Train Your Dog Like a Pro

by Jean Donaldson

The tools you need to think and train like a professional   Jean Donaldson is one of the top dog trainers in the United States, and her training academy has gained a reputation as the Harvard for dog trainers and behavioral counselors. Now, you can harness her highly effective dog-training techniques and benefit from her expert guidance without leaving your home. If you're like most dog owners, you treat your four-legged friend as a valued member of the family who enjoys the full run of the house—which is why good behavior is so important. Train Your Dog Like a Pro offers a trusted, systematic approach to positive dog training that anyone can follow. You'll get clear, detailed instructions for teaching essential behaviors, more advanced skills, and even some fun tricks. Plus, a bonus online video shows you exactly how to accomplish each technique. Whether you're the proud parent of a puppy, an adolescent, or an adult dog, this book and video truly give you everything you need to train your dog like a pro.

Genres: Dogs, Nonfiction, Animals, Reference

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 16, 2010

Reviews

[Bilgi · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book merits rather a title like: Train your dog like a dumb (either you are dumb or your dog is)...
With all my respect, I am dissapointed to see that world famous trainer J. Donaldson's dog perception is a mechanical living machine.
If one day dog robots are being manafactured for general public, she will be the best person for the programming of it.
I rather recommend the books of Patricia McConnell for dog behavior based training.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid manual for pet parents and amateur dog trainers. Jean Donaldson provides information on how to train basic cued behaviors (commonly referred to as "basic manners" or "basic obedience" by most folks). The training plans are laid out for each behavior, so that readers know exactly how to train these specific behaviors in their dogs. Since Donaldson is so detailed, specific, and systematic, it leaves little room for error, especially since she also addresses concerns or issues that may come up during the training and how to remedy them. As a pet parent who is especially interested in animal training and behavior, overall, I enjoyed this book. Previously, I had not followed Donaldson's Push-Drop-Stick (PDS) rules, nor had I created a systematic training plan, so even though my dog already knew quite a few of these cued behaviors, I learned new information and perspectives. Training behaviors utilizing the PDS rule and Donaldson's training plans (of gradual steps) should ensure that the dog will successfully learn these (or any) behaviors. However, I admit that I do worry that some folks - especially those new to dog training or to force-free dog training - may be turned off by, intimidated by, or frustrated by Donaldson's thorough and systematic training plans, and may then even turn to punishment based methods. Even as a person who is passionate about force-free dog training and interested in it, I admit that the prospect of following Donaldson's training plans can seem like somewhat of a chore to even me (and Donaldson does address issues of trainer motivation i her book, along with some solutions!). I'm not at all saying that her training plans are wrong or ineffective or even inefficient (they will train a dog to be thoroughly proficient at the cued behaviors); still, I hope this book isn't a turn-off to newbies or anyone. The accompanying DVD though (if watched) should be helpful, as it demonstrates the training in a group class setting and can be more engaging than reading a book (though of course the book itself - its information and training plans - are important!). When it comes to the training methodology, my only real point of conflict would be the use of a no-reward marker, as described in both the book and used by Donaldson over and over in the DVD. Another point: Donaldson recommends taking the dog to different friends' homes for certain steps of the training, and even though that will certainly be helpful in teaching a dog to generalize cued behaviors to new/different environments, I'm just not sure how many folks would actually do that or how possible that would be for some. Anyways, as I mentioned, I enjoyed this book overall, learned something(s) new, and do believe that Donaldson's training plans, if followed, will achieve wonderful results and a dog that can exhibit "basic manners" (and beyond) in a variety of settings and situations.

[Kasi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a teacher, Jean is tough and bossy, so, naturally, I love her. This book is extremely technical and breaks simple commands down into pages of steps. For some, this could be really helpful because it makes it difficult to screw up. However, for some, it could get tldr real quick. I don’t know that I would recommend this book to a true beginner who had not read any other dog training books before. Donaldson’s Culture Clash or Patricia McConnell’s The Other End of the Leash would be great prerequisites.

[Mark Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I respect Jean Donaldson and her unquestionable knowledge of dog training. I've seen her Great Courses class, watched the YouTube video, and now read this book. I believe and have seen approach work but it's tough for the novice to keep up with her. This is a very technical approach to training keeping a close eye on the number of times each behavior is achieved, logging it as such, and then improving on it. It works but this book is not for the person who just wants to teach their dog some very basic behaviors.

[Sigo Paolini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Non marking method of training. Probably ok for pets but of limited use..

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love you, Jean

This lady is the queen. The accompanying video really brought it all together for me. You can watch it on YouTube

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. The author, Jean Donaldson does a superb job of outlining basic obedience and skills, troubleshooting problem areas, and solidifying the training so that it is solid wherever you want to go. She provides step-by-step guidance from the most minuscule to the great--but don't worry, you can skip ahead if your dog is doing well.

As a teacher, I greatly approve of her methods. Sure, I teach people, but there are some things to be said about rewards and teaching that are similar to training. I love the worksheets. I feel very confident about being able to make my own outlines for training now, too. So far, I used her methods to test what my dog already knew, then I tried out teaching him "watch". We had toyed with it, but nothing solid. Let me just say, even my husband was impressed with the results. By the way, I have a Shiba Inu. If you know anything about the breed, that is saying something ^_^

I am really excited about this book and I hope everyone can get their hands on it sooner rather than later. Training is a slow process. Dogs don't think like us, but some catch on faster than others. This book will help you with either.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for dog owners enthusiastic about training and for dog trainers brushing up on their skills. The included DVD helps tremendously in demonstrating techniques often difficult to explain with words. I especially like Jean Donaldson's "push-drop-stick" rules, her extensive use of splits and her concept of shopping for behaviors.

[Nicole Zele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really believe anyone with a dog should read training books. It makes such a difference in understanding your dog and knowing how to train the right way. This book helped me realize several mistakes I was making and showed me how to fix them. Since reading it, I understand my dogs so much better, and our training has improved a lot.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the canine world, to ignore this author should be a crime!

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good book

[Virma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely not a lay person guide, too technical. But if you are a trainer, this is a good technical guide for you.