by Ian Dunbar

BK503   $17.95  (144 pages)

This little book is intended primarily as a brief but comprehensive guide to puppy training, containing information about socialization, temperament training and behavior modification as well as tips for teaching basic manners. Dr. Dunbar’s lure/reward training techniques are certainly not limited to puppies. On the contrary, they have become the method of choice for instructing good-natured, but otherwise uneducated adult dogs.

Our best friend—the domestic dog — is a social animal and so, it would be unfair and antisocial not to train him. How else could we communicate? With ear positions and tail wags? Luckily, dogs can easily learn our language… if we teach them! Basically, training comprises teaching dogs ESL — English as a Second Language — so that our dogs can understand human words for their doggy behaviors and actions.

Lure/reward training is de rigeur for teaching a wide variety of animals, including lions, tigers, killer whales, and grizzly bears. Over a hundred years ago, similar reward-based methods were the accepted practice for training all dogs and puppies. Unfortunately, in the twