Natural Dog Training Summary and Reviews

Natural Dog Training
by Kevin Behan

Natural Dog Training
List Price: $22.99
Our Price: $19.35
You Save: $3.64 (16%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.91 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


or

Book Summary Information

Author: Kevin Behan
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2002-10-08
ISBN: 1401041353
Number of pages: 324
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation

Book Reviews of Natural Dog Training

Book Review: Be your dog's best friend
Summary: 5 Stars

While I have my quibbles about Kevin Behan's style of prose ('Natural Dog Training' is a little difficult to wade through at times), I simply can't praise this book highly enough. Behan's central point of 'Natural Dog Training' is that your dog, being descended from wolves, has an irresistible call of the wild - the need to hunt, to chase, bite and kill prey - and that you can train your dog naturally, without relying on treats or 'domination' methods, by satisfying this 'prey drive'. In a natural wolf pack, the need to hunt large prey requires harmony and cooperation between the pack members, not domination and submission, and it is this desire to reach harmony with the pack that you can tap into simply by allowing your dog to be a dog, to satisfy his need to hunt together as a pack. You do this by playing hunting games - fetch, tug, chase, hide 'n seek and others - and channeling your dogs resultant attention to you into obedience behaviors.

The 'Natural Dog Training' method is very unique when compared to today's trend towards food-based 'positive reinforcement' methods. First, there is no emphasis on 'early' puppy obedience training. 8 week old puppies don't need to learn obedience - they need to learn how to live harmoniously with humans and how to be attentive to their human masters. With 'Natural Dog Training' you concentrate on patient housetraining, re-direction techniques and, most importantly, confidence and attention building through robust play with your pup. While mainstream dog training is essentially split between the dominance-based (think Cesar Millan) and 'positive reinforcement'-based (Karen Pryor, Ian Dunbar) camps, both of these approaches essentially focus on the same thing - the supression of natural, instinctive behaviors of dogs. With natural dog training, the natural and instinctive behaviors of all dogs (jumping up, chasing and biting things) are actually stimulated and channeled into pure, enthusiastic obedience. This method teaches your dog to be highly attentive and highly enthusiatic to obey a command because his ultimate desire, the need to chase and bite something, is fulfilled through attention and obedience to his master.

When I abandoned the 'positive reinforcement' methods of treat-based early obedience training in favor of natural dog training, a funny thing happened with my puppy - she became attentive to me. I became the center of her universe simply by making myself her source of fun and play. We took long walks together, where we played numerous 'chase', 'hide and seek' and 'tug o' war' games. As illogical as this sounds at first, teaching her to jump on me and to 'dance' with me, strengthening that natural instinctive desire to make contact with me, became the key to teaching her to walk nicely on leash, to 'heel' and to 'come' when called. At 9 months, she took off after another dog that had wandered into our cul-de-sac, but instantly recalled back to me at top speed. She continues to recall like this. Her usual reward? Some hardy wrestling and a 'tug o' war' session.

My puppy is now a year and a half old, and I can walk with her around the neighborhood off-leash, with all the distractions that that entails. I can leave her alone in the home while I'm away at work, and I don't have to worry that she will be destructive or bark incessantly for hours. I credit Kevin Behan's book for showing me the way to raise a puppy properly and to satisfy her instinctive doggy needs in a manner that channels her natural desire for harmony and obedience. Additionally, I would recommend reading any of Lee Charles Kelleys' novels (see his review of 'Natural Dog Training') and his insightful Amazon blog for dog training tips and to further refine your understanding of the natural dog training method.

Be your dog's best friend and buy 'Natural Dog Training'!

