Feisty Fido: Help for the Leash-Reactive Dog

I love her books. The techniques from the Cautious Canine changed my relationship with my fearful new puppy. Now to deal with the barrier frustration. I have full trust in her approach. (She also has a blog)

This is the hands-down most up-to-date and long-term successful training method there is out there. I had fostered an extremely reactive dog...some of trainers suggested out-dated or worse punitive methods which only exacerbate issues in the long run and set up dogs to boomerang. This method takes consistency and about six months for more severe cases, as you are teaching a new behavior, but it's well worth it and it only takes about two to three five-to-ten minute sessions per day...it makes ever minute an easy training opportunity so that you can sprinkle throughout the day..consistency is the key, your molding a new behavior. She got to the point where she would look at me first whenever she saw another dog, waiting for her praise or treat. I am convinced that trainers and owners who utilize the punitive, outdated quick-fix methods of prong collars or shock collars or worse, are just too lazy and unmotivated to train/teach in the best , most humane and longest lasting permanent-results way. Where other methods fail is that they increase the association of tension or pain with seeing another dog or any trigger that causes the dog to react or be stressed in the first place,. What is KEY is to replace the internal emotional uncomfortable-ness of whatever causes your dog to react with a happy internal emotion instead. 'Oh look, another dog, if I look at my owner, I'll get praise or a treat'..is what you are aiming for, and it WORKS, and it continually reinforces itself. The other punitive methods work but they don't change the internal emotional cause, it's as if a human were terrified of spiders and reacted to them. ..and then someone hits you to prevent you from reacting to a spider....you don't react to the spider, but you are internally twice as tense and stressed!....and that is what punitive training does...it stops a behavior by exacerbating the uncomfortable feelings the animal already has in the first place, and reinforces associating their trigger with even more pain or discomfort...which is counterproductive and can lead to 'snapping' later. I truly wish humans had more knowledge and common sense as illustrated in this book on how to communicate with animals and teach them correctly...it's us who fail to know how to get our communication across, the animals WANT to please us. Excellent book, recommended by the local Humane Society.

A couple weeks ago, we added a third rescue to household and he's a wonderful dog. However, our little guy gets really overwhelmed when he walks past dogs or people or anyone comes close to the car while he's in it.We've been working with our local dog school to improve his obedience and to get him socializing more but we really need to make sure we can go on hikes and walk our dog without fear he will hurt another dog or the people we pass, and we really want to be able to drive him fun places without the cacophony.This is the second book from McConnell Publishing that I've read since getting our new dog and both times I've been really impressed. The authors start out by giving you an understanding of how dogs with these problems appear to be interpreting their situation. This isn't a bunch of wishy washy anthropomorphization. Instead, the authors deduce, from years of working with dogs with these problems, that, for instance, using a choke collar on a dog who is out of control, will simply add pain to the mix. If the dog barks and growls and the stimulus goes away, then the choking subsides which means the dog feels rewarded for barking. Practical information like this not only gives greater insight into why a dog may continue to be reactive despite one's best efforts but also gives one empathy for the dog which helps control one's frustration.The methods outlined in this book will not give results overnight but any real solutions for working through behavioral issues will always take time. What I can say is that the methods are simple and workable for the vast majority of people. They will require that you spend some time and work consistently with your dog but it's good to remember that this is a fantastic chance to bond with your dog as well as improve his or her behavior.And while I know another reviewer considered this the idea of running away from a stimulus a negative point for this book, I really appreciate that the authors offer solutions for avoiding setbacks in training when the stimuli are too great for your dog's current level of training.All in all, I have no qualms with enthusastically recommending this book to anyone who considers it time well spent to work with your dogs.

Again another great book from the author.It isn't a big book and with her easy writing style takes only a couple of hours to read.Down to earth, sensible suggestions that are very doable.Clear instructions, expectations and realistic goals.I would highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with a reactive dog.You are not alone!

This may not be very long but it's really worth the money if you have a lead-reactive dog. I'd got half way there on my own but was struggling with what to do when someone else's dog comes bounding up with the owner 20 metres away calling 'it's alright, he's very friendly'. Patricia McConnell has given me the bits I was missing and it's fantastic to see how positively my dog is reacting.The only thing I'd say is not to be deceived by the apparent simplicity of the book and its advice. Read it carefully, plan your training carefully, then work through every step thoroughly. Get into how this method works rather than just following step by step and you'll find yourself smiling at the results.

This was recommended to us after our adopted 2 year old dog who hadn't been socialised was lunging at dogs on our walk. We got back in touch with the rescue who said to look out for this.They weren't keen for us to pursue other dog trainers in our local area due to the techniques they use to get your dogs attention.We haven't got far with it yet, but from the easy training aspect we are getting our dogs attention. As it states, it is all simple steps, how easy it is to implement will depend on the individual dog. Could take weeks or months. I really don't mind as quoted in the book "Rome wasn't built in a day"!

This is a brilliant little book. The instructions are clear and simple. I saw an improvement in my Standard Poodle's behaviour within days; she now walks calmly on the lead, without leaping or barking ferociously at other dogs. It's a pleasure to take her out. I wish I'd known about this book years ago.

This is a very good book and I have noticed my dogs behaviour has improved enormously since applying the techniques and principles.It has to be said however, that the book can only inform. Application is down to the reader. Practice, practice, practice.I highly recommend this book.