Dog Training For Dummies 3e

by Jack Volhard, Wendy Volhard

Mit der richtigen Methode lernt ein Hund gerne, was der Mensch von ihm will. Mit "Hundeerziehung für Dummies" erfahren Sie, wie Sie mit positiver Verstärkung Ihrem Hund alle wichtigen Kommandos beibringen, aber auch wie der Welpe stubenrein und das Stöckchen tatsächlich zurückgebracht wird. Das Autorenteam Jack und Wendy Volhard geben Ihnen Antworten auf Ihre brennenden Fragen: Wie spricht man ein Verbot aus und welche Hilfsmittel gibt es? Wieso lässt mich mein Hund nicht mehr auf das Sofa? Muss er mich zur Begrüßung wirklich immer anspringen? Diese freundliche und leicht verständliche Anleitung macht aus Herrchen und Frauchen stolze Hundebesitzer mit einem zufriedenen, gehorsamen Hund.

Genres: Nonfiction, Dogs, Reference, Animals, Audiobook, Personal Development, Ebooks

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2001

Reviews

[Magen - Inquiring Professional Dog Trainer · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are a few good things in here, hence the 2 stars and not one. But while treats are used, so is punishment, and there's no justification for that with the amount of research that demonstrates the problems with it. Also, the author isn't a veterinary nutritionist, but spends a lot of time recommending diet and supplements and that didn't sit right with me.

[Mackenziedugas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dog Training for Dummies by Jack and Wendy Volhard ©2005 (a dog training guide) wasn’t a great book. I think it is a good beginner guide to dog training but explains mainly just the basic commands. It does, however; go deep into explanation on why a dog does or doesn’t listen. For example if the dog isn’t sitting when you want him to sit, most likely it is you. Think about your tone of voice or your posture. Use a firm, not necessarily loud but distinct voice when talking to your dog. Don’t hang over your dog because they may feel threatened or be forced to worry about you at all times. The stages of development in a dog are of course the most important; same as for a child, at a certain point you have to let the puppy figure out things on their own. I think it also went too much into detail about certain trials and shows for your dog. If you were looking specifically at certain event such as an obedience trial then this is the way to go. However; it did get a little repetitive again with the same theme of basic obedience; sit, stay, down, come, leave-it, etc. Jack and Wendy Volhard are both dog trainers and are American Kennel Club judges. They also compete for obedience trials with their own dogs. Overall, I was not impressed with this book. I wish it could’ve explained more about certain tricks and when a dog gets older, why they don’t listen as much.

[Bárbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book for beginners but from the half to the end it concentrates on training for winning prizes and stuff in which I dislike very much. my dog is now half-well-trained and that is absolutely good and essencial to our comunication, but animals in general are inocent and lovable, we should not want to win money with them, we should not focus on the breed, we should not buy animals at all. there are many lovable friends in shelters that need our love and help.

[Biggest Little Book Talker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really amazing and easy to understand book!
Gives tons of examples for how to train you dig as well as other informational tips about a dog’s diet and healthy.
Now this is a huge over view and you might need to bring in other resources to get the full picture, but if not this could be a one stop shop.

