy-Training Make certain that an errorless housetraining and chewtoy-training program is instituted from the very first day your puppy comes home.

Genres: Dogs, Nonfiction, Reference

104 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 29, 2011

About the author

Veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and dog trainer, Dr. Ian Dunbar received his veterinary degree and a Special Honors degree in Physiology & Biochemistry from the Royal Veterinary College (London University) plus a doctorate in animal behavior from the Psychology Department at UC Berkeley, where he researched the development of social hierarchies and aggression in domestic dogs.

He has authored numerous books and DVDs about puppy/dog behavior and training, including AFTER You Get Your Puppy, How To Teach A New Dog Old Tricks and the SIRIUS® Puppy Training video.

In 1982, Dr. Dunbar designed and taught the world's very first off-leash puppy socialization and training classes -- SIRIUS® Puppy Training. Subsequently, he created and developed the San Francisco SPCA's Animal Behavior Department, the American Kennel Club's Gazette "Behavior" column, which he wrote for seven years, and the K9 GAMES®, which were first held in San Francisco in 1993 and continue as annual events in Japan and France. He hosted the popular UK television series Dogs With Dunbar for five seasons and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including the Today Show (US) and Dash Village (Japan).

Reviews

[Alice Driscoll · Rating 1 out of 5]

Road I would honestly give this book a negative number if I could. It's definitely outdated for modern times. Im a dog mom and a special needs mom..... to start a book off with if wasnt raised in x environment go somewhere else...
Yup..... maybe my personal beliefs of making a rescue a service dog CAN be done with LOTS of work... got in the way for this book but i won't bother reading anymore by this author. 🤷‍♀️

[Hilary "Fox" · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is available either in print or as a free PDF on Dogstar Daily.

Ian Dunbar is considered by many to be the father of modern dog training. His techniques are repeated by many more popular books, and some now seem so obvious as to be common sense. Of course, common sense isn't all that common, so errors still persist in many people's dog handling. Something as simple as encouraging the dog to eliminate prior to going on a walk so that the dog will view the walk as reward rather than holding on for as long as possible before succumbing to elimination for fear of the walk ending... it's a basic dog training fact that many have never learned.

This is a good foundation text to read and then to grow on. While his tone won't be suitable to everyone (he often frames things a bit hyperbolically, although that's understandable considering how lax many are in their training) there is still a lot of wisdom in his words that people can take to heart. This booklet pretty much provides everything you need to know, and coupled with the second booklet, I could see this being the best free primer for dog training possible to own.

I'd happily encourage this to anyone thinking of getting a dog, although I would encourage them (as this book does) to use this as a jumping-off point rather than the be-all end-all book of dog training. More knowledge rarely hurts, as long as you're coming from a good starting point and trying to train and help your dog rather than simply dominate it as so many still sadly try to do.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think that I will not be a fan of Dunbar's works. His writing is the cornerstone for much of the behavior training we now have today, and it is important---but reading his two free books left a bad taste in my mouth. He comes across as a fear-mongerer, demanding perfection and adamant that any mistakes spells utter destruction!! Maybe he was trying to have some kind of dry humor or something? Honestly, there are better books with a much more realistic view (patricia mcconnell, brenda aloff, jean donaldson to name a few).

If you are into dog training and behavior on a serious level and want to know as much as possible, then go ahead and read this book just to say you have.

[Георги Бранкованов (Grim) · Rating 4 out of 5]

На първо, четене тази книга дава привидно разумни съвети. Скоро ще разберем дали и на практика са такива.

[Rob Lake · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book contains so much rubbish about selecting a puppy. For example, before a puppy is 8 weeks old it should have exposed to 100 people. I doubt if any responsible breeder would want that number of people coming into their kennels mixing with their not fully vaccinated puppies. Also that if a puppy urinates or defecates inside then that is a disaster with lifelong consequences. Plainly most trainers would recognise this to be a ridiculous starement.
I have been training dogs for over 40 years, gaining both Obedience and tracking titles, so I am no newcomer. I had not read Dunbar before but with a new puppy thought I would explore some different training ideas. Dunbar is not someone I would wish to follow. I made the mistake of downloading this and some of his other books online and am now bombarded with emails from his organisation. Whatever reputation Dunbar may have had in the past it seems now that it is all now about push marketing.

