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The Ultimate Guide to Raising a Puppy
The ultimate guide to puppy-care from the host of the hit TV show It's Me or the Dog .
Victoria Stilwell's bestselling canine care guides have helped hundreds of thousands of owners across the world raise happy and healthy dogs. Now, the world-renowned dog trainer and TV presenter is back with The Ultimate Guide to Raising a Puppy - the definitive guide to puppy care and training.
Rejecting dominance-based and traditional training techniques, Victoria promotes positive reinforcement techniques to help you raise and train a happy and healthy puppy. Packed with essential knowledge and advice, you'll learn all you need to know about being a puppy owner.
If you want your puppy to develop into a happy, well-behaved and friendly adult dog, this is the guide you need.
Victoria Stilwell's bestselling canine care guides have helped hundreds of thousands of owners across the world raise happy and healthy dogs. Now, the world-renowned dog trainer and TV presenter is back with The Ultimate Guide to Raising a Puppy - the definitive guide to puppy care and training.
Rejecting dominance-based and traditional training techniques, Victoria promotes positive reinforcement techniques to help you raise and train a happy and healthy puppy. Packed with essential knowledge and advice, you'll learn all you need to know about being a puppy owner.
If you want your puppy to develop into a happy, well-behaved and friendly adult dog, this is the guide you need.
- GenresDogsNonfiction
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Published April 2, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 11, 2022
Stilwell azt a vonalat képviseli a kutyatartásban, amivel nagyon tudok azonosulni, így sok mindenben megerősített az új kiskutyánk befogadásával kapcsolatban és bőven olvastam új dolgokat is a könyvében.
A témák arányai miatt maradt bennem némi hiányérzet. Ezek a kutyapszichológiára koncentráló könyvek rengeteget tudnak rizsázni mindenféle háttérkutatásokról (ami egyébként érdekes), de egy csomó elemi, gyakorlati dologról egyszerűen nem írnak egy hangot se. És hát az első, meghatározó napokban, hetekben inkább praktikus útmutatóra lenne szüksége a gazdinak, mintsem a kutya szervezetésben termelődő stresszvegyületek és hormonok pontos listájára.
De jó könyv ettől függetlenül, tényleg élveztem.
A témák arányai miatt maradt bennem némi hiányérzet. Ezek a kutyapszichológiára koncentráló könyvek rengeteget tudnak rizsázni mindenféle háttérkutatásokról (ami egyébként érdekes), de egy csomó elemi, gyakorlati dologról egyszerűen nem írnak egy hangot se. És hát az első, meghatározó napokban, hetekben inkább praktikus útmutatóra lenne szüksége a gazdinak, mintsem a kutya szervezetésben termelődő stresszvegyületek és hormonok pontos listájára.
De jó könyv ettől függetlenül, tényleg élveztem.
December 18, 2019
"The more extroverted you are, the more attentive your puppy will be, but if you have a more introverted personality that inhibits your communicative abilities, your pup might struggle to understand you." (p. 87)
Aaand that's where this author lost me. Lady, have you ever met any introverts? We're not actually incapable of communication, for one thing, and most of us like animals better than people. (For instance, I certainly like every animal on this planet more than I like you.) Implying that we're not suited to be dog owners is going to alienate 40-50% of your potential readership, but hey, you do you. I just wasn't expecting to be introvert-shamed in a puppy training manual.
Aaand that's where this author lost me. Lady, have you ever met any introverts? We're not actually incapable of communication, for one thing, and most of us like animals better than people. (For instance, I certainly like every animal on this planet more than I like you.) Implying that we're not suited to be dog owners is going to alienate 40-50% of your potential readership, but hey, you do you. I just wasn't expecting to be introvert-shamed in a puppy training manual.
March 7, 2021
Some good tips in here, but I think I would have preferred more clear steps for puppy training. I was also a little annoyed with the overuse of the phrase, “First, check with your vet to be sure this behavior isn’t the result of a medical issue.” Her editor should have had her cut about half of these warnings, because it really distracted from the message by the end of the book.