Dog training take aways
- positive vs negative reinforcement (really depends on the dog, one way is not better that the other)
- A dogs name and how you say it greatly effects the dogs behavior
- Your behavior and mood while training effects your dogs
- Food (avoid brands high in corn)
- Food (don’t add in raw vegetables right away, started with Cooke then slowly move to raw)
- Food (to much protein is not good, to much carbohydrates is not good, to much and to little both have bad effects on your growing puppy/ dog
- Beef based foods are the most recommend overall, or specialized food for the bread
- Chicken is great for a sick or recovering dog
- Water is the most important thing, a dog can survive for 3 weeks on water alone
- Wash the food container after it is empty/ before you refill it if you use a different container besides the dog food bag
- 50% date of cancer for dogs who have middle only diets, try and find a brand with 15% carbohydrates or less
- You can enhance kibble with a vitamin or supplement, they recommend one called endurance
- Or you can add fresh food to kibble, which will reduce cancer likelihood by 40%
- Rawdiet.com/mixed/researched (if you go raw make sure to do a lot of research)
- When changing diet, start to ad new food in with the old until you are entirely in the new diet
- Bones help your dog’s teeth and gut health
- Regular buckle collars are no good for training, they recommend a choke or a pinch collar
- A snap around collar should fit snuggly right behind the dogs ears (won’t work on most dogs that are not touch sensitive)
- Careful when training with the collar on, if you take it off the dog might not respond when the collar is off
- Toys can be used as effective training tools in place in treats, depending on your dog and there motivation
- When introducing puppy to your home, start by carrying him in the house and putting him in a small safe area, have several toys scattered around
- Train for 10-30 minutes a day,overstimulating can lead to behavioral problems
- Feed him in the crate, slowly start to open the door so he’s knows the crate is a safe place
- Puppies hate isolation, they will screen for you if they can’t see you the first few weeks. Animals
- Can be left together after introduction if there are multiple in the house hold
- Need to brush your puppy once a day to once a week depending on the breed
- Play with your pups ears and feet to get them ready for future cleaning, give him a test after cleaning to train him
- When poppy training, make sure to take the lumpy out often and to the same spot giving him praise right after he goes
- This also goes with outside places
- Jumping up, trying the puppy to sit when people go to approach him versus jumping
- Practice letting the dog in and out of the crate several times a day
- So the same with the come command come, make sure to do it during training and play and not when you only need to leave because the pup will think it’s a punishment
- During training don’t call come to retrieve the dog, go to Jim and out on the lease .. the more you call come then less effective the training of dog does not obey
- Let your dog out in a fenced area, call come. If he doesn’t come don’t call again, put on leash and walk over to where you called him then reward him
- Work on secondary distractions on Leah’s first then, off leash. Have a friend help you in an enclosed area
- Practice place when the dog is tired to have better results
- For the sit or down stay, mainly down stay. Start close by for short times then longer times then longer times at a further distance
- 3 D
- Duration
- Distance
- Distractions
- Always walk your dog on the left for the proper heal format
- Pleasure walk, he should always know where you are. If he looks up make sure to reward him
- Start with short walks then expand every day
- Add in healing a little at a time during the walk
- For automatic sit, start with encouraging sit with the automatic walk over time make sure it’s a full sit
- For his bed or place, Train to get on the bed first with praise and/ or treats
- Then you can increase how long he has to stay in the bed, let him know you need up realize him if he is sent to bed, start with 30 seconds then increase
- If he gets off, lead him back in. Do not say the command again
- The training is similar with stairs, make sure to start with shorter ones then the whole stair case. Do not reward if he goes up on his own/ before release
- Teaching fetch
- Start with putting a light item like a wooden spoon in the moth to get use to the gorge in object in the dogs moth
- Add in a larger item and put the items where the dog can see them
- “Take it” - open for food
- Praise and make a big deal when the dog does it
- Hold it and food command (dont bend over)
- Practice the force fetch, or hold with new items. Let the dog open his moth and put the item in and then close his month , followed by giving him food and praise with the item in his mouth
- If nothing happened, go back to step one and try again
- Made sure he holds it until you say give, we don’t want him dropping it
- When using distracting training never use your dogs name
- Buntch of stuff for trick dogs
- For aggressive dogs, practice the long down a few times a week to show dominance
- Control your emotions as much as possible, emotions travel down the lease
- Train to a middle if needed (slowly), if this does not work then seek professional help
- If the dog growls at another dog getting your attention or your partner when they show affection do the long sit and down every day until they understand the leader of the pack or you can try and spray bottle or a nose wipe with a drop or two of the appropriate essential oils
- Aggression around the food boil, don’t take the food away, give him a little at a time while sitting next to him
- Possible change the environment if it is needed, make sure he isn’t stressed while eating and put him in a safe place to eat and digest
- Separation anxiety (try a dap diffuser)
- Do not tel your dog your leaving and great him with a “awe did you miss me” attitude as it increases his anxiety
- If none of the above work consider a doggy day care
- If you have a submissive dog do not hover over him, if he dibbles do not scold him because it
- Don’t try to pet right away, give the palm of the hand and let him come to you
- Riding in the car (don’t leave him loose.
- Practice putting him on leash and giving him the okay to enter the car
- He will also need an okay to get in and out, open a crack and close if he moves to get out. Continue until you open the door he needs to know he has to be release before he can get out
- Don’t reassure your dog, it will increase his anxiety with driving
- Open all the doors to let him in the crate and when he gets in give him a treat
- Continue this while closing doors, when you can close all doors leave him in for a minute
- Continue this with the car in and then go for a short ride
- Do kit leave your dog in the car on a hot day

