ABC Practical Guide to Dog Training by Steven Appelbaum

Product Description

With the proliferation of titles in the market today, why another book on pet dog training?

Because most of them sound wonderful, but don't work! And the dogs being trained often develop problems as a result. Frustrated pet owners are looking for practical, humane answers -- that provide results.

The experienced approach contained in The ABC Practical Training Guide has proven itself with over 40,000 dog owners across the United States and Canada who have found their answers "as simple as ABC."
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #396987 in Books
Published on: 2003-12-29
Number of items: 1
Binding: Paperback
208 pages
Editorial Reviews

Download Description
With the proliferation of titles in the market today, why another book on pet dog training?

Because most of them sound wonderful, but don't work! And the dogs being trained often develop problems as a result. Frustrated pet owners are looking for practical, humane answers -- that provide results.

The experienced approach contained in The ABC Practical Training Guide has proven itself with over 40,000 dog owners across the United States and Canada who have found their answers ""as simple as ABC.""

Download Description
With the proliferation of titles in the market today, why another book on pet dog training?

Because most of them sound wonderful, but don't work! And the dogs being trained often develop problems as a result. Frustrated pet owners are looking for practical, humane answers -- that provide results.

The experienced approach contained in The ABC Practical Training Guide has proven itself with over 40,000 dog owners across the United States and Canada who have found their answers ""as simple as ABC.""

From the Back Cover
Dog Training That Works-as Simple as ABC!

If you're a dog owner, you're already a trainer. From the moment you bring your dog home, you're teaching him how to behave-and, without realizing it, you could be instilling undesirable behaviors that have to be unlearned. Now, there's a simple, no-nonsense way to effectively and humanely train your pet-and get the right results. In ABC Practical Guide to Dog Training, Steven Appelbaum, an expert with over 25 years of professional experience training thousands of dogs and hundreds of professional dog trainers, shares his secrets to help you get your dog to behave-giving you tried, true, and tested techniques that work.

Focused on the strength of rewarding appropriate behavior, Appelbaum passionately relates a sensitive, user-friendly approach that strengthens the canine/human bond. He explains how to quickly establish a training program that prevents problems before they occur-and how, by following a few fundamental principles, you can make your new companion a comfortable member of your family. You'll discover:
The basics of how your dog learns
Positive ways to address behavior problems, such as jumping, nipping, chewing, house soiling, digging, and barking
How to establish obedience off-leash, inside the house and out
What "pack theory" is-explained in a way that finally makes sense
Where correction can have a place in dog training
How to find a professional trainer who is right for you and your dog

Complete with an Internet guide to sites on everything from pet supplies and dog parks to boarding kennels and veterinarians, the ABC Practical Guide to Dog Training truly makes training your four-legged friend as simple as ABC!
Customer Reviews

Exactly what I was looking for
I am a new dog owner and have been looking for a book to help me train my new dog.

After searching and reading reviews here on amazon I ordered a few books. It happened to be during the holidays so I still don't have them (that's another story). However, in the mean time, I found a used copy of this book at a local used book store. I have to say I am very pleased with it.

If you read the reviews of the popular basic dog training books here on Amazon you can be really confused about what to do. Does pack theory work? Is there a dominance hierarchy? Are choke chains cruel? Can positive reinforcement alone work? What should I be expecting of my dog? Lots of questions and recommendations that seem at odds with one another.

The author of this book cuts through a lot of that and really makes a lot of sense. Further, he gives practical, step by step advice on how to handle problems and do very basic dog training. Actual things you can use to make a difference to your dog. After reading about half of his book I was immediately able to make use of his recommendations and techniques and my dog responded. Obviously there is no magic, it will take work on my part, but I could see improvement right away.

Further he lays out some things that seem pretty basic in hind site, but I as a new dog owner didn't realize. Important things, like don't let your dog play with cloth toys and then expect your dog not to think every cloth thing (like a sock) is a toy.

He talks about different collars to use during training, on leash v. off leash training, good and bad toys, good and bad trainers. He spends a good deal of time teaching you how your dog learns and how any training is making use of those basic concepts. He also makes sure you understand that if you own a dog, all your interaction with it is "dog training" and that you may very well be teaching the dog things you had no idea you were teaching him good and bad (usually bad).

His focus is always on praise and reward, but understands that actual correction is appropriate as well when done properly, however none of the specific instructions he offers that I have read so far ever include any kind of physical correction, it is always things like withdrawing attention, stern commands, a cross look.

He offers practical steps for what he calls foundation training, come, sit, stay, which to a new dog owner like myself is really important.

Anyway, after only reading half the book and only using its advice for about 3 days I have to say I am 100% happy with this book.

Fantasic
Well written, funtional, intelligent, effective, practical.

This is one of the best I've read so far.

You will not be dissapointed.

How to make "pack theory" work to one's advantage
ABC Practical Guide To Dog Training: Proven Techniques By A Trainer Of Trainers is an expertly written instructional by Steven Appelbaum (the President and CEO of Animal Behavior and Training Associates Inc., the largest independent dog training company in North America), designed specifically to teach the owner of a canine companion diverse behaviors on command. From learning how to make "pack theory" work to one's advantage; to the simple basics of how a dog learns; to establishing obedience; to selecting the right professional trainer, ABC Practical Guide To Dog Training is a "must-read" for anyone responsible for the behavior and training of the family pet.