Description
Price: $19.95 - $16.34
(as of Feb 24, 2025 03:11:08 UTC – Details)
The book that has shaped modern dog training and ownership with its unique and scientifically sound recognition of the “cultural” differences between dogs and humans. Dogs can’t read so you need to in order to really understand your dog.
ASIN : 1617811122
Publisher : Dogwise Publishing; 2nd ed. edition (November 16, 2012)
Language : English
Paperback : 251 pages
ISBN-10 : 9781617811128
ISBN-13 : 978-1617811128
Item Weight : 12.8 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.4 inches
Customers say
Customers find the book informative and helpful for dog owners. They appreciate the learning techniques and training guidance provided in the following chapters. However, opinions differ on the writing style – some find it easy to read and understand, while others consider it hard to read and a little stern at times.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
VerticallyChallenged –
Conversational tone, fascinating science-based subject, effective and gentle training recommendations. Excellent book!
Great read. At times the author uses words that are more complicated than necessary to express herself (and I had to look up their meaning), but it wasnât often enough to stop me from reading the rest of this entertaining and informative book. In fact I couldnât put it down! Her training philosophy is grounded in science and explained clearly with examples so you can follow along by the end of the book. I learned a lot and will find this book to be a great resource on the shelf that I can read several more times to pick up more nuanced pieces that I may have glossed over when I was initially learning the information. The first few chapters are fantastic where she explains what our world looks like from the point of view of the dog and what their tiny little lemon brain can actually comprehend and process … and itâs a lot less than us humans would like to believe! I really got a lot out of the trouble-shooting potty training section having rescued a dog recently that I thought was potty trained because she did it correctly outside several times and didnât realize she was also using my closet when I wasnât looking and wasnât taking her out often enough, whoops. We think its so clear the difference between inside and outside, yet they are discriminating different details such as the texture of what they are peeing on (carpet isnât all that different from grass), or the fact that the owner is present or not. When we scold them for peeing inside they learn rather quickly that it is much safer to eliminate inside when we arenât around! Now try and get them to stop peeing in your closet. The instructions for how to make your ball-disinterested dog fetch like a retriever really worked for my dog too! Clicking and treating any interest in the tennis ball had her bringing it to me in a manner of sessions. Very cool!!! I loved this book so much that I ordered several more by the author and plan to enroll in her training school when I can afford it.
val –
Packed full of great concepts for dog training
I have been diligently studying and training dogs for 5 years. Jean Donaldson was one of the first instructors I followed and learned how to teach my dog tricks using her push, drop and stick concept. My dog has her professional trick title and I teach tricks at a dog club because of her simple to understand video series. This book helps you to understand your Dog and how it learns. I slowly read every page and take notes because every page is so great!!!
Tracy K. Wheatcraft –
Love this book!!!
This is actually the second copy of this book Iâve purchased. The first was for me, but this one was a gift for a friend of mine who adopted her first puppy. It has great science-based, humane training procedures, as well as very helpful information about how dogs learn. The best part of the book is that itâs very easy to read and still gives solid, useful information for both new and experienced dog owners.
Donald J. Hanson –
A Great Book on Dogs and Why They Do What They Do
SUGGESTED AUDIENCE: Anyone who wants to increase their knowledge of canine behavior, and all who consider their dogs to be furry little people with values and morals.I first read The Culture Clash in 1998 and have been recommending it ever since. People often ask me to recommend books and many times I have been hesitant because there are many bad ones and only a few good ones. The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson is one of the better books on canine behavior. When first published in 1997, The Culture Clash received the prestigious Maxwell Award from the Dog Writer’s Association of America as the Best Dog Training and Behavior Book of the year. More importantly, this book was one of the first to challenge the dominance myth and punishment based training.In The Culture Clash, Donaldson helps us to understand our dogs as dogs, and not as furry little creatures that we too often attribute with human like characteristics. Donaldson’s refreshingly new approach has had a tremendous effect on the relations I have with my dogs and my understanding of why they do what they do.Unfortunately, the depiction of dogs by the mass media, and even many dog people, has created some all to common misconceptions about dogs: that they have morals, know when they have done something wrong, are capable of planning revenge, and have a desire to please. This has done a great disservice to all dogs, resulting in our giving them human like responsibilities and then being disappointed when they cannot live up to our expectations.Our dogs’ failure to live up to our standards has also led to the proliferation of the “dominance theory” in the dog-human relationship. This in turn has led to the use of punishment based training techniques because of the emphasis on “showing the dog you are the leader.” Donaldson convincingly demonstrates that dogs are NOT disobedient because they are trying to be dominant, but because they do not understand what a cue means or they find other instinctual stimulus to be more motivating than what we are asking of them (e.g. asking them to come when chasing a squirrel). Once we understand this and start applying scientifically validated learning theories to training our dog, we discover that dominance is totally irrelevant. This is evident in our training classes at Green Acres where young children are training the family dog as easily, and sometimes more effectively than their parents.Donaldson explains how our dogs’ instinctual behaviors can actually be used to make them even better companions. For example, many old school training books would tell you never, ever allow your dog to play “tug-of-war” because it will make the dog dominant. This advice is totally erroneous. As Donaldson explains, dogs in the wild tugging together at a carcass are NOT trying to dominate one another; they are working cooperatively together to dissect the carcass. By playing tug with our dog, with rules of course, we are not making them aggressive, but are building a bond by working together cooperatively as a pack. You will find that for many dogs playing tug is a very motivating reward, possibly more motivating than chasing that squirrel.
C. E. Uticone –
Exceeded expectations
This book could not have been more clear, concise, and–frankly–brilliant. We adopted a dog with some fear & anxiety issues, and because he’s high-energy anyway, it’s been a challenge. As soon as I finished “The Culture Clash” I turned around and handed it to my husband, who also agrees that it’s a fantastic book. Donaldson’s writing is clear–no-frills, no long, adorable anecdotes about other dogs. Just logical steps to help you train your dog. It’s never far from reach. This is a great book for any dog owner, but I particularly recommend it for folks who have rescued an animal and don’t know about his or her background, as well as folks who are feeling overwhelmed by a high-energy dog with behavioral issues. The techniques are intuitive, and the results are excellent. Dogs aren’t that complicated but we are, so be prepared to train yourself, too.
Lisa Giesick –
A Classic!
This is an amazing book. Thatâs been around for quite a while. Itâs still extremely relevant. I highly recommend this for anyone who has a relationship with dogs.
Christine McKay –
great book
Bolota –
Ajustou muito
Sandra Gonçalves –
Excelente leitura
Olivia –
Read half of it until now. Some terms are more difficult to understand, i am not born in an english speaking country, maybe that is why.Gives good explanations of dog behaviour, good exercises to mould the dog behaviour.
N F –
Excellent book. I bought it as a gamble against the negative reviews, started reading it with trepidations but was soon very pleasantly surprised by the quality of its vocabulary and content.maybe the fact that I am an MD helped to understand its contents, but to be honest there were no obscure words used.there was one technique mentioned early on which I did not know before, but I persevered until it was explained halfway through the book.in my opinion, this is a very interesting and well written book with solid content.