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From the coveted Publishers Weekly Booklife Review, A-Rated!
EDITOR’S PICK — “A thorough, illuminating guide to force-free dog training attuned to dogs’ emotional needs.”
Get the dog training results you’ve been looking for—combining compassion with the science of dog psychology. Discover the path to successful dog training in the easy-to-follow Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook.
Are you tired of spending countless hours poring over articles and books searching for answers to dog behavior problems? This handbook provides dog-centric, practical solutions to common and complex behavior issues. In this comprehensive guide you will find transformational problem solving advice for pet parents. It is also designed for dog trainers teaching basic manners classes, and includes private behavioral consultation treatment plans with citations and a detailed index. Learn how to prevent behavior problems before they escalate and resolve behavior problems through meeting needs.
Renowned dog psychology expert, international speaker, and trailblazer in positive dog training, Linda Michaels, illustrates the most effective, ethical methods endorsed by the greatest minds in dog training and behavior. This meticulously researched handbook provides a roadmap for:
• Nutrition—Unravel the mysteries of dog nutrition
• Veterinary and grooming visits—Help your puppy or rescue dog feel safe from the very first visit
• Aggression—Learn to identify red flags, including treatments for human and dog-dog aggression, sibling rivalry, and resource guarding
• Separation anxiety—Create a Doggy Enrichment Land and follow the step-by-step treatment plan for desensitization and counter-conditioning
• Trainer secrets, good manners, and basic skills—Discover effective solutions for calm greetings, puppy “no bite”, “no jump”, lightening recall, and leash-walking
The Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbookis a definitive “must have” for dog lovers and seasoned trainers—a classic treasure belonging on the top shelf of every library. Foreword by Dr. Marc Bekoff, PhD, co-founder with Jane Goodall of the Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and author of 31 books.
Biography—Linda Michaels, M.A., Psychology, international speaker (US, UK) and renowned best-seller author, is the founder of the “First, Do No Harm” approach in dog training. Linda is considered one of the modern-era dog psychology experts, influencers, and problem-solving writers in the field of canine behavior modification.
Linda holds a master’s degree in Experimental Psychology, conducted laboratory research in behavioral neurobiology, and has many years of shelter experience working with the most difficult cases. Her unique combination of academic excellence and hands-on skills with dogs, wolfdogs, and the famed Belyaev foxes, creates a bridge between the worlds of research, dog trainers and pet parents. Linda focuses on the psychological aspects of dog behavior that often mirror human conditions—without using dominance methods or devices. Find her in international trade magazines, as a featured expert in Psychology Today online, Newsweek online, Huffington Post Live, and Wolf Dog Radio.
What the experts are saying about The Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook
“I’ve learned more from this book than from the 1000’s of hours of courses I’ve taken or dozens of dog training books I’ve read. 10/10. Highly recommended.”
— Dee Storey, Rescue Dog Behavior Specialist
“…an amazingly comprehensive, scientifically accurate, ethical and compassionate gift to the world of dogs and the people who love them.”
—Pat Miller, Training Editor for the Whole Dog Journal, Author
From the Publisher
Get the Effective Training Results You’re Looking For — Combining Science with Love
Discover the Keys to Resolving Behavior Problems
Renowned dog psychologist, international speaker, and trailblazer in positive dog training, Linda Michaels, reveals how to meet your dog’s needs WHILE solving behavior problems. The acclaimed Publishers Weekly Magazine honored the Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook— Featuring the Hierarchy of Dog Needs with an Editor’s Pick Booklife Review, describing the book as a “thorough, illuminating guide to force-free dog training attuned to dogs’ emotional needs.”
Illustrating the most effective methods endorsed by the greatest minds in dog training and behavior, this book answers the most common and the most challenging questions faced by dog lovers, including:
Nutrition — Unravelling the mysteries of dog nutritionSeparation anxiety — Creating the Doggy Enrichment Land with a step-by-step treatment plan of desensitization and counter-conditioningBasic training skills PLUS — Trainer secrets, good manners, and basic skills: Providing effective solutions for calm greetings, puppy “no bite”, “no jump”, lightening recall, and leash-walkingAggression — Identifying red flags, including treatment plans for human and dog-dog aggression, sibling rivalry, and resource guardingVeterinary and grooming visits — Helping puppies and adult dogs dog feel safe starting with preparations for the very first visit
The Do No Harm Approach to Dog Training Solves Behavior Problems from Housetraining to Aggression
The Hierarchy of Dog Needs Lays the Foundation of Do No Harm Dog Training
The Hierarchy of Dog Needs, created by Linda Michaels, designed for dogs, is an adaptation of the renowned psychologist, Dr. Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs.
Use this modern dog welfare guide, embedded with an ethical code, that precludes the use of punishment, pain and fear in dog training.
