Description
Price: $14.95 - $13.90
(as of Feb 27, 2025 15:46:33 UTC – Details)
Is it fear or bravado that causes some dogs to want to “take on” other dogs? Learn how to analyze the underlying causes for dog-dog aggression and retrain your dog so she can play nicely with others.
Publisher : Dogwise Publishing; Illustrated edition (January 1, 2002)
Language : English
Paperback : 116 pages
ISBN-10 : 0970562969
ISBN-13 : 978-0970562968
Item Weight : 6.4 ounces
Dimensions : 5.52 x 0.34 x 8.46 inches
Customers say
Customers find the book easy to read and helpful for understanding dog behavior issues. They appreciate the well-researched content and reasonable approach to behavior modification. The author breaks down different behavior issues and provides a good tutorial on dog rehabilitation.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Olive –
the only dog book you need
We met a behavioral specialist for our adopted abused dog a few times as the dog started to go after our very sweet, but playful pitbull (the aggressive dog is the chihuahua mix). The vet specialist costs $200/visit, but it’s worth it. However, this book tackles a lot of the ideas he discussed and more, and we can reference it at any time. It’s not an “advice” book–it’s a researched guide to aggressive dogs. None of the other books I’ve seen and read are supported with evidence other than the author’s “years” of being on TV. Yes, the authors uses psychological terms and abbreviates the terms thereafter, so that can be confusing (I’m in a Phd program, so I’m used to it). But I honestly think anyone can read this if they take a minute, jot notes, whatever. There’s examples, a good chart of steps to take, and I kept yelling “This is our dog!!” throughout the entire thing. I won’t buy another book because I don’t need to. We saw immediate improvement following the book’s advice. It’ll be a long process, but seeing any change (and change in 1 day!) is so relieving.
A Regular Shopper –
BRILLIANT. It worked for us, and is a must-read for multi-dog households.
If you’re considering this book, you undoubtedly have a dog-dog aggression problem. Ours developed among dogs that had lived together for years. I reached out to a successful dog trainer and was told that it should be put in the permanent management category, with the dogs inhabiting separate parts of the house for the remainder of their lives. Unwilling to accept that, I contacted a CAAB certified canine behaviorist. She was unable to do an immediate home consult, but suggested several books to get us started including this one, which I purchased as an ebook. Because our dogs have good bite inhibition…nobody had been injured in spite of what appeared to be two horrific fights…she felt that a good outcome was possible. Just three days after employing the suggestions in the book the problem seems to be resolved, but we are continuing the conditioning exercises. If I don’t update this review in the future, it means my husband and I were able to successfully deal with the dog-dog aggression before it became a chronic problem.
A. Reiss –
Take it with a grain of salt..
As a trainer and someone who deals with aggression between her own dogs, lemme say this: Aggression in ANY form is not welcome in my house. The last time my female tried to kill my other dog for absolutley no reason was the day that she learned that I am capable of ending her life with my own hands. When I say fight, I mean alpha’s 4 canine teeth sunk into the skull of my beta, who is screaming for her life. My offending dog and I had a true life ‘coming to jesus'(luckily she was on leash & choke chain) as a result of her ***t- starting ways. I e-collar stimulated her on level 10 AND suspended her off the ground by (the neck) until she let go of my other dog, and held her there until she almost blacked out. Eyeballs bulging, she looked at me like “DONT KILL ME! I WONT DO IT AGAIN!” I put her feet back on the ground. She willingly went to her kennel and didn’t come out for almost 3 days. I love my dog and I regret that I had to take the actions that I did, but in a real fight, lives are at stake and there WILL be consequences for deadly behavior. She has not repeated the actions that landed her in trouble, and I think it actually helped our relationship as her loose-cannon behaviors have cooled greatly since that fateful night. I treat fights like the extreme danger that they are, and in my house extreme actions lead to extreme consequences in a way that my dogs can understand. Dogs are physical creatures, they understand physical consequences, and I just don’t think that’s how they view it in San Fransisco. For example: I am astounded that citronella is, but two leashes (one for each dog) is not part of Jean’s “Fight Kit” Really? C’mon Jean. My “Fight Kit” includes 2 dominant dog collars, 2 leashes, 2 choke chains, 2 e-collars, not citronela and dishes for banging. Her kit may work for a Yorkie that squabbles with a Chihuahua, but not for 2 working dogs who are trying to kill the other. I wish she would include photos & life-changing stories of real fight victims, both human and canine. Jean doesn’t talk about the extremely real consequences of real life dog fights, and I think she should have. If you have real working dogs with real aggression, I suggest the great advice on Leerburg.com’s many articles on the topic, and for god’s sake please be prepared at ALL TIMES and treat your fighter like the danger that they have proven themselves to be. I let 2 of my co-trainers with more than 80 years combined experience read pages 80-85 and they all shook their heads in disagreement. Jean doesn’t believe in corrections. She says behavior modifiers such as leash corrections, startles, electric shocks are harmful to dogs, but doesn’t go on to say why. Newsflash! In the end, LIFE is harmful! We all learn from the good, the bad, and mostly the inbetweens, and dogs are no different. Take her “let’s do it the positive way” with a grain of salt.That being said, “FIGHT!” is now a must for my library. It helped me greatly and I am sure I will re-read it many more times. If you have a pomeranian who fights with a chihuahua, and have access to a trainer who has access to many stable dogs, this book will do you a lot of good. If you have 2 Malinois who are fighting, shame on you and go straight to Leerburg for your information. If you are a canine professional that deals in aggression, please read this book. You’ll be glad that you did.
