PRAISE FOR TRAINING YOUR DOG THE HUMANE WAY
Wags and woofs for Training Your Dog the Humane Way, which educates humans to first be aware of their own behavior, as well as canine behavior and communication, before seeking to shape dogs behavior. This approach to training enhances the relationship between human and pet and brings out the best in both species.
Dr. Michael W. Fox, veterinarian, syndicated columnist, and author of
The Healing Touch for Dogs (www.twobitdog.com/DrFox)
Alana Stevensons Training Your Dog the Humane Way is a welcome addition to the chorus of positive dog training. Its beauty lies in Alanas direct approach. The book is easy to understand and is fueled by Alanas genuine and obvious love of animals. She emphasizes the importance of educating dogs the right way, the first time, which is an invaluable refrain. If more and more people implement her suggestions, more and more dogs, and people, will benefit.
Paul Owens, author of The Dog Whisperer:
A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training
Finally! A 100 percent humane dog-training book! We have been waiting a long time for this. No more harsh methods. Just a gentle, caring approach with rewards for good behavior. How refreshing! I would love to see every dog guardian read this book.
Karen Porreca, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Alana Stevensons Training Your Dog the Humane Way does an excellent job of meeting client needs and trainer goals. The book is both savvy and accessible. Its a great choice to help beginners have a more thorough understanding of the techniques theyre learning, and its a handy reference for the trainer who wants a few tips in helping clients master basic behaviors.
Association of Pet Dog Trainers Book Review
Alana Stevenson has done a fabulous service to dogs and their guardians. She knows how a dogs mind works, and her clear advice and positive approach make training rewarding for both canine and human.
Jonathan Balcombe, PhD, author of Pleasurable Kingdom: Animals and the
Nature of Feeling Good and Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals
Training Your Dog the Humane Way is beautifully written and has great content for discerning and naive dog owners.
William E. Campbell, author of Behavior Problems in Dogs, The New Better
Behavior in Dogs, and Dog Behavior Problems: The Counselors Handbook
After reading Training Your Dog the Humane Way, there is no doubt that Ms. Stevenson has an impressive understanding of dog behavior and how we can coexist with them without changing who they are. She explains how positive reinforcement can achieve excellent results without the trauma and fears left behind when an animal is trained by punishment. I highly recommend this book as a replacement to traditional training methods. It is easy reading and clearly states what creates the best results for both you and your dog.
Chris DeRose, actor, president and founder of
Last Chance for Animals, Los Angeles, CA
For too many years, dogs have been unnecessarily trained with harsh and combative methods. Training Your Dog the Humane Way is straightforward, easily read, and will assist caring dog owners in developing appropriate behavior in a compassionate way and in a fashion that will strengthen the bond between dog and owner.
Lore I. Haug, DVM, MS, CPDT,
diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
The author captures beautifully the essence of positive training, telling us what we know but do not always put into practice: dogs are sentient beings who are just like us in the sense that they respond better to loving leadership that rewards than to leadership by force.
Lynn Hoover, MSW, CDBC, author of
The Family in Dog Behavior Consulting
Alana Stevensons training methods are right on! I highly endorse Training Your Dog the Humane Way. One of the main reasons pets are surrendered to animal shelters is because of behavior problems, which results in thousands of animals being euthanized needlessly. Many times the owners do not understand that with a little patience, time, and training any pet can become a wonderful companion. Kindness, compassion and understanding are always more effective than harsh punishment.
Meredith Fiel, founder and executive director,
Adirondack Save-A-Stray, Corinth, NY
The complex nuances of comprehensive training are well spelled out in Training Your Dog the Humane Way. Long gone should be the use of the heavy hand as de rigueur in behavior modification. It is well known that animals respond best to positive reinforcement for good behavior, rather than negative reinforcement for bad behavior. I highly recommend this book for all people who either have dogs or work with them.
Dr. Jay Jakubowski, DVM, Village Veterinary Clinic, Brookline, MA
TRAINING YOUR DOG
THE HUMANE WAY
TRAINING YOUR DOG
THE HUMANE WAY
Simple Teaching Tips for
Resolving Problem Behaviors
& Raising a Happy Dog
ALANA STEVENSON
Copyright 2011 by Alana Stevenson
An earlier version of this book was published under the title The Right Way the First Time.
All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, or other without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.
Interior photographs by Margaret Crow (www.margaretcrow.com), Kerri Fenn, Ed Friedman, Lauren MacDonald, and Lorraine Nicotera
Text design by Tona Pearce Myers
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stevenson, Alana.
Training your dog the humane way : simple teaching tips for resolving
problem behaviors and raising a happy dog / Alana Stevenson.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-60868-018-4 (pbk.)
1. DogsTraining. 2. DogsBehavior. I. Title.
SF431.S74 2011
636.7'0835dc22
2011006787
First printing, May 2011
ISBN 978-1-60868-018-4
Printed in Canada on 100% postconsumer-waste recycled paper
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
19902002
This book is dedicated to Dolph Lundgren,
my beloved canine companion of many years.
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
Positive Training and How Dogs Learn
and Understand the World around Them
CHAPTER TWO
Training Techniques
CHAPTER THREE
Teaching the Basics
CHAPTER FOUR
Jumping, Chewing, Barking, Housetraining,
Next page