Unleashed

by Brad Pattison

Dog advocate and human-being life coach Brad Pattison brings his innovative, tough-love training and in-your-face counselling skills to the page.

Whether you're just getting started on training your new pup, looking to take your good relationship with your dog to a higher level, or trying to correct negative dog behaviours, Brad Pattison's book will provide DIY training material that underlines how you can teach your dog to be a healthy, happy member of your family. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of Pattison's established training techniques, anchored by real-life success stories and focus dogs. Examples of chapter Dog Harnessing Canine Communication Methods to Enhance Interspecies Relations; Coddled The Dangers of Heavy Petting and the Best Methods for Rewarding Your Dog; and Raising the Bar and Strengthening the Bond.

Genres: Dogs

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 6, 2010

Reviews

[Barbara Giblin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This guy gives bad advice. To tie a small dog by a leash to your body and drag him around until he learns to follow you can damage his trachea... I found this out first hand. I used this training method Brad Pattison describes very briefly once I realized it wasn't the right thing to do and was actually cruel to my little Maltese dog. Now that he's older, his trachea is indeed collapsing and he is now on permanent medication. Further, I went to a Brad Pattison seminar in Edmonton AB and watched as he encouraged a pet owner to drag his poor little dog around, up and down the seating stairs... most of the people there were very uncomfortable watching this and a few even walked out, myself included.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a great training book. He fails to mention that with treat training, you do progress to not needing treats to help the dog do what you want. The fact is, many people don't stick with the trainer long enough to get to that point.

Also, the leash correction he mentions can (in the hands of someone not carefully trained) lead to neck injuries, particularly for small dogs with trachea problems. Rather than popping and jerking the dogs, it is often better to train inexperienced people to use treats properly to get the dog to work with them.

He also seems to be saying that off leash walks are a good idea. I would disagree, because it just takes the dog one moment to decide to step into the street to be killed. Not recommended.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really practical advice (just wish I'd read his book sooner, rather than discovering all the things I've been doing wrong up til now!) Time to dethrone my stubborn pooch!! And now with Brad's tips, I'm hoping it will work :)

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

good solid advice for training that helps reinforce what I'm learning in class.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brad Pattison has been very helpful. It is a good book.

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the view of a dog, author writes about life, love and happiness. J.B.