Description
Price: $4.60
(as of Feb 21, 2025 06:42:19 UTC – Details)
Many fear-based problems can be overcome by learning how to apply desensitization and counter conditioning. Whether fear of strangers, vacuums or objects, by identifying triggers and creating a step-by-step plan you will improve the quality of your dog’s lifeand yours.
Publisher : McConnell Publishing Limited; 2nd edition (January 1, 2005)
Language : English
Paperback : 30 pages
ISBN-10 : 1891767003
ISBN-13 : 978-1891767005
Item Weight : 2.4 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.24 x 8.5 inches
Customers say
Customers find the book provides helpful insight and advice on how to help dogs overcome fears. They find it easy to understand, providing step-by-step guidance. Many customers report that the techniques work effectively and help reduce anxiety levels. The book is described as concise and straightforward, with no filler or unnecessary details. However, some readers feel the content is too basic and simple to follow.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Star Tulip –
The best yet on this topic
I have an 18 mo old dog-reactive German Shepherd. I’ve read many of the best trainers: Jean Donaldson, Pam Reid, Pamela Dennison, Emma Parsons, Linda Tellington-Jones, Karen Pryor, Trish King. My dog and I have taken private lessons from a couple excellent dog-reactive specialists. We can now attend certain dog training classes if they’re small enough and there’s enough distance between the dogs.I’ve been working on this problem for over a year, and I’m seeing progress, but some of the approaches from the author trainers seem unrealistic for anyone other than a trainer who has access to a variety of dogs on a daily basis. There are steps and steps and steps and steps and steps and then more pages of steps and steps to take. Then you turn to the next chapter to find out you’ve got more steps to take. Even the most committed dog owner can get overwhelmed. And with all these steps, you need different dogs at different times of the day with different owners, etc. Or you need 20 friends to come knocking on your door 3 times a day 6 days a week. OK, an exaggeration, but it seems that some of the authors have immersed themselves so much in dogs that they have forgotten what life is like for people who don’t have easy access to many people willing to work with them and share their dogs with them. For many of us, that just isn’t the case. McConnell gives us 5 steps to work with. That’s it, and it’s enough. She says in 5 easy steps what others take 28 steps to say and by then I’m so confused I just go throw the kong in the backyard with the dogs rather than go to Petco for some desensitization exercises.However, Patricia McConnell gives realistic, succinct, clear and direct advice in her little booklet. Others have complained about the booklet’s length, and I didn’t buy the booklet until recently because I felt 30 pages couldn’t do this topic justice, either. I learned that, indeed, 30 pages was just right. McConnell has a gift in conveying complicated information in clear, concise, very easy to understand language. And she recognizes that sometimes your very carefully laid out plans to set your dog up for success don’t always work out.Where she differs from many other trainers I’ve read is in her advice about what to do if your counterconditioning/desensitization session in public goes awry. Every other trainer I’ve worked with or read recommends something like not beating yourself up, get the dog into a sit, remain calm, and get the dog away from the scary thing, and try again next time. That’s it. I always left frustrated knowing I’d screwed up yet again, why didn’t I foresee, etc…McConnell goes much further and says that if you leave the scary thing that suddenly surprised your dog, then the dog might learn that lunging and barking makes the scary thing go away. She says to leave, yes, but to go only as far as the dog can stand to remain calm, making sure the dog can still see the scary thing. Then have the dog sit, and when calm, rub his chest in circular motions (t-touch here?), then feed treats, all the while the dog sees the scary thing.What I got out of this is a save for the unexpected, rather than a mistake. I’ve had this happen so many times I hate to admit it. I simply don’t have enough vision, intuition, perception to be able to foresee everything, and sometimes we get caught unawares in public. How wonderful to have someone suggest something that actually continues learning in a situation that is going to happen sometime whether I like it or not. When I take my dog where other dogs might be (which I HAVE to do if we are to master this fear), then sometimes I’m not going to be able to predict every possible dog rounding a corner. McConnell, rather than saying, don’t let this happen to you, says if it does, here’s what to do and make it a better experience, too, and a learning one as well. This is where she goes into detail, gives reasonable workable advice. I think McConnell has kept in touch with the average person and dog, can still remember what first grade was all about and how she felt.Thirty pages is sufficient, for McConnell seems to have synthesized the most important points of the authors mentioned above into a simple, easy to read and follow manual. She introduces the points, how to do them (doesn’t just talk about them), and then gives scenarios, then summarizes the points at the end. She gives several personal examples to illustrate, and what I liked especially – she doesn’t only include success stories. She’s encouraging, but completely realistic. And her advice it simple, so easy to follow.This booklet is worth every penny.See Jan 2014 UPDATE in the comments section, if interested.
Sally –
Worth the read
Had some great insights and tips that have helped me help my dog
Michelle Davey –
Simple, practical guide
Patricia McConell’s “The Cautious Canine” is a practical guide to helping your dog form positive associations. It details step-by-step methods of classical counter-conditioning. This guide will show the average dog owner how to substitute a positive reaction for what used to be a negative reaction to a stimulus the dog perceives as scary or threatening. It is succint and easy to follow. It also provides a pragmatic method of calming dogs in “surprise” situations where the owner may not have treats or time for conditioning their dog.The only reason I did not give the guide a rating of four stars is that I would like to see more information on the transition from heavy conditioning to no conditioning. It would be helpful to know how to transition so that the dog maintains the desired behavior even as fewer treats/rewards are used.
Leecy87 –
All owners with a dog with fear issues need this book.
So, my dog Duke is a rescue, who I rescued and then adopted through proper channels. It wasn’t until months after that adoption did we realize he had a problem with babies and toddlers.I took him to a private behavioral session which put me on the right track to his reform, but when I got pregnant, I ordered this book. This book was saying the exact same thing as what the private session had been saying but in so much more detail. The detail helps you fully understand why and how the techniques work. I recommend this book even if you are having classes to support you. I also recommend how to be the leader of your dog and have him love you for it (same author, red book) book as it teaches your dog to look to you for guidance in tricky situations.The books do work and help you take back control of your household but it’s hard work. If you’re not willing to put in work this book will not work for you. Pregnancy was not the best time to start training and I feel I could have got better results starting earlier.We are still working with Duke but the desensitization is working and slowly but surely he’s becoming more comfortable. That initial fear is gone. I am under no illusion that these two will never be left alone but I wouldn’t leave any dog and baby alone. I don’t see Duke becoming best friends with my son right now but he’s no longer fearful which lowers any risk of him lashing out.This book also helps you see from a dogs perspective and you empathize with your dog as opposed to being irritated. It’s a great book.
Terry F –
Very helpful if you are trying to change a dog’s behaviour
Cliente de Kindle –
Un libro demasiado corto,para mà como entrenador me parece que le falta demasiado para ser un libro para poder ser recomendado
Chiara –
Ho acquistato lâebook per approfondire lâargomento e devo dire che lâho trovato davvero utile e di facile comprensione anche se è scritto in inglese. Perché ha un cane pauroso questo libro può dare qualche spunto su come aiutarlo a superare le proprie insicurezze.
Corvin –
Brilliant little book, written by a very experienced Dog Trainer, who not only has been in the business a long time, but also keeps her skills and knowledge up to date with Modern Canine Research & Science. Which is what any good Dog Trainer/Behaviourist should do. The book talks specifically about how to desensitize/counter condition to fear of people, but clearly states the techniques can be used for anything your dog is afraid of. It really works, if you put it into practice and don’t give up. Highly recommended.
LARA –
The book was easily followed. The author broke it down into simple steps and a doorway into how to fix the problem I faced with my dog. I was very happy with the book.