Book-Civilizing your puppy

[Teena]

I got this book in the mail & read through it briefly. Have been spending most of my time reading of medical issues with dogs. So, i haven't read this book cover to cover. A few things i noticed in it i found disconcerning.
In chapter 6 breaking bad habits, in the section on digging it says to fill the hole up with water. If that doesn't work to stick your dogs head under the water and hold it there a second of two. That doesn't sound like a way to build your dog's trust in you to me!
On jumping it says to bring your knee up into the dog's chest & you may even shove with your knee. It goes on to say there are trainers that suggest stepping on the jumpers back toes.
Like i said i haven't finished the book, just looked through it.
Knees to the chest can injure your dog. I prefer to turn and face away from the dog when it trys to jump. Only petting it when it keeps all 4 on the ground.

[Vivianne]

Disconcerning to say the least.
When my rotty dug holes I was very successful at preventing her from doing it again in the same place by placing her feces in the recently dug hole and covering it up.
She was not involved in the process I asure you. I simply collected the feces from my yard and deposited in the hole.
As to the knee in the chest theory, I've heard of that too. I believe they mean to simply raise you leg so the dog has your knee at his chest when he jumps on you.
My girl was never a jumper, but I would correct any bad behavior by pulling her collar with a slight jerk (to get her attention) followed by a stern NO!

[alexav]

Sounds like William Kholer has been resurrected again!

Does this book contain the wisdom of using a rubber hose to teach a dog not to go after other dogs? Or maybe the Duct tape method for teaching your puppy not to chew your shoes?

Ugh! Sounds like the author needs to read a book called "Get Civilized! A self help guide for recovering animal abusers".

[Soapie&Buddy'sMom]

That book sounds a lot like my favorite, "101 training tips for dogs" <STILL sold on Amazon.com despite my scathing review!>
where the author suggests smacking your dog on the head with a children's book as a correction.

Why don't we suggest that we stick the dogs head in his excrement to teach him not to "go in the house" while we're at it?

[JPmoney]

Ok, newbie rottie owner here, but soapie I always thought when you caught a dog going the bathroom you put their nose to it and say no then bring them outside. Am I wrong?

[Soapie&Buddy'sMom]

Originally posted by JPmoney
Ok, newbie rottie owner here, but soapie I always thought when you caught a dog going the bathroom you put their nose to it and say no then bring them outside. Am I wrong?

jp money that is the dark ages, my dad did that with our dog, and I did it with my first dog twenty years ago. it does not work.

anyway, NO!!!! do not do that. It is meaningless to the dog, trust me. they just think you are insane.

The only correction that works is if you catch the dog IN THE ACT, I mean at the very moment he/she is peeing/pooping, and taking him/her outside at that very instant. hopefully they will still be peeing/pooping and when they are done (having done their business so correctly OUTSIDE) you praise them. That way they can make the connection --- AHHH - I see, I am supposed to go OUTSIDE!

I like to think of it this way - say you have a little toddler baby human in training pants. You want to teach him/her to go on the toilet, but he/she goes in his pants. You find it much later and take the pants off, scream NOOOOO, stick the baby's face in it, and then put the baby on the toilet. No baby in the world would understand that, and to try to think dogs will , who have much less understanding of the human world than babies do, is unrealistic.

[Teena]

"Civilizing Your Puppy" by Barbara J. Wrede

This is one of the books that German suggested, that's why I bought it. Any thoughts on some of the methods used in this book German?

[alexav]

Originally posted by Teena
"Civilizing Your Puppy" by Barbara J. Wrede

This is one of the books that German suggested, that's why I bought it.

[Teena]

JP the only good it does to stick the dog's nose in it, is maybe you'll teach it to like the taste of poo.
The dog isn't at fault for doing what comes naturally. If it isn't taught and learned to use the bathroom outside, all it knows is" Hey I gotta go".
Think of them as children, if you were potty training a human child , would you stick it's face in the mess when it had an accident?

[cinde33]

Exactly, Teena. It's the best foundation to start on. JP, always think "Would I do this to a 2 year old child?"

[rottnvegas]

"in the section on digging it says to fill the hole up with water. If that doesn't work to stick your dogs head under the water and hold it there a second of two."

Rottnvegas: I would like the author come to my house and try his ludicrous training methods on my 105 lb. Rott. I don't think it will be my dog that is getting schooled, I think it would be the "trainer" who was taught a lesson. Vivanne has a good technique with the ole' feces in the hole trick, this has worked well for me too.

[Sansano]

Originally posted by Teena
"Civilizing Your Puppy" by Barbara J. Wrede

This is one of the books that German suggested, that's why I bought it. Any thoughts on some of the methods used in this book German?

Hmmm, Interesting.

Teena, thanks for taking the time to let us know how 'uncivilized' this book truly is.