Tag Archives: positive training

I swear I don’t know this person

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Stopped by Amazon this morning, and someone has posted a new review for Outwitting Dogs.

A week or so ago, the subject of Amazon reviews came up on a Yahoo list I’m on, and someone said that they generally ignore 5-star reviews. The reasoning is that no book is perfect, and if someone says so, they have to be a friend of the writer. A shill.

Well, I do not know this person. Maybe she knows Terry (the book is a collaboration; Terry Ryan, my co-writer, is a professional dog trainer) but the book’s been out for a year and as far as I know Terry hasn’t asked anybody to post an Amazon review for her. (I haven’t either. Call me a wimp but I’m descended from a long line of Methodist ministers. Somehow I just can’t get the words “would you fake a nice Amazon review for me?” out of my mouth. And my day job is PR. I should be cynical and conniving. Thanks a lot, Grandpa, wherever you are.)

So anyway, I’m reading the review, and maybe I’m a little short of sleep, but it made me teary. This person loved the book. Really really loved it. The writing, the organization, the content, the attitude . . .

It was a nice, warm, pat on the back and I am deeply grateful for it. So citywulf, wherever you are, thank you. Thank you so much.

I’m going to go write some more, now.

Brits want to zap shock collars

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The UK Kennel Club is calling for a ban on shock collars for dogs.

In the U.S., some believe shock collars a necessity for training certain behaviors, such as behaviors that are to be executed at a distance.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Just consider Bob Bailey, who with his late wife, Marian Breland Bailey, showed that even non-domesticated animals can be trained to execute an astonishing array of behaviors without the use of aversives. In a recent Star-Telegram interview Bailey explains the basis of his training approach: “All you have to do is learn what it likes, what it takes for the animal to say, ‘Aha. I will do more of this.'”

He continues:

“The dog is not a little person. The dog will do what will pay off. What your challenge is as a pet owner is to break the training up into small pieces and make it worthwhile for them to play your games.”

Shock collars are a step backward. I agree they don’t belong in Britain, and I don’t think they belong in the U.S., either.