Perfect for tacking to your refrigerator, hanging in your office, or to use as a teaching tool.
The Five Needs. Meeting biological, emotional, social, cognitive and force-free training needs helps solve behavior problems because your dog communicates undermet needs you may not fully understand The Seven Methods. The behavior modification methods force-free trainers endorse, explored in easy-to-apply language. They may be used safely and effectively in any order by pet parents and trainers
Help Your Dog Overcome Problem Behaviors
Find Practical Solutions in a Dog Training Roadmap
This must-have, comprehensive handbook is a transformational guide to dog lovers for reactivity, barking, separation anxiety, and other problem behaviors. The Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook provides dog-centric practical solutions to both common and complicated problems for both pet parents and dog trainers.
It is also designed for presentations, teaching classes, and includes private behavioral consultation Treatment Plans and a detailed index to make finding topics easy.
Solve simple and complex behavior problems with an easy-to-understand and easy-to-use reference and practical training manual, all in one, providing solutions to common behavior problems Find Reliable Help. Learn how to find a good, dog-friendly dog trainer, veterinarian, and groomer Help for Reactive Aggression. Treatment plans for all types of aggression, including dog-dog reactivity, dog-human reactivity, sibling rivalry, resource guarding, red flags, plus a “Don’ts list” Comprehensive Separation Anxiety Treatment Plan, Barking, Dogs and Babies, and Allergies Basic Skills and Manners. Step by step instructions outlining all of the Basic Skills pet parents want to learn, such as Leash-walking, Sit, Down, Wait, and Lightening Recall Explore the joy of creating a Doggy Enrichment Land containment that your dog will love. Perfect for housetraining, greetings, peace of mind for new baby and toddler parents, and separation distress Housetraining. Learn the “Top Ten Do’s and Dont’s for Successful Housetraining” in easy-to-follow bullet points First, we meet needs, then, modify behavior with exclusively force-free methods: Management, Antecedent Modification, Positive & Differential Reinforcement, Classical Conditioning and Social Learning
The Hierarchy of Dog Needs
Meeting Your Dog’s Biological Needs
Meeting your dogs’ Biological Needs is the foundational base for a happy and healthy life. Explore your dog’s biological needs, illustrated in The Hierarchy of Dog Needs chapters including
Physical SafetyProper NutritionSufficient ExerciseSufficient SleepGentle GroomingGentle Veterinary Care
Understanding Emotional Needs Is Critical to Well-being
Create your own Doggy Enrichment Land. Learning about your dog’s Emotional Needs nurtures the relationship between pet parent and dog and helps prevent behavioral problems. Physical and emotional wellness go hand-in-glove. Discover the importance of
Emotional SafetyTrustConsistencyLoveNovelty
Exploring Social Needs Similar to Our Own
Did you know that dogs are social creatures, just as we are, and have social traits that often mirror our own Social Needs? Bonding with a trustworthy pet parent is essential to psychological well-being. Discover how PLAY in all its various expressions has a vital essential role in behavioral development and should be encouraged. Explore the critical needs for
Secure AttachmentBonding with other peopleBonding with dogsPlay
Discovering Cognitive Needs Sets Your Dog Up for Success
Learn how giving your dog more choices builds confidence and makes for a happier dog. Mutual cooperation built upon trust, goes a long way toward helping your dog cope in what can be a stressful human-dominated universe. Understanding your dog’s Cognitive Needs enhances your dog’s life by providing
EnrichmentChoiceConsent Problem-solving
Editorial Reviews
The pre-eminent Publishers Weekly Magazine honored the Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook with a highly coveted EDITOR’S PICK Booklife Review
” Michaels offers simple yet effective techniques for most situations anyone looking to train a dog will encounter, from leash-walking to whistle-training to handling animals with aggression problems, all presented with inviting clarity, understanding of readers’ concerns, and a refreshing commitment to honoring the emotional lives of dogs. Michaels’s approachable style ensures that every dog owner—and every dog—will feel supported. Takeaway: Thorough, illuminating guide to force-free dog training attuned to dogs’ emotional needs.”
~ Dr. Marc Bekoff, PhD, Animal Behavior. Author of 31 books, and co-founder with Jane Goodall of the Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
“The author’s notable background in academia and research, and her practice in the area of emotional and behavioral modification, shaped by her years of experience in the shelter world that fueled her drive, provide the platform for a distinctive contribution to our field to improve the welfare of our beloved dogs. In an unregulated dog training industry, this volume provides a timely and much needed alternative to existing teaching paradigms. Seizing the moment to embed the professional Do No Harm ethic into dog training makes this book uniquely important in helping us to meet the physical and the emotional needs of dogs. The Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook belongs in the library of every dog lover, on the top shelf, thumb-worn from regular use.”
