Let the Dog Decide: The Revolutionary 15-Minute-a-Day Program to Train Your Dog - Gently and Reliably

Let the Dog Decide: The Revolutionary 15-Minute-a-Day Program to Train Your Dog - Gently and Reliably

Dale Stavroff's new book will be recommended reading for all my obedience class participants. I have attended his seminars and seen dogs respond AMAZINGLY to these techniques (no matter what their breed or how old they were) and I have been anxiously waiting for his book. I have been involved in dogs all my life and I have never encountered these techniques before in any book or tape. Dale's methods are completely new and different, from the benevolent eye contact to the bench training. Finally it's here and I can offer my students an easy to use system THAT REALLY WORKS - for everyone! No dominance, no choke chains, no distress. With Dale's system you can start training the minute the puppy arrives home. Older dogs work enthusiastically with Dale's training techniques as well. This book is clearly destined to become the new standard in dog training. Thank you, Dale...you're my dogs' best friend. Eileen P

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Title extremely misleading

This book is not about "letting the dog decide." Mr. Stavroff repeatedly used physical force to position the dog. He does not use severe physical force, but he is using physical force, so the dog is not "deciding" how to move. He also gives a wrong definition of "classical conditioning." I was particularly alarmed by his writing that rescue dogs rarely ever make good pets, even if rescued as puppies. He may not have success with those dogs, but that is probably because force IS a part of his training. Rescued dogs have intensified fear responses, so even a bit of force sets off the "fight or flight" response.

I have had 35 rescued dogs through my house in the last 20 or so years. Most were given to me because they were ill or injured from physical abuse. By rewarding these dogs for desired behaviors and ignoring them as much as possible when they do not do what I want, almost all have been able to become good pets. The only one I could not help was a very small dog who tried to kill my chickens. I had only had large dogs at that point, so I had a tall fence with 4" square openings in the wire. This small dog was able to squeeze through those 4" square openings. I found another foster home for the dog because I could not immediately fix the fence. I have had dogs with aggression issues, live stock attack issues, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and separation anxiety.

So the author is another person who can do well with an undamaged dog--this is not a "new standard" in training. Dogs have evolved to be able to please humans well enough for humans to feed and shelter the dogs. Most people can bring an average dog who does not have bad habits into their home and work out ways to live together harmoniously.

I did like his description of how humans cannot expect dogs to act like humans.

However, he describes dogs as total opportunists in such a way that denies the true emotional connections all social mammals make. Dogs are no more social opportunists than humans are. That is to say, both are social opportunists and both make genuine emotional connections.

Let the dog comply

This is one of the worst training books I've ever read!
On page 7, he has a section he calls Classical conditioning. He goes on to state how Classical conditioning is "punishment based training" p.8. What?!
He tells the reader that to push a dog into a sit position and give them a cookie will cause the dog to become resentful. (It will, but it's not classical conditioning). Yet later in his book on page 131 he gives the instructions to "Say the word 'climb' and immediately PULL THE DOG UP ONTO THE BENCH WITH THE LEASH" (emphasis mine). He goes onto say you should INCREASE THE PRESSURE until the dog gets onto the bench and then release the pressure and say 'yes'. Make eye contact and feed and praise the dog.
Um, how does this differ from forcing the dog into a sit and giving them a cookie?
Take my word for it, there are many books out on the market that are much better.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

I saved a dog that was going to be put down and Dale Stavroff's book helped me integrate the dog into my home and family. When I brought the dog home he was vomiting from stress in the car and upon entering my home ran to hide in a corner and urinated all over himself. He would cower away from my wife whenever she swept the house and was deathly fearfull of the kitchen. I followed the 15 minute a day routines of name recall, eye contact and worked the dog on a bench in my backyard for 3 months. He stopped urinating everywhere in our home and wouldn't turn from eye contact. He now barks appropriately at anyone that approaches the home and never leaves my side even when I don't mind if he goes elsewhere . His concern is for protection { he is a European bred Belgian Sheepdog} and he shows no fear from any strangers. He is calm when the neighbours dogs are howling. He works and listens to our children and behaves like a gentleman around other dogs. Dale Stavroff's methods both saved our dog and created a sound stable creature that my whole family could enjoy.I would recommend that you follow his techniques thoroughly to get the positive results that he describes are possible.

Common Sense and Straight forward

I found this book really helpful in the day to day interactions between my family and our new dog. I enjoyed reading it too. Tons of thoughtful information. Thanks

Pit-Bull Lovers¿ Attacks Are Vicious and Unfair

The comments posted by Pit Bull lovers misrepresent what Dale Stavroff said about Pit Bulls in interviews in Vancouver on March 8-9, and they also contain errors of fact. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which the author praises on his 'daleondogs' blog, is NOT a Pit Bull. The Staffordshire¿s breeding makes it very different from the true Pit Bull, which continues to be bred with extreme levels of aggression for the ¿sport¿ of fighting to the death and to kill an opponent. As Dale Stavroff says on his blog, supporters of the Pit Bull as a pet should be spending their energy on establishing a breed registry that clearly separates their dogs from those bred for the ¿sport¿ of dog-fighting to the death. In LET THE DOG DECIDE, Dale Stavroff demonstrates his deep knowledge of, and experience working with, dogs of all breeds. His guidance is invaluable for anyone who wants to separate the facts about dogs from wishful thinking.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Let the Dog Decide: The Revolutionary 15-Minute-a-Day Program to Train Your Dog - Gently and Reliably

Finally a dog training book that makes total sense! Dale has presented a very easy way to train my dog so that both of us enjoy the experience. My parents are both in their 90¿s and I purchased another copy for them. What a simple easy step by step instruction. Their little dog will finally come when he is called, instead of ignoring them. What a joy to have a dog that is happy AND obedient. I suggest to anyone having any problems training their dog and keeping their attention ¿ please order a copy of this book today. It has changed my dog!

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