Cesar's Rules: Your Way to Train a Well-Behaved Dog
Again, this doesn't really fit this year's book prompts, but since I seem to be on a Cesar Millan kick, I'll use Cesar's Rules: Your Way to Train a Well-Behaved Dog , by Cesar Millan & Melissa Jo Peltier, as the 'book based on a TV show' in the 50 Book Challenge since he talks about Dog Whisperer cases quite a bit.
I became interested in Cesar Millan after recently reading some criticisms. I'd seen the first season of Dog Whisperer, and that's about it. This is the second book of Cesar's that I've since read, and this is where I became a fan. His passion, dedication, and knowledge shines through. He collaborated with a variety of well-known dog trainers & behaviorists, many who use different methods and have even criticized Millan's. He speaks freely about his desire to learn from every master of the craft, and he encourages tailoring the training to the individual dogs and their owners and being open-minded, researching your options, and do what is right for your unique situation.
He first lays out his 'basics' for a balanced dog, good pack behavior, and the walk (as most know, the most important tool in Cesar's arsenal). He checks in with a number of leading experts including Dr. Ian Dunbar, Bob Bailey, Mark Hardin and discusses research from others like Temple Grandin and Karen Pryor. Training advice and many great examples are given from experts in their fields, covering various methods such as clicker training, on-leash (many kinds), off-leash, hand signals, and more.
We also learn quite a bit about the history and evolution of dogs and the dog-human dynamic. Recent research is shared and referenced. The many trainers involved also go into some detail about the unique needs of individual breeds and individuals like puppies, shelter dogs, and senior dogs.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. I came away with a deeper understanding of dog behavior, human behavior, how to start off successfully with a new dog, and how to correct & help rehabilitate current dogs. In addition to the information that this book imparted, I also came away with a detailed reference bibliography and suggestions for further reading. Definitely recommend.
I became interested in Cesar Millan after recently reading some criticisms. I'd seen the first season of Dog Whisperer, and that's about it. This is the second book of Cesar's that I've since read, and this is where I became a fan. His passion, dedication, and knowledge shines through. He collaborated with a variety of well-known dog trainers & behaviorists, many who use different methods and have even criticized Millan's. He speaks freely about his desire to learn from every master of the craft, and he encourages tailoring the training to the individual dogs and their owners and being open-minded, researching your options, and do what is right for your unique situation.
He first lays out his 'basics' for a balanced dog, good pack behavior, and the walk (as most know, the most important tool in Cesar's arsenal). He checks in with a number of leading experts including Dr. Ian Dunbar, Bob Bailey, Mark Hardin and discusses research from others like Temple Grandin and Karen Pryor. Training advice and many great examples are given from experts in their fields, covering various methods such as clicker training, on-leash (many kinds), off-leash, hand signals, and more.
We also learn quite a bit about the history and evolution of dogs and the dog-human dynamic. Recent research is shared and referenced. The many trainers involved also go into some detail about the unique needs of individual breeds and individuals like puppies, shelter dogs, and senior dogs.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. I came away with a deeper understanding of dog behavior, human behavior, how to start off successfully with a new dog, and how to correct & help rehabilitate current dogs. In addition to the information that this book imparted, I also came away with a detailed reference bibliography and suggestions for further reading. Definitely recommend.