Illustrates a psychological training system for dogs based on positive reinforcement and shows, through the story of Jellybean, how a good dog can become schizophrenic from the use of traditional training methods
WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK
Whether you have a new puppy, a "problem dog", or just want to act properly around dogs, you should read this book. It could save your dog’s life and, at least equally important, save you, innocent children and friends from the horrors of dog bites and from the nightmare of having to put your dog to sleep. The good news is that it will teach you how to reach a positive, mutually satisfactory, happy relationship with your dog without using negative methods in his training, such as intimidation, force, punishment, and pain. Even more amazing it will enable you to do this because you abstain from these negative methods. All other books advocate coercion in one form or another, which can lead to problems and even develop a dangerous dog which then must be destroyed.
The truly different methods explained and described in this book are based on over 35 years of experience in the uniformly successful training of dogs of all breeds and ages. Even more important, in over 25 years of Specializing in rehabilitation of problem dogs, many dogs were saved from death by these methods and returned to their happy owners as safe and well-mannered pets.
So What is the magic pill? The system of physical psychological dog training is based on the unwavering, consistent attention to development of mutual respect and trust between dog and master accomplished with only positive reinforcement.
The word unwavering is the key. Many times harsh discipline, intimidation and physical punishment techniques endorsed by others seem to work and are easier and more satisfying, temporarily. However, in the long run they are detrimental to the pet.
Lets take the simple case of a happy puppy who has spent several carefree weeks frolicking outside in the warm summer sun with his affectionate new family. Autumn comes. He is invited indoors and promptly relieves himself on the new white living room rug. The master, who has read the time-honored remedy in training books, promptly grabs the puppy by the scruff of the neck, rubs his nose in the excrement and tosses him out the front door into the cold rain. It works, the dog does not make that mistake again.
Think of the impact if this procedure were used on a young child. The psychiatrists would have a heyday tracing the effect throughout his life. There is no doubt that a few traumatic experiences like this can change your loving puppy into a dangerous dog later in life. In fact, intimidation, force and physical punishment are the main roots of many of our dogs problems today, as case histories prove. In combination with permissiveness, these negative can produce schizophrenic dogs with Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde personalities. On the other hand, you can have a happy, reliable, loyal dog of any breed by using the system of psychological training with positive reinforcement advocated here.
How can you avoid the pitfalls and learn to use the positive approach?
(1) In the first chapter we present the true and detailed story of a dog with excellent breeding and experienced , loving owners. In his personal contribution, Dick Flinn explains how his pet (the Cover dog) turned into a menace. Paul K. and Barbara Trojan, as family friends, had the opportunity to observe this unfortunate development.
(2) next, the different facets of a dog’s personality will be outlined, starting with the basic concepts of dog behavior, which will serve as the cornerstone for your understanding. You’ll see how and why this dog and millions of others are being forced into disobedience and all kinds of misbehavior, such as barking, chasing, property destruction, biting, and killing.
(3) Testing and analyzing of dogs reveals the roots of their specific problems. The exact cause of the cover dog’s problem is defined.
(4) Conditioning and training set the signals for behavior of every dog in the right or wrong direction. The faults and errors of established traditional methods and their dire consequences for the dogs, their owners, and others are exposed. The advantages of the totally positive system of psychological dog training are put forth.
(5) The undeniable evidence of the need for Mutual Respect in dog training combined with positive reinforcement is documented redemption and successful reprogramming of an otherwise doomed pet, resulting in the metamorphosis of "Doc" to "Jelly Bean". With his personal comment, Dick Flinn describes his individual experience during this important process. This is supported by the testimony of the witness Paul K. and Barbara Trojan.
(6) In Fiction and Facts the prevailing misconceptions and their contribution to many dog problems culminating in sever bites are described.
(7) "The Better Way" highlights how you can better relate to your pet.
A collection of case histories is used throughout to illustrate and emphasize the theoretical statements.
The whole thrust of the book is to help you avoid many mistakes in starting with a new dog and to give you hope and support in retraining an old dog with bad habits.
C.W. Meisterfeld
PETaluma, California
April, 1989
