The Complete Idiot's Guide to Choosing, Training, & Raising a Dog

by Sarah Hodgson

From the first-time owner to the longtime fancier, everyone who loves this versatile Hound will benefit from the authors' lifelong, second generation of knowledge presented here. All aspects are covered , from care and grooming and medical aspects, to having fun with your Dachsie.

330 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 1996

Reviews

[Taveri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't have a dog, i'm not planning on getting a dog (i have raised puppies).  It is double ironic that i ended up dog sitting after reading this; a dog that was blind and deaf (so i couldn't use any of the visual or verbal communication learned from this book).

Some of it seemed quite basic; i guess that's why it has "idiot's guide..." in the title.

Key parts i noted:

· there are 142 breeds subdivided into seven groups: Sporting, Non-sporting, Hound, Working, Herding, Terrier and Toy.

· Sporting are happy souls, love to be involved with family activities, take to training well and view strangers as potentia friends.  Prolonged isolation urasets them.

· if you are getting a puppy the best age is between 8 and 12 weeks

· before picking a dog, walk with him, look into his eyes > does it click?

· each puppy has a character of its own.  Each will approach other puppies in its own way.  Bright and energetic ones are bossy.  Next in line are confident and happy; is great with older children.  The Middleman will defend herself in wrestling but would rather explore her surroundings.  The Passive is shy and needs training to enhance his self-image.  The Shy is happiest curled in your lap but is not good around children because loud noises and chaos send her into shock.

· ways to pick out a puppy is to lift him off the ground and see if he squirms.  Cradle her upside down to see how she reacts.  Sit next to him and stroke him 15 times to see if he relaxes or scampers away.  Get up and walk and see if he follows or scampers away.  Clack spoons above her to see if she wants to play or cowers from the noise.

· don't train two at a time > they'll eind each other more interesting than you.

· how a puppy relates to littermates is how she'll relate to you.

· Puppies and dogs hate being alone at night.  Your dog should sleep near you at night.  Your needs a couple of weeks to feel at home.

· A good dog trainer: never blames the dog; recognizes uniqueness in each dog; accepts and modifies his own personality; understands role in the training; and learns from the dog.

· Never blame the dog > the dog will repeat whatever gets attention.  Make the dog want to work with you.

· to start with the dog doesn't know too much but is willing to learn.

· the book has a lot on leashes; it's not to page 100 that the author gets to Commands and walks through them meticulously: "Let's Go", "Sit", "Wait and OK," "Excuse Me", and how to Pottie train [ I thought that could have come first.]

· Silent treatment is effective for curtailing jumpers.

· put peanut butter in a hollow bone, when leaving (to distract from your departure).

· it's not until page 138 that she gets to the Main Commands: Heel, Stay (p141), Come (143) and Down (148).  This section was the most useful part of the book.

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[Jasmine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing in here you couldn't get from any other dog training guide. It's all pretty generic information about choosing a puppy, what equipment to buy, and basic obedience training. There are a few semi-interesting tricks, but nothing above the level of 'high-five' or 'roll-over'. And by now the training techniques are slightly outdated. A good book for beginners or kids/adults getting their first dog, but nothing special.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm reading all the dog books I can find because of Chase.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great tips for training a new puppy!