[tris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Wish there's an updated version of the same topic, like with new(er) methods and training techniques.

[Becky Loader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good refresher manual.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Published in 2001, this book relies on several outdated and disproven dog training beliefs, like the "owner" should eat and walk through doorways before the dog, to show him who's boss. (Eye roll.) The authors also call prong collars "very safe" and "the most humane training collar". To be fair, these were the accepted norms at the time.
I was interested to read the section on difficult dog behaviors. We have an anxious barker and this book's advice is to use a shock collar or one that sprays citronella at the dog when they bark, both of which have been proven to increase anxiety in dogs, particularly those who are already anxious. (Sargisson RJ, Butler R, Elliffe D. An evaluation of the aboistop citronella-spray collar as a treatment for barking of domestic dogs. ISRN Vet Sci. 2012 Jan 23;2011:759379. doi: 10.5402/2011/759379. PMID: 23738115; PMCID: PMC3658554.)
They also spout the "tug of war causes aggression" myth (also disproven - Johnstone, G. (2024, March 26). Is tug-of-war bad for dogs?. American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lif...)

While there is plenty of worthy advice here that is still relevant over 20 years after publication, that is weaved in with outdated methods and beliefs. If you do choose to read this anyway, take it with a grain of salt and research more recent methods before believing anything you read here.

[Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars because there were a few helpful tips (especially the recall game and the step by step instructions for teaching a dog to retrieve). This book is probably a very good guide if you are getting a purebred puppy from a reputable breeder.

If, however, you adopted a 6 month old mutt like me - not so much. Lots of the "lessons" and training methods rely on the owner having had the dog from 8-10 weeks old, and even the ones that didn't had notes that rescue and/or older dogs might object, etc. - but no tips on how to deal with that.

Some of the advice in this book also did not agree with the other research I did independently of this book, and much of it felt like an advertisement for their other products. I found many of the explanations for how to teach specific commands extremely hard to follow, as well.

This is by far my least favorite I've read in the Dummies series - I definitely recommend the more generic (but WAY more helpful) Dogs for Dummies book, especially since that is written more for the everyday dog owner - this book assumes you are getting a small puppy from a breeder and that you want to enter some form of competition(s) with your dog.

[Shauna Gowans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dog training for dummies has some good information, but overall I wasn't too impressed. I felt like a good portion was the authors promoting their products like dog food, vitamins and holistic remedies for health issues. I was a little disappointed especially in the sections where they talked about food and veterinary care. I feel like some of the health information was misleading, especially since that stuff should be discussed with the veterinarian that the owner of the dog works with. They went to school and have the training and should be the source of that information for owners. I feel like they are good dog trainers, but needed to not include their opinions on types of food and health care. I liked the insight they provided on typical pitfalls that owners make when training and the tips on avoiding those pitfalls. Overall it was a decent resource, but I will only be referencing so much.