April 15, 2021
#leyendofuerte otro manual práctico. En este caso el libro de Victoria Stilwell sobre crianza de cachorros. Qué esperar, desarrollo emocional y cognitivo, dieta, entrenamiento...un poco literatura básica sobre la crianza perruna. Nos ha servido de mucho porque criar un perro desde chico IT’S A LOT. También es verdad, que empezamos a ver muy buenos resultados!
Le doy: tres perritos chicos 🐶🐶🐶, un collar de diamantes 💎 y un muslo de pollo 🍗
Le doy: tres perritos chicos 🐶🐶🐶, un collar de diamantes 💎 y un muslo de pollo 🍗
October 23, 2024
Very enjoyable and educational read. Victoria provides many practical tips and tricks, as well as strong explanations of the reasoning behind her recommended training methods. It was also very heartfelt to include personal stories about her dogs.
June 29, 2024
Some interesting tidbits and insights regarding dog psychology and behavior, but I didn't get as much out of it as I'd hoped.
It seemed more like a discussion on the philosophy and psychology of raising a puppy. Not much practical training advice, more tips and ideas than concrete training methods.
On a side note, if I hear anything more about Chihuahua's rolling in crap...We get it, your dog likes to roll in crap. Did you need to tell me so many times? It's only a 200 page book! Was it really that much of a teachable moment for readers? I doubt it.
It seemed more like a discussion on the philosophy and psychology of raising a puppy. Not much practical training advice, more tips and ideas than concrete training methods.
On a side note, if I hear anything more about Chihuahua's rolling in crap...We get it, your dog likes to roll in crap. Did you need to tell me so many times? It's only a 200 page book! Was it really that much of a teachable moment for readers? I doubt it.
September 29, 2020
I'm a massive fan of Victoria and have probably watched every publicly available episode of her show Its Me or the Dog. Because I'm familiar with her and her methods there was little here that was entirely new to me but I did find it useful to have certain ideas repeated. This book is very much weighted towards explaining positive reinforcement training philosophy as well a promoting a better understanding of a dog's needs and motivations rather than a practical how-to guide. There were a few how-tos sprinkled in but I think more would have been beneficial and structured a bit better. I don't think this book lives up to its title. This is not an ultimate how-to guide in the slightest.
As with all training books for liability sake there is the constantly repeated 'take your dog to the vet if' and 'consult a licensed trainer if'.
As with all training books for liability sake there is the constantly repeated 'take your dog to the vet if' and 'consult a licensed trainer if'.
March 17, 2022
Some tips are handy and all the info's about a puppy phyche are interesting. I do agree with the fact that you should never hit a puppy or a dog and that positive training will give you better results. I also very strongly agree with the fact that in most cases, the problem is the owners, not the dog. Beeing consistent is the key as well a a good socialisation.
But I would have love more practical exercises for each chapter of the book, and a lot of the trainings are very much food, or a least treats orientated, which I don't necessarily agree.
But I would have love more practical exercises for each chapter of the book, and a lot of the trainings are very much food, or a least treats orientated, which I don't necessarily agree.
September 3, 2021
My husband and I just adopted a puppy and were a little under-prepared. This book made me feel a lot better. If I could give half stars, I'd give this 4.5. She does cover a lot of ground in this book, but she repeats some information more than necessary and leaves out some details I was interested in.
Overall, though, a really great overview of how to raise a puppy that is well-mannered but not so over-managed that it loses autonomy.
Overall, though, a really great overview of how to raise a puppy that is well-mannered but not so over-managed that it loses autonomy.
April 23, 2024
The book isn't so much a guide to raising a puppy, it's more a philosophy of raising a puppy or general advice about it. Which is fine, but having just gotten a new puppy I wanted more concrete and specific steps on various training topics.
May 27, 2021
Excellent resource. Covers all the basics of puppy ownership. I love how it reminds you when you may need to take your puppy to a vet. I think it’s really easy to forget there could be a medical issue with your dog causing a behavioral issue and assume it’s purely a training issue. One thing that was eye-opening to me was where she asks if your dog could interview you, would you pass? A lot of people get puppies based purely on aesthetics, but don’t really think about whether they would be a good match for the dog. I think periodically re-asking yourself that question is also a great way to make sure you’re meeting all of your dog’s needs.
