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Civilizing the City Dog: A Guide to Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs in an Urban Environment
Residing in a large, congested city presents special problems to city dwellers who own aggressive dogs. There are few places to escape the constant stream of people, automobiles, dogs and other circumstances that may trigger an aggressive or reactive dog. Just walking out the door of the apartment can be a challenge.
Realizing the city dog is presented with constant action, with no room to avoid threatening situations, Pamela S. Dennison and Jolanta Benal have written a book addressing those very issues that make training an aggressive or reactive dog in a large city unique. With clarity, the authors guide the reader down the path to rehabilitation. They begin with recommending dry runs and having a helper, training indoors and working to prevent reactive behavior. Advice is included on what to do if the dog goes over the threshold or if a real catastrophe strikes, and how to become inventive in sticky situations. The authors also focus on teaching the owner/handler to learn how to handle their own anxieties or fears.
Although at times the authors refer to Dennison s previous book, How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong, this book is very capable of standing on its own. It is full of solid, well-thought-out information that the owner of an aggressive or reactive dog can put into use. With time, patience and dedication, readers will soon be walking their dog down a crowded street with confidence.
Realizing the city dog is presented with constant action, with no room to avoid threatening situations, Pamela S. Dennison and Jolanta Benal have written a book addressing those very issues that make training an aggressive or reactive dog in a large city unique. With clarity, the authors guide the reader down the path to rehabilitation. They begin with recommending dry runs and having a helper, training indoors and working to prevent reactive behavior. Advice is included on what to do if the dog goes over the threshold or if a real catastrophe strikes, and how to become inventive in sticky situations. The authors also focus on teaching the owner/handler to learn how to handle their own anxieties or fears.
Although at times the authors refer to Dennison s previous book, How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong, this book is very capable of standing on its own. It is full of solid, well-thought-out information that the owner of an aggressive or reactive dog can put into use. With time, patience and dedication, readers will soon be walking their dog down a crowded street with confidence.
- GenresDogs
84 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2007
9 people want to read
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October 4, 2017
Lots of really great info in this small book- I'm wishing I had gotten it YEARS ago, as much of it I have had to learn the hard way. Fantastic advice for custom-tailoring a counter-conditioning training plan for those who live in a more populous environment.
I dinged one star from the rating because this book is an "add on" to Dennison's other book, How To Right A Dog Gone Wrong, referring to it rather than going over some of the more involved training techniques. While I happen own this book as well, I think it would be very frustrating for those who do not and don't like to be roped into making multiple purchases when they thought they could get away with just the one book.
However, with that said, there was plenty of good, sound training advice and how-to's in this book, so that you can use it as a stand-alone if you don't mind the occasional remarks to "see her other book" for such-and-such. But please don't let this turn you off from Dennison's books, as I've found each one I've read to be of enormous benefit, and I highly recommend the following, especially if you find yourself dealing with a reactive/aggressive dog: The Complete Idiot's Guide To Positive Dog Training, Bringing Light To Shadow, and How To Right A Dog Gone Wrong. I use her training methods in conjunction with Grisha Stewart's Behavior Adjustment Training with great success and find myself recommending the above-mentioned books on a regular basis.
Bottom line, this is a great little book that will help you and your reactive/aggressive pup to make an easier way of city living, and is definitely a worthwhile read!
I dinged one star from the rating because this book is an "add on" to Dennison's other book, How To Right A Dog Gone Wrong, referring to it rather than going over some of the more involved training techniques. While I happen own this book as well, I think it would be very frustrating for those who do not and don't like to be roped into making multiple purchases when they thought they could get away with just the one book.
However, with that said, there was plenty of good, sound training advice and how-to's in this book, so that you can use it as a stand-alone if you don't mind the occasional remarks to "see her other book" for such-and-such. But please don't let this turn you off from Dennison's books, as I've found each one I've read to be of enormous benefit, and I highly recommend the following, especially if you find yourself dealing with a reactive/aggressive dog: The Complete Idiot's Guide To Positive Dog Training, Bringing Light To Shadow, and How To Right A Dog Gone Wrong. I use her training methods in conjunction with Grisha Stewart's Behavior Adjustment Training with great success and find myself recommending the above-mentioned books on a regular basis.
Bottom line, this is a great little book that will help you and your reactive/aggressive pup to make an easier way of city living, and is definitely a worthwhile read!
Displaying 1 of 1 review