[Cara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some of the methods used in this book were a bit sketchy to me. Although this book had useful advice and information, most of it was in the first 25-40% of the book. After that it just dives into different dog competitions. So if you're looking to train your dog competitively this might be a good one for you, if you're looking for simple commands there are probably better books out there. My puppy has responded to some other book methods better.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really great advice. I was horrified when this book suggested using a spiked walking collar but after reading more decided to try. Bought a higher quality one on Amazon and I’m a believer. My pulling street rescue dog acted more secure and no longer pulls on the leash.happy dog and happy owner. Lots of other good advice esp on training.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for people that want a general view on all areas to train their dogs. But I felt they didn’t go into enough details in some areas that I personally need help on with my dog. Also they sometimes it was feeling like a sales pitch for products they have to sell. It also took me a while to complete all the chapters in the book.

[Johan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lost interest in the book and didn't finish it.
Too wordy. Lack of pictures or drawings as in a picture is worth a 1000 words, for example when explaining the different types of dog collars without illustrations. They not only recommended buying stuff, but also buying the stuff at specific online shops. Seriously?

[Henk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful and comprehensive book when you're getting a puppy. The instructions for exercises could be a bit more practical, and a bit too focused on the US/Europe situation, not meant for rescue owners. Nevertheless, easy to read and useful.

[Bekah Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was really good at covering a lot of the basics, but was unclear on a lot of things. For example, throughout the book it talked about performing a "check" with the leash, but it never fully explained how to correctly perform a check.

[Joanne Pinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well constructed, but maybe a bit more information than I actually wanted. I would have benefitted more from an abridged version... but absolutely great if you are just setting about getting a puppy.
One thing I did learn: terriers are not like other dogs.

[Emily Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son summarized many sections of this book for homework this month. He found it very helpful as he worked with our sheltie puppy and golden retriever.

[Trevor Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much to say except this is a comprehensive book on raising and training a dog. It covered literally every question I could think of. Well worth the read!

[John Majerle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found too much of the advice unreliable.

[Ilias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative. I learned more things and I will use them. Well written and straight forward.

[ThDogs · Rating 1 out of 5]

The cover says it will use positive reinforcement - this is a lie. The book is entirely about using a different range of punishment tools to shove, push, force, correct, drag, coerce and bully dogs into the most basic and easy skills.

If the author can't teach a PUPPY how to SIT in an EMPTY ROOM WITH FOOD without also needing a collar, lead and manhandling. Then they should not be writing books on dog training.

In the book we have:
Anti-vaccination rants.
Raw feeding rants and chronically inability to stay in their lane and leave diet to the specialists.
Advocating to shake jars of pennies at dogs for sniffing.
15 pages of punishment tools and methods to use them, 2 pages on rewards. Those 2 pages are the most the book talks about rewards.
Dominance theory.
Fixation with electrics fences, the statistically most unreliable method of dog containment.

Although shout out for teaching me about some cruel and inhumane tools I didn't realise existed because I would be fined and banned from pets if I did that. Amazing creativity in finding new and unique ways to frighten and force dogs. Utter lack of that creativity applied to learning how to use food, toys or premack to train in happy and gentle ways.

On page 265 was the first item taught entirely with positive reinforcement and without starting/continuing/finishing/adding unnecessary punishment.

Friends and I had a huge laugh about the "teaching" sit section and how that method would absolutely teach your puppy to be hand-shy and reluctant to approach you. Quickly followed by a parody of "teaching touch" to teach your dog to approach you and not be afraid of touch. You made your own problem there with your poor training methods that rely on force. If you taught the sit with positive reinforcement your dog wouldn't be afraid of touch would it?

EVERYTHING in this book required a lead correction. EVERYTHING. Sits. Downs. Come. Leave It. This is Dog Training for Dummies and they've used the most ridiculously complicated methods of lead corrections and physical force to teach the basic skills of sit, drop, leave it, go to bed, recall. All things that are very easy to teach with rewards and much faster to get successful enthusiastic dog from. You could have a dog who understands the exercise from the very first rep with positive reinforcement but the book brags about dogs that stop moving (learned helplessness) after 5 or so corrections, like that's some kind of achievement?