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-reading this, because the first time I more or less skimmed through it and didn't remember all that much. I'd say it's a good starter guide, but the tone of it is rather unfortunate - the author is basically threatening you with complete doom and gloom if you do not do as he suggests by a certain week/month in your puppy's life.
Well I'd say there are also other options and dogs take various times to learn the ropes, so do not despair if your dog is not following Dunbar's plan to the dot. :) Use the ideas but implement them in your own time.
Can recommend, but read it with a grain of salt.

[Jesse JP · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the free ebook version available through the Dunbar academy. I have a lot of respect for Ian Dunbar but this book is dated. I recommend reading the AFTER book more than the BEFORE. Both are good general knowledge about puppy development and socialisation backed by someone with extensive research and understanding in puppy development, but I would also make sure you read other more up to date resources as well; especially for modern approaches to dog training.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this book has good advice, but I found the style to be a bit...pushy? I can't find the right word. I understand the want for errorless training, but to me it seemed a bit condescending. I have read a couple of other books that I preferred, but it is a good starting point if you want to prepare yourself for getting a puppy.

[Crystal Sissons · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are anticipating the arrival of our puppy in less than a week. This book was recommended by a dear friend, and it was so helpful! I have had two dogs, but the suggestions here will change how we welcome our new pup! If you are planning to get a new puppy, this is a must read!

[Bucket · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good advice, but it doesn't delve very deeply. It just hammers down on the same 4 or 5 concepts over and over and over and over and over again. It's ok to get started, and Mr. Dunbar is very kind to have made it available for free on his website.

[Patricia Ribeiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything is a life or death situation. It's SUPER dramatic, and there are times that he is basically calling people stupid/dumb.
BUT
It's easy to read, informative, and helpful, especially for first-timers. I'm glad I read it.

[Gabriel Dario Villa Acevedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente

Excelente, mensaje claro y conciso en los relacionado con los pasos generales a tener en cuenta para adquirir y educar un cachorro.

[She Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy read for brushing up on puppy preparation or for preparing for a first puppy experience

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good refresher since we have not had a puppy for 12 years.

[szymborskalyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the succinctness :)

[Dita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ian Dunbar is a pioneer in the field of dog training. Overall, decent information but a bit dated. The developmental deadlines are still relevant.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Outdated, fear-mongering, and unhelpful. Waste of time

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every veterinarian, breeder, training professional and pet parent should be familiar with and working hard at the deadlines mentioned in this book. If a breeder hasn't started working with their puppies at a very young age, they are set up for failure and ultimately are more likely to have behavioral issues that will result in euthanization.

This should be required reading for anyone getting a puppy - regardless of whether or not they are from a reputable breeder, pet store, backyard breeder, or rescue. Just as humans have critical developmental stages, much of a puppy's success is dependent on reaching developmental deadlines.

As with any dog training philosophy, there are some strategies that differ between Dunbar's version of force free, science based training when compared with other prominent names in the industry. I think what is presented here (and in Dunbar's other works) is a solid, middle of the road strategy that will quickly and successfully train a puppy in terms that anyone can relate to and understand.


Be sure to read the important book that follows: After You Get Your Puppy

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tone is a bit too judgmental in my opinion, most puppy books are a bit more encouraging rather than accusatory. I understand getting a puppy is a very very big decision that most people take much lighter than it should be, so perhaps since I already read multiple puppy books this one just seems a bit too negative to me. Good information especially regarding the developmental deadlines.

[João Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Útil na criação de um cachorro mais equilibrado, é um livro bastante conciso. Existem outras opções com maior grau de detalhamento abordando o assunto. As dicas ainda assim são valiosas, vale a leitura. Só não espere ter todos os problemas resolvidos apenas com essa leitura.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, with some interesting and helpful hints and advice. Some recommendations seem a little extreme, but for the most this book is full of useful advice.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

good advice, but I'm not getting my puppy a "litter box"

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent primer on puppyhood! I keep it on my bookshelf and re-read it every several years - whenever I get a new puppy!

[Horacio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se lee rápido. Buenos consejos muy prácticos y bien explicados. Un poco extremos sus métodos y el tono no da margen de error.