~ Pat Miller, Training Editor for The Whole Dog Journal, author of seven force free dog training and behavior books
“Linda has created an amazingly comprehensive, scientifically accurate, ethical and compassionate gift to the world of dogs and the humans who love them.”
Publisher : Do No Harm Dog Training (July 5, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 346 pages
ISBN-10 : 1732253706
ISBN-13 : 978-1732253704
Item Weight : 1.46 pounds
Dimensions : 7 x 0.78 x 10 inches
Customers say
Customers find the book comprehensive and well-researched. They find it easy to read and follow, with a clear style that makes sense. The book encourages compassionate and science-based dog training methods that meet a dog’s physical and emotional needs. It offers a guide without using force or fear.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Fran Berry –
A most consequential book
Linda Michaelsâs seminal book, âDo No Harmâ is to raising dogs as what Dr. Benjamin Spockâs book was to raising children. He was a pioneer in his day as he studied childrenâs needs and the family dynamic, and encouraged parents to see their child as an individual.Do No Harm is an in-depth resource for the lay person as well as the experienced dog professional, as the author painstakingly mapped out the pyramid based on Maslowâs hierarchy of needs and translated that to what dogs need to thrive, not just survive.Her book covers everything from nutritional needs to what the research shows us about the emotional needs, that even in this day with all the data, are often being ignored in favor of the âquick fixâ compulsion based training that has no place in raising dogs or children, for that matter.Do No Harm has a prominent place in my professional library and one that I always recommend to my clients because when they read this, they are likely to make a shift, not only in how they train and care for, but also how they see their their dog.Fran Berry, Applied Animal Behaviorist
Steven Cogswell, VSA-CDT, Cert. SAPT –
An Astonishingly Clear Voice Amidst a Lot of Confusion and Noise
Five years ago when I was looking for a trainer to help me out with my new dog, I was totally overwhelmed by the volume of conflicting, impractical, and outright snake oily flimflam information out there. I wish this book had been written then.It was a winding road filled with missteps and dead ends, but I eventually found the world of positive, do no harm dog training. I wanted to help folks avoid the mistakes I made, so I studied to become a trainer myself. In my studies I have come to know the work of the industry leaders in modern, scientifically based dog training and behavior, and Linda Michaels’s name pops up a lot.This book is almost magical in the way it is two books in one. It could absolutely be used as a text book for a serious, state-of-the-art, academically stringent academy for dog trainers. But at the same time it is highly accessible, written with such clarity it is an invaluable book for pet parents. You can read it from cover to cover for the most comprehensive in-depth discussion of modern dog behavior I know of, or you can use the extensive index to go directly to practical, effective advice for a particular issue.As a dog trainer, I get a lot of friends and family asking for advice, especially when they are bringing a new dog into their life. I used to send them a collection of book recommendations and YouTube video links. Now I just point them to this book … or if I really like them … it makes a great gift.
AOS –
Excellent, Comprehensive Guide!
This book has everything you need to raise your dog, through all stages of life! Includes the Hierarchy of Dog Needs; the book is based around this important concept, that ensures that all aspects of a dog’s physical and emotional needs are met. Also includes important training protocols for what to do when behavior issues arise (such as leash reactivity, fear reactions, or separation anxiety). You cannot go wrong with this book! Every dog parent should own it. All methods are science-based, following positive reinforcement training principles, and are 100% force free and fear free. Do not expect to read this book in one go; this is a manual that you will want to read section by section, according to your dog’s age and current needs, and you will find yourself re-reading portions of this book regularly over time. You will also find the author’s FB page/reading froup a very helpful corollary resource, with guides and moderators to help you navigate the content.Linda Michaels MA thank you! And thank you for your book and this page. I have learned so much here â¤ï¸I have zero background in dog training except for what I’ve learned from this book. As a result, I have been able to rescue my sweet semi-feral baby; at the beginning she was attacking us and my husband said, “I can’t have a dog who is attacking us!” And I said, “yes. That’s why I’m going to teach her.”
Peace Finder –
Essential for ALL dog owners – New concepts that are life changing!
Are you ready to raise a happy, obedient, dog? If so then you might need to let go of some of the old paradigms about âalphaâ and saying âNO!â And crating and all sorts of concepts that need a new look. Dogs are intelligent creatures who are trying to communicate with us. Will we take the time to learn how to listen? So much can pivot on each interaction with our pups. Just today I knew I needed to pull the book back out and re-try some of the strategies because we had heavy rain all day and this normally active outdoor dog was going to get bored and bark and get into mischief all day long if I didnât set up the environment for stimulation and success. 10 hours later, thanks to many ideas from this book I have a happy dog and Iâm happy TOO! This book should be in stacks at every animal shelter and included in the price of each dogâs purchase. Read it and try the concepts. Forget âDog Whispererâ and learn to be a Dog Listener.
