Description
Price: $12.95
(as of Mar 04, 2025 10:03:15 UTC – Details)
Wouldn’t it be great if your dog walked politely on a leash instead of making it a tug-of-war? From Norwegian dog trainer Turid Rugaas, it’s easy to learn and works on any age, size or breed of dog.
Publisher : Dogwise Publishing; Illustrated edition (July 1, 2005)
Language : English
Paperback : 60 pages
ISBN-10 : 1929242239
ISBN-13 : 978-1929242238
Item Weight : 4.8 ounces
Dimensions : 6.04 x 0.17 x 8.2 inches
Customers say
Customers find the book’s advice easy to understand and helpful. They find the methods in the book useful for dog owners in general and specifically those who have Labrador Retrievers. The book provides a guideline for loose leash walking that works effectively. Readers appreciate the soothing pacing and calming signals used during the walks. They also mention that their dogs are pulling less and they understand the canine psychology behind it. Overall, customers describe the content as brief and organized.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Janell Michaels –
Bought for a dog who pulls like a freight train
I got this book because of my super reactive little dynamo who pulls and barks like crazy. Walking her can be exhausting, not to mention an embarrassment when people are walking well-behaved dogs who trot nicely at their side. I was dreading walk times, and I was so afraid she’d hurt herself (and my already damaged shoulders were taking a beating) that we curtailed walks until we got this book and a few other things.First up, a vest harness so she wouldn’t strangle with each pull. Next, some homeopathic calming chews to take the edge off her over the top reactions. Then it was time to start working with this book. I was amazed to see some loose leash walking on our very first try using the technique, which involves stopping if the dog pulls, changing direction, and using a clicker and treat to reward the dog for each success. We practiced indoors first, and she was a perfect angel. The second the front door opens, however, she rockets out like the porch is a launch pad. It’s trickier getting her started, but for the most part she’s been pulling less since we started last week.The only real flaw I’ve found thus far is that she won’t accept treats while we’re training on walks. The book does mention this, but from the angle that you’re doing something wrong if the dog won’t take the treat. Either the session went too long, you took the dog around too many distractions, etc. But in her case, it doesn’t matter how peaceful it is outside. The second we’re out, she’s wayyy too amped up to want the treats. I can only use the clicker and follow up with praise. This does seem to work a bit, though I’m certain our progress is much, much slower because of this.I was amazed to see some loose leash walking with the very first session. Since we started last week, she still pulls A LOT. But again, she’s highly reactive, and I’m not able to reinforce with treats. I should also point out that I notice a BIG difference in her ability to take direction when she’s had those calming chews. If she has, we make a bit more progress each time. If not, she regresses to where it’s like we’ve never trained at all. Each session involves times when I’m stuck more or less in one spot, because she pulls/I stop and pivot/she pulls THAT way/I stop and pivot again/she pulls once more. With the chews in her system, this lasts maybe a minute per session before she “gets it” and lightens up. Without the chews, this can take up half or more of a session. So if you have a super high-strung dog, you might need more than just this book to help get them in a learning frame of mind. I also attempt to work a bit of energy off first by playing ball or tug inside before we set out.Even with the calming chews being a success factor, I’m giving this book 5 stars because the method is simple, solid, and produced some immediate results for us despite not being able to include the recommended treat reward. Even a few minutes of her not acting like a bullet train has been worth it and let me see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m hoping we continue our slow and steady progress until we get this walk thing nailed.
KW –
You can teach an old dog new tricks amazingly quickly with loving kindness
My 8-year old dog Beau (a Border Collie Lab mix rescue) had always been very “high strung” and obsessed with chasing everything that moved. On the first mile or two of our walks and runs, he would rush and pull emphatically on his leash towards all creatures we encountered including other dogs. I tried all kinds of techniques to discourage him from pulling, but nothing seemed to help except lots of exercise. I thought that he was just wired to be super-excitable and unable to “listen”, so I just did my best to block him and walk him away from challenges until we had exercised enough for him to be more calm. We recently moved across the country to a new apartment where our only walking options are full of challenges. His pulling got out of hand and I was no longer enjoying our walks much. I went searching for help, and, thankfully, found this book. Within a day of reading it, he was pulling way less. I was so impressed, I bought and read Turid’s other book On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals. It has only been a few days since I read these books, but Beau has already become a real gentleman around the geese, ducks, swans, and other dogs we frequently encounter when walking around a lake by the apartment. I can walk him on a slack leash right past the geese and ducks and allow him to calmly greet other dogs or just calmly walk by (even if the other dog is throwing a tantrum and lunging and pulling towards him). These books have made a world of difference in our lives in an astonishingly short time.In these books, the author clearly explains how to communicate gently, lovingly, and effectively with your dog so that you always stay in a totally kind and loving state of mind and never get annoyed or feel any need to “correct” or “discipline”. Gently and lovingly giving signals in the dog’s own language (and, perhaps even more importantly, listening to the dog and letting the dog know that you are listening) is far more effective and pleasant than any other dog “training” approach I’ve ever heard about or tried. The technique she describes in this book to stop leash pulling is easy to apply, kind to the dog, and amazingly effective. I have deeply loved dogs all my life and I thought I knew a lot about them, but Turid brought my understanding and compassion to a whole new level. I can’t recommend her books enough. For Dog’s sake, read them!
Sherro58 –
good advice
Some excellent advice for all dog owners. I am particularly looking forward to trying it out with our two Airedales.
Rural ID.nurse –
It works!!!
Update: Changed my rating from 4 to 5 stars. I have been working with the technique described in the book and it works PERFECTLY! (Disclosure: my dog had learned to (mostly) walk on a loose leash with a head halter, but had failed mostly with a regular collar and leash). I got a 9 ft leash and let my dog wander and sniff as is a joy for all dogs. He very quickly learned to not let the leash get taut and learned to stop or move toward me when it did. He responds promptly to the clicking sound I make with my tongue, comes to me and sits sweetly or follows me in the new direction. I am thrilled with this! I am disabled and taking my sweet dog for a walk is a challenge for me, often needing a cane or walker, one that his pulling only made so much more difficult. Here is my original review: As expected, Ms. Rugaas gives a fantastic and simple technique to stop your dog pulling on a leash. The info could have been written on one sheet of paper. She does restate the information several times in slightly different ways and with lots of photos in a nice glossy book.
L. Barcellos –
Oh My! This book REALLY helped us!
What I like about this book is that is short and effectively guides how to work with a dog that pulls.This book was especially helpful because it is not based on food rewards.After establishing a mouth sound (no clicker to hold) a few treats were needed to establish the attention cue, which is the mouth sound. So relaxing is this approach. It freed us of many details. Just changing to this mouth sound greatly heightened the grace factor in our training and overall communication with pup and person. I highly recommend this book and author. I would also suggest watching her interviews.
Nathan / Manon –
RUGAAS est une excellente autrice/éducatrice canin.Les livres sont une mine dâinformations et dâaide.Le contenu est clair, simple, imagé.La méthode a été appliquée sur mes deux chiens avec de bon résultat.Je conseille vivement ce livre.
JP –
I would say that every dog owner must read this and understand the facts about dog behaviour. We dig parents are so lucky that we have a great teacher like Turid!!!
Beeb –
This is a very good training book. Not many pages but says it all. Tried the exercises straight away with instant results! The author’s opinion regarding equipment to be avoided is eye-opening and her remark that anything at all that is used to cause pain or discomfort to the dog should be avoided. She doesn’t comment or discuss e-collars but I expect they could be added to that category. If you’ve tried everything and your dog still pulls…get this book!
E. Escalante –
Excelente libro, todos los de la autora son súper fáciles de entender y con imágenes ilustrativas que aquellos que solo sabemos un poco de ingles lo podemos entender perfecto.Lo mejor de este libro en particular es que te dan la formula desde el inicio! Y el resto del libro es entender por qué seguir esta formula :)Super recomendables todos los libros de esta autora.
GB67 –
Practical, concise and informative.The books provides clear advice on what to do to avoid the dog pulling when on the leash.I am trying with my puppy; will let you know how it works.4 stars because it is overpriced.