Michaele Babcock –
Did this product meet expectations? HECK YES!!!
As a trainer, I’ve found that anything by Jean Donaldson is likely to be a source of concise, scientifically sound advice. Her protocols in this small volume are no exception. How she manages to craft this many lessons, with this much information into so small a package is a mystery to me, but it’s a mystery from which my students (Pet Parents) have become the fortunate beneficiaries. There are several texts that I consult when writing a dog-specific behavior ajdjstment program for ay dog “with issues”, whatever they may be and whatever may have caused them. The beauty of this book is that Ms. Donalson cuts through “the stuff” and tells the truth…we may NEVER know what caused a particular dog to have issues with humans or other dogs (think a resuce, with no prior history). But if we concentrate on WHAT THE DOG IS DOING” as opposed to WHAT WE SUPPOSE THE DOG MIGHT BE FEELING, the dogs’s behavior will inform us every time, and help us find the case-specific solutions to help every dog become a happier, safer family companion. This book is a MUST for trainers, and certainly a good read for those who are thinking about consulting a trainer for help with their reactive dog. FIVE STARS…HECK, SIX, and highly recommended
V. Islander –
Very helpful. At first a little complicated to get into with the new jargon and style it was written in, but itâs been more than eye opening for us! Our pup started a severe resource-guarding issue at 4 months old, and heâs 7 months old now and doing SO much better now that we know how to manage him so he doesnât react the way he did.
D. Mackenzie –
Most of this book sounds like a thesisThe language used is not aimed at the average dog owner, more like the average dog trainerLimited practical suggestions for owners, more like a how-to for trainersThe average person is not able to access other dogs to practice with
anissa –
Very good book! i took few tools to work my dog and i advice you to buy it if you need.
Paul –
I bought this book in order to try to understand and modify the aggressive behaviour of our dog towards certain other dogs. This book explains what is normal behaviour for dogs, and what the various causes of various types of behaviour can be. It does not attempt to explain what is going on inside a dog’s head, but instead looks at observable behaviour and ways of modifying any undesirable behaviour. It uses evidence based positive reinforecement techniques, and avoids fads and pop psychology. Be aware that this book is written for audiences assumed to have at least an outline familiarity with the ideas of operant and classical conditioning. If you do not, then I recommend getting informed about these ideas from a good dog training book first (‘It’s Me or the Dog’ for example, or any book dealing in positive reinforcement training. Not Cesar Milan or other ‘dominance’ based books.). These ideas are not complicated, and once broadly understood mean that the full benefit can be obtained from this book. Highly recommended.
Julie S –
I enjoy reading all of Jean Donaldson’s training books. She really understands dogs and their owners and helps both!Her books are amusing and well written and you find yourself unable to put the book down once you start reading. She breaks each section down for you in easy to understand descriptions with user friendly dialogue, so even if you’re not a dog trainer or behaviourist, you are still able to carry out her training instructions successfully and gain progress if you have a nervous or reactive dog.It’s a nice size book; small paperback with easy to read text/chapters. Great for any dog owner or trainer to add to their book collection.The book arrived earlier than expected in a padded envelope.