March 2, 2022
I found it took too long to get what I had been looking for out of this book, and I just didn't really care for it. I found it repetitive in places, especially sections about positive dog training. This book discusses at length how not to train a puppy, and it took quite some time to get to practical, actionable steps I could be taking. There was definitely some great information in this book, especially in the latter half, but it felt like a slog to get to it.
January 6, 2022
This book reaffirmed my philosophy on dog training, and it encouraged me to apply my own theory of dog training into practice. The author advocates for positive reinforcement rather than negative reinforcement, and her rationale is logical. This book helped me build a reliable and trusting bond with my new pup.
October 25, 2022
I like her philosophy but the way the book is written is not concise, not well organized. Clearly says on the back cover it teaches how to introduce dogs to kids but I couldn’t find it. Even the index doesn’t have it.
September 4, 2020
I liked her jolly time of voice and her personal experiences. Many of her techniques complete contradict the other two books I read, but I’m glad I have multiple points of view now.
October 20, 2020
Lots of great info
March 7, 2021
Well written and surprisingly scientific! Fantastic book!
December 8, 2021
The advice given seemed sensible but I didn’t really feel like I learned anything in this book… A lot of it was a bit general for me.
February 7, 2022
4.5 stars - rounded to 5 stars and to distinguish it from the other dog training books out there.
July 7, 2022
Learned a lot of tips helping with new pup.
She was enjoyable as narrator.
She was enjoyable as narrator.
December 11, 2023
Positive training. Very helpful.
March 22, 2025
Pretty basic guide for the start of a training a puppy. I wanted a more direct guide like Week 1 do this, Week 2 do this. Not sure that exists though because all puppies are different.
October 28, 2025
3.5 stars. Bit better than fine
October 17, 2022
Overall this was great. This wasnt about teaching basic obedience but more about teaching good life and social skills and raising a dog that was confident and a problem solver. I think some may be disappointed in the lack of actual step by step training inside but the rest of this books info was really helpful.
Stilwell managed to address a lot of issues that owners commonly faced like barking, house training, and leash skills.
The first chapter even covered the initial consideration of getting a pup and how to prepare for bringing a puppy into your home. There was also a brief section on issues that can arise with getting a puppy and medical concerns for the first year of life.
Would have loved to see some diagrams or lists...or really anything to help break up the dryness of a chapter book. However all the information inside was very helpful and I've always appreciated what Stilwell has to offer.
Stilwell managed to address a lot of issues that owners commonly faced like barking, house training, and leash skills.
The first chapter even covered the initial consideration of getting a pup and how to prepare for bringing a puppy into your home. There was also a brief section on issues that can arise with getting a puppy and medical concerns for the first year of life.
Would have loved to see some diagrams or lists...or really anything to help break up the dryness of a chapter book. However all the information inside was very helpful and I've always appreciated what Stilwell has to offer.
October 5, 2024
In this handbook, the new or aspiring owner of a puppy will find basically everything they need to know. How to pick your puppy, when to take it home, how to care for it, how to train it and much, much more. There’s a lot of interesting trivia here as well as really helpful tips for the dog owners. It’s really ‘the ultimate guide’ I think every puppy owner needs to read.
The author took time to explain all the different types of dogs – for example what do herders do best or how lap dogs can also be working dogs. She also points out how harmful labels can be – when we put a label on our dog, for example we call it ‘friendly’ we already expect certain behavior from them in all times. But the real deal here is to teach your puppy that behavior and remember that it’s very dependent on a situation it’s in!
We also got some information here about so called ‘puppy farms’. It’s not common in Poland – to be honest it’s the first time I hear that phrase, but apparently something like that still functions in the other parts of the world. And honestly it seems so cruel I’m just glad the author explains how harmful they can be and advises us not to support those places.
Next issue – shock collars and pinch collars. We read that those tools do not solve the behavioral problems – they simple contain them at the time and the dog still doesn’t understand why it was hurt. The author says something very important here: ‘(…) ask your puppy or dog what she would prefer. Ask her if she would rather learn life skills using fun, humane methods or be taught with methods that cause pain and the promise of pain if she doesn’t comply. What do you think your puppy’s answer will be?’. I don’t think I need to add more to that.