Jeri Bailey –
Fantastic Resource for PetParents and Professionals alike
I am a 25 year veterinary professional who took the Hippocratic Oath when I began my veterinary doctoral candidacy. My undergraduate degree is in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior. I am now a certified professional dog trainer, a fear free certified professional, and a moderator for the FB group based on this book.Linda’s masterpiece is the book I wish I’d written, and I tell her this often. As soon as I heard her on a podcast, I had to read the book. And once I’d read it, I had to be involved in the work she does, and support her mission.Please, if you are thinking about getting a dog, read this. If you already have a dog, read this. If you help people with their dogs, read this.It is cited liberally throughout, and there is a references section. There is a detailed Chapter List as well as an INDEX to find what you need. Every chapter is self-contained. There are behavior modification plans that are force free, fear free, and completely without compulsion or coercion, not to mention absolutely no mention of using pain or intimidation through the application of torture devices.If you want to love your life with your dog, you need this book.
Fluit Momma –
As a Trainer and Behaviour Consultant, I recommend this book often. It is comprehensive, covering everything from bringing home a puppy right through to supporting your senior dog(s).It touches on everything relating to living with and loving dogs and teaches you the concepts of communicating with your dog, not just tricks and tips; it even gets into nutrition and diet.When you reference this book, which you will often through the life of your dog, you find practical tips and a broad understanding of how dogs learn.This book helps you see the world from your dog’s eyes and gives you the knowledge to provide an enriched life for you furry family member.It is often my go-to for clients who need things in straightforward terms but still want the meat of knowledge and understanding.I have been considering increasing my rates slightly and purchasing in bulk to provide a copy for every client!
MetalManatee –
This book is an absolute must-buy for any dog guardian/aspiring dog guardian. Its science-backed, hollistic approach teaches how every dog behaviour, even the most “problem” behaviours, should never be “punished” and how we can create a truly beautiful relationship with our canine companions, based on mutual respect, trust and clear communication. I also highly recommend joining the Facebook group for any questions/concerns not directly answered by the book. The author Linda, plus several fantastic force-free trainers offer their expertise for free, in a supportive and non-judgemental environment.
Davide Dispenza –
It has always absolutely enraged me that certain other trainers, who use dominance and “alpha/pack leader” type training, are best sellers on Amazon and other sites. Not only are those methods outdated, but they have been clearly shown to have huge potential for harm.This book is packed full of resources and information. Consider it your new dog training, puppy-raising bible. All of these techniques are based on modern behavior science, and as the title states, the very foundation of it is meant to do no harm to dogs. These techniques are the same ones that are used by the best animal trainers all around the world, including those working with unreleasable wildlife. Dogs learn the same way as all other animals. We need to stop treating them as if they’re the only creatures that need to be dominated in order to be trained.I’ve been working with & training dogs for over a decade, and highly recommend this book. Please, for the love of dogs, choose this one. Stay away from the “alpha” trainers.
Tanya –
This book is an absolute must have for every pet parent or dog professional. Very thorough, science based, compassionate, easy to read book. Everything you can imagine is right at your finger tips from cover to cover.Iâve raised puppies in the past and have taken so much from this book for my 9 week old boxer. The book has also helped me in correcting some unwanted behaviour from my 4 year old pug. Highly recommend, this is my go to when questions arise, I keep going back and always find the answers Iâm looking for.
Tasha Attwood –
Anyone who knows Linda knows how she has poured her heart and soul into this book, literally. If you don’t know Linda then you will soon see the dedication and the heart poured into this book.Every page is detailed but beyond detailed, every single passage that could be questioned is referenced.Easy to read whether you are a complete dog behaviour geek or whether your are someone who prefers smaller amounts of text.You can use this book as an entire handbook that will be referred to again and again and become a much beloved book that becomes dog eared and annotated over time or a quick reference book for a specific issue by using the index.It can be really hard as a professional to explain to owners holistic and wellbeing training and behaviour modification and Linda has simply lifted this headache and described this perfectly throughout the text. Including behaviour consultation forms and history which has been made usable for owners for their own knowledge.An absolute breath of fresh air for the Force Free industry, with everything you will need to aid you in choosing a puppy or a rescue dog, to grooming, vet visits to setting your dog(s) up for success in every situation.As well as training protocols, how to use a Clicker and functionality in dog behaviour and troubleshooting.No other book I have read has been so in depth without having to refer and cross reference multiple books.This book should be a part of all puppy packages and rescue packages as well as on every students reading list.No matter your role with dogs from dog guardian (owner), dog professional whether a kennel hand, groomer, behaviourist or Vet this book needs to be a part of your tool kit.You will find everything you need whether your a Professional, dog owner or looking for a dog or puppy to join your family.Photos of Django my Wolfdog reading the Manual and even turning the pages. Even the Dogs approve ð