Natural Dog Training is about how dogs see the world and what this means in regards to training. The first part of this book presents a new theory for the social behavior of canines, featuring the drive to hunt, not the pack instincts, as seminal to canine behavior. The second part reinterprets how dogs actually learn. The third section presents exercises and handling techniques to put this theory into practice with a puppy. The final section sets forth a training program with a special emphasis on coming when called.
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By S. Johns
Feb 11, 2011
I completely disagree with Pax Canada's review. In fact, I'm not quite sure we're reading the same book. If this person has even read the book? I've picked this up after recently discovering Natural Dog Training, and the Pushing he describes is something the he has gone into detail elsewhere. Please, read the book before you review. Goodness, how terrible! I would definitely - 100% - recommend this to others.
I've read some pretty bad book on dog training... this is the worst. Kevin Behan's prose is virtually incomprehensible - it reads like it was channeled from an Atlantean priest to a someone with aphasia. Run on sentences, spelling errors, factual errors, the book is a complete mess. The way the author uses words, one gets the impression he doesn't know or care what they mean. His arguments are circular and he often defines a word/concept with the same word. More importantly, his views on dogs and how they think is so skewed, revolves around metaphysical beliefs that cannot be defended. And because of that, Behan demands that we ignore reality, discard physics, biology, psychology all for his poorly presented arguments and laberynthian prose. And in a bout of dishonesty that can't be overlooked, he takes credit for a method that has been around forever, he merely renames it (Pushing) and claims to have invented it.
"The best dog training book ever" Natural Dog Training is the best dog training book I've seen; it's pure brilliance to use the dog's natural instincts to make the dog want to do what you want him to do. And the dog loves it, and understands you're on his side! I'm currently a dog walker, not a trainer, but I use these techniques every day, and am always learning from it. I'm thrilled to find this book available again, because I've been buying copies over the past few years and giving them away--particularly to anyone who has a new puppy or just needs help with their dog. Kevin Behan has been training dogs all his life and developed Natural Dog Training after finding the "conventional wisdom" methods didn't always work. He "gets under the hood" and is able to communicate with the dog--which has earned him the nickname "Dogman." I was worried to find that the Xlibris-published copies of this book weren't readily available anymore through... More > Amazon. I've stashed away three copies of the first edition, and I'm just ecstatic to find the book here. It has helped me tremendously, even in spite of people who think you have to yell at a dog to get his attention, and even in spite of the Monks of New Skete (authors of The Art of Raising a Puppy) who write, "How hard should you hit your dog? If she doesn't yelp in pain, you haven't hit her hard enough." In fact, my current dog is a rescue who spent some time on the streets, and there's a good chance I couldn't have handled him without this book. He had spent time with a family who regretfully had to give him up. He's been with me over a year now, and is learning to be a dog, thanks in part to this book.< Less