Just another punishment trainer using positive reinforcement marketing to trick people into using punishment methods instead of teaching them what you want.

And no Linda, you're not "gently" controlling your dog when you are administering collar corrections with a collar set around the most sensitive part of the neck. You are rattling the brain about and jarring the neck. That's why they're not looking away from you, because they can't trust you.

I'm not including this book in my 2025 reading challenge because it is too shit to be counted.

[ThDogs · Rating 1 out of 5]

The cover says it will use positive reinforcement - this is a lie. The book is entirely about using a different range of punishment tools to shove, push, force, correct, drag, coerce and bully dogs into the most basic and easy skills.

If the author can't teach a PUPPY how to SIT in an EMPTY ROOM WITH FOOD without also needing a collar, lead and manhandling. Then they should not be writing books on dog training.

In the book we have:
Anti-vaccination rants.
Raw feeding rants and chronically inability to stay in their lane and leave diet to the specialists.
Advocating to shake jars of pennies at dogs for sniffing.
15 pages of punishment tools and methods to use them, 2 pages on rewards. Those 2 pages are the most the book talks about rewards.
Dominance theory.
Fixation with electrics fences, the statistically most unreliable method of dog containment.

Although shout out for teaching me about some cruel and inhumane tools I didn't realise existed because I would be fined and banned from pets if I did that. Amazing creativity in finding new and unique ways to frighten and force dogs. Utter lack of that creativity applied to learning how to use food, toys or premack to train in happy and gentle ways.

On page 265 was the first item taught entirely with positive reinforcement and without starting/continuing/finishing/adding unnecessary punishment.

Friends and I had a huge laugh about the "teaching" sit section and how that method would absolutely teach your puppy to be hand-shy and reluctant to approach you. Quickly followed by a parody of "teaching touch" to teach your dog to approach you and not be afraid of touch. You made your own problem there with your poor training methods that rely on force. If you taught the sit with positive reinforcement your dog wouldn't be afraid of touch would it?

EVERYTHING in this book required a lead correction. EVERYTHING. Sits. Downs. Come. Leave It. This is Dog Training for Dummies and they've used the most ridiculously complicated methods of lead corrections and physical force to teach the basic skills of sit, drop, leave it, go to bed, recall. All things that are very easy to teach with rewards and much faster to get successful enthusiastic dog from. You could have a dog who understands the exercise from the very first rep with positive reinforcement but the book brags about dogs that stop moving (learned helplessness) after 5 or so corrections, like that's some kind of achievement?

Just another punishment trainer using positive reinforcement marketing to trick people into using punishment methods instead of teaching them what you want.

And no Linda, you're not "gently" controlling your dog when you are administering collar corrections with a collar set around the most sensitive part of the neck. You are rattling the brain about and jarring the neck. That's why they're not looking away from you, because they can't trust you.

I'm not including this book in my 2025 reading challenge because it is too shit to be counted.

[Ben Kellermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Make training fun and effective

This friendly guide shows you how to select the right training method for your dog, based on his unique personality, to reach your desired goals. Whether you want to teach Buddy to sit or master retrieving, you'll get expert training tips and techniques for you and your dog — to ensure a mutually respectful relationship with your four-legged friend.

Concentrate on canines — discover why your dog acts the way she does, understand her nutritional needs, and ready yourself for the task of training your dog

Prep for your pup — prepare your home for your puppy's arrival, discover the importance of socialization, and get started on housetraining

Put your best paw forward — teach basic commands like Sit, Stay, and Down, and get the scoop on how to deal with doggie don'ts like chewing, digging, and excessive barking

Take training to the next level — get involved in organized dog activities and competitions, where you'll both show off impressive tricks like retrieving, figure 8s, and much more

Open the book and find:

Step-by-step instructions for teaching your dog basic commands

Helpful advice on crate training

Safe ways to address aggression and separation anxiety

Tips for teaching Buddy to behave himself around people and other dogs

Techniques to keep your senior dog feeling young

Health issues that can interfere with training

Experts to turn to for training help

Learn to:

Use positive reinforcement as an effective teaching tool

Select the gear you need for training success

Teach the basics including Sit, Stay, and Down

Eliminate unwanted behavior

**

[Jordy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Om alvast voor te bereiden op het houden van de hond in de toekomst, heeft mijn vriendin mij dit boek gegeven. Over het algemeen wordt je op een rustige wijze door alle zaken heen geleid waar je op een gegeven moment tegen aan zal gaan lopen vanaf het moment dat je een hond in huis neemt. Vooral de uitleg van verschillende commando's en hoe je ze stap voor stap bij je hond aan kan leren worden erg gewaardeerd. Ook lijkt het of de schrijvers goed weten hoe je jouw hond gezond moet houden door hun ervaring.

Wel zijn er een aantal minpunten aan het boek. Zoals ik net noemde hebben de schrijvers veel kennis over de gezondheid van honden, maar een aantal punten verbazen mij toch wel enigszins. Zo raden ze aan om honden aan acupunctuur te laten doen en om homeopathische (jawel, die enorm verdunde "medicijnen") geneeskunde toe te passen. Nu zijn natuurlijke geneeskundige kruiden geen probleem voor mij, maar ik denk eerder dat de methodes die de schrijvers voorschrijven eerder een psychologisch effect hebben op de hondenbaasjes, dan dat de honden er echt nut van gaan hebben.

Op deze punten na is het boek wel een aanrader. Ook de gevorderde sectie is goed om door te nemen, want dat kan je goed voorbereiden op het lastigere werk. Wel gaan de schrijvers is te lang in op professionele hondenwedstrijden, want daar kom je als beginnend baasje niet zo snel aan toe. Voor de rest biedt het boek een mooi overzicht en leest ook makkelijk weg.

[Kateri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like some of the advice offered, but I will definitely say that much of it didn't work for us and our stubborn Schnauzer/Terrier mutt. In one section about curbing barking they said that dogs do not understand cause and effect. I can tell you with 100 percent certainty that our dog understands cause and effect. We live in an apartment building and every time the doormen calls our dog knows that there is a high probability someone is coming up to the apartment. He then waits in high alert for any abnormal sound so that he can bark like crazy (whether or not someone is coming up). Unfortunately this book cannot help us curb his barking because the authors won't even admit that he is barking for a reason.

[Moustafa Abdelhamid · Rating 3 out of 5]

a comprehensive read on how to train your dogs effectively. I already have a 6 years old mixed breed dog and after reading this book i noticed that i did most of its guide steps by instinct but at the same time realized what i did wrong during his upbringing. The book talks about all the topics from basic training to advanced competition training which i found interesting but the only set back for me was that it needed more visual effects (Pictures) while going through each step on how to train a dog a particular command/trick. All in all, as my first for Dummies book, i am pleased with what I've learned and what i have reinforced and am looking forward to getting another for Dummies book.

[Georgiacyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

While we've had many dogs over the years, it had been a long time since we brought a new dog into our family. I read this book in preparation to do so. There are some good tips for first time dog owners. In light of the emphasis that the book is specific to positive reinforcement, I was a bit surprised that the suggested training techniques combined positive reinforcement with punishment. I was surprised how much information there was about nutrition, as this was not the focus of the book; and, I'm not sure the author is the best qualified person to provide this information.

[Domonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for Max, my friend Jude's miniature schnauzer that I have recently filed for possession of.

I'm still yet to perfect the nose-snatch of a dog biscuit left on Max's nose ... A new years res ...

[Jacob Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good to start, but gets way into how to make your dog perform in shows and what is required. If you're looking for more focus on how to train your dogs on the basics with different techniques, move on.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this 4 stars because it's convinced me that there is hope that our from-the-pound dog will someday understand the concept of yard=bathroom.

But...if it doesn't work, I'm coming back and taking away 2 stars ;)