...."The Loved Dog" by Tamar Geller???? I remember wanting it when it first came out, but didn't get it for some reason. Well, I saw it on the bargain book table at Barnes and Noble yesterday for like $5, so I grabbed it. I already read the first part of it and love it!!!!!
For those of you who don't know about it, Tamar is a dog trainer who uses play training and love to teach your dog manners. (That is actually the subtitle of the book) She learned about dog behavior from studying wolves in the wild and uses their techinques to establish pack leaders and training. She was vicitim of abuse as a child and she uses those experiences to relate to dogs with issues.
So far it is soooo great!!! I have not gotten to the actual training part. I have just read how she got to where she is, and the 7 things a dog NEEDS in its life. It is soooo right on and very touching. Even though I am not through with it yet, I can tell it is going to be very helpful to me. I had decided before I got it that Wookie
and I need to do some re-training. He is not a bad boy by any means but I am guilty of spoiling him (no way, right?) and he is acting as such. So I know I have to change the way we do somethings and make him understand I am the leader. Me and my husband are in the middle of splitting up, and Wookie and I are getting our own place at the end of this month. Since we are having a complete lifestyle change, and our schedules will be changing, I thought this would be the perfect time to start trying these things. I am going to spend whatever time I need to with him to make the transition better for him. And according to Tamar, doing the training the way she does it is a VERY fun experience for them, and is a bonding experience for the both of you. Gives me something to look forward to and focus on at a difficult time.
Anyway, I would suggest anyone to read it, even if your dog is already well behaved. Plus its only $5 right now!!! Can't beat that!!!