Dogs Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Dogs Books
The Seven Ages of Your Dog: A Complete Guide to Understanding and Caring for Your Dog from Puppyhood to Old Age. Jan Fennell ImageThe Seven Ages of Your Dog: A Complete Guide to Understanding and Caring for Your Dog from Puppyhood to Old Age. Jan Fennell
by Jan Fennell
HarperCollins Australia; Published: 2005-08; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops: $41.75
Collins Gem Dog Training: How to Educate Your Dog ImageCollins Gem Dog Training: How to Educate Your Dog
by Gwen Bailey
HarperCollins UK; Published: 2004-05-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.98
Price in other shops: $8.95
Collins German Shepherd: An Owner's Guide (Dog Owners Guide) ImageCollins German Shepherd: An Owner's Guide (Dog Owners Guide)
by Peter Neville
Harpercollins Pub Ltd; Published: 1999-06; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops: $13.99
Collins Dog Owner's Guide Pb (Collins Dog Owners Guides) ImageCollins Dog Owner's Guide Pb (Collins Dog Owners Guides)
by Peter Neville
Harpercollins; Published: 1996-06-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $41.36
For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend ImageFor the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend
by Patricia McConnell
Ballantine Books; Published: 2007-08-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.08
Price in other shops: $15.95
Marley and Me ImageMarley and Me
by John Grogan
HODDER & STOUGHTON; Published: 2006-06-29; Hardcover; Book
They Moved My Bowl: Dog Cartoons by New Yorker Cartoonist Charles Barsotti ImageThey Moved My Bowl: Dog Cartoons by New Yorker Cartoonist Charles Barsotti
by Charles Barsotti
Little, Brown and Company; Published: 2007-05-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.96
Price in other shops: $19.99
Living a Dog's Life, Jazzy, Juicy, and Me ImageLiving a Dog's Life, Jazzy, Juicy, and Me
by Cindy Adams
St. Martin's Press; Published: 2006-03-07; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops: $19.95
Every Night, Josephine! ImageEvery Night, Josephine!
by Jacqueline Susann
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2004-11-30; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.95
Marley & Me tie-in: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog ImageMarley & Me tie-in: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
by John Grogan
William Morrow Paperbacks; Published: 2008-10-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops: $13.95
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Karen Pryor i-Click Dog Training Clicker, 3 Clickers ImageKaren Pryor i-Click Dog Training Clicker, 3 Clickers
KPCT; KPCT; KPCT; Misc.; Pet Products
Best price: $8.99
101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog Image101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog
by Kyra Sundance, Chalcy
Quarry Books; Published: 2007-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.18
Price in other shops: $18.99
Natural Dog Training: The Fundamentals 2-dvd Set By Neil Sattin ImageNatural Dog Training: The Fundamentals 2-dvd Set By Neil Sattin
Published: 2009; DVD
Best price: $65.00
Canine Body Language: A Photographic Guide Interpreting the Native Language of the Domestic Dog ImageCanine Body Language: A Photographic Guide Interpreting the Native Language of the Domestic Dog
by Brenda Aloff
Dogwise; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $26.24
Price in other shops: $39.95
Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You A Better Friend to Your Pet ImageDog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You A Better Friend to Your Pet
by John Bradshaw
Basic Books; Published: 2011-05-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.35
Price in other shops: $25.99
The Power of Positive Dog Training ImageThe Power of Positive Dog Training
by Pat Miller
Howell Book House; Published: 2008-04-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.57
Price in other shops: $18.99
On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals ImageOn Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals
by Turid Rugaas
Dogwise Publishing; Dogwise Publishing; Published: 2005-12-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.41
Price in other shops: $12.95
Playtraining Your Dog ImagePlaytraining Your Dog
by Patricia Gail Burnham
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 1985-12-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $39.25
Natural Dog Training: The Canine Arts Kennel Program - Teach Your Dog By Using His Natural Instincts ImageNatural Dog Training: The Canine Arts Kennel Program - Teach Your Dog By Using His Natural Instincts
by Kevin Behan
Morrow; Published: 1992; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $22.69
Your Dog Is Your Mirror: The Emotional Capacity of Our Dogs and Ourselves ImageYour Dog Is Your Mirror: The Emotional Capacity of Our Dogs and Ourselves
by Kevin Behan
New World Library; Published: 2011-02-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.31
Price in other shops: $23.95