I could literally explain the whole book for you like that. It’s just very reliable, it checks out with the things I already know or I’m learning at dog school. I also used some of the techniques pointed here in real life with my bundle of joy. And? They work! The book is packed with cool and helpful facts and tips. Moreover, everything here is given to us in a very straightforward way. The author doesn’t use complicated language, she gives examples and the whole book is very easy and fast read. It also teaches us to be our dog’s friends and guides. It teaches us how many good things can come out from the positive training and that being patient pays off. Because what we as dog owners sometimes forget – puppies are like small children. They love us, but they’re still very young, they’re just discovering the world, and we just need to let them do it in a safe way.
The author took time to explain all the different types of dogs – for example what do herders do best or how lap dogs can also be working dogs. She also points out how harmful labels can be – when we put a label on our dog, for example we call it ‘friendly’ we already expect certain behavior from them in all times. But the real deal here is to teach your puppy that behavior and remember that it’s very dependent on a situation it’s in!
We also got some information here about so called ‘puppy farms’. It’s not common in Poland – to be honest it’s the first time I hear that phrase, but apparently something like that still functions in the other parts of the world. And honestly it seems so cruel I’m just glad the author explains how harmful they can be and advises us not to support those places.
Next issue – shock collars and pinch collars. We read that those tools do not solve the behavioral problems – they simple contain them at the time and the dog still doesn’t understand why it was hurt. The author says something very important here: ‘(…) ask your puppy or dog what she would prefer. Ask her if she would rather learn life skills using fun, humane methods or be taught with methods that cause pain and the promise of pain if she doesn’t comply. What do you think your puppy’s answer will be?’. I don’t think I need to add more to that.
I could literally explain the whole book for you like that. It’s just very reliable, it checks out with the things I already know or I’m learning at dog school. I also used some of the techniques pointed here in real life with my bundle of joy. And? They work! The book is packed with cool and helpful facts and tips. Moreover, everything here is given to us in a very straightforward way. The author doesn’t use complicated language, she gives examples and the whole book is very easy and fast read. It also teaches us to be our dog’s friends and guides. It teaches us how many good things can come out from the positive training and that being patient pays off. Because what we as dog owners sometimes forget – puppies are like small children. They love us, but they’re still very young, they’re just discovering the world, and we just need to let them do it in a safe way.
December 23, 2022
After reading Victoria's other book, "Train Your Dog Positively: Understand Your Dog and Solve Common Behavior Problems Including Separation Anxiety, Excessive Barking, Aggression, Housetraining, Leash Pulling, and More!", I decided was excited to start reading more of her books.
The warmth and care she has for dogs came out in this book as in her other one, but I was disappointed with how she wrote it. It was disorganized and repetitive.
Learning about the psychology of puppies and how to train them through positive means is critical, but this book needed more instruction. I expected more information on teaching potty training, how to decrease chewing/nipping, how to train commands, how to get an overexcited puppy to settle, how to socialize, etc. Although you got some information on these things, you must sort through much repetition of unnecessary details. This book needed to include more on these essential things.
This book is still valuable for new puppy owners. It teaches you how to train your puppy and form a healthy bond with your dog. It brings out important reminders like bringing your puppy to a vet to see if there's a medical cause for behavioral issues, but I wish there were more substance to this book.
The warmth and care she has for dogs came out in this book as in her other one, but I was disappointed with how she wrote it. It was disorganized and repetitive.
Learning about the psychology of puppies and how to train them through positive means is critical, but this book needed more instruction. I expected more information on teaching potty training, how to decrease chewing/nipping, how to train commands, how to get an overexcited puppy to settle, how to socialize, etc. Although you got some information on these things, you must sort through much repetition of unnecessary details. This book needed to include more on these essential things.
This book is still valuable for new puppy owners. It teaches you how to train your puppy and form a healthy bond with your dog. It brings out important reminders like bringing your puppy to a vet to see if there's a medical cause for behavioral issues, but I wish there were more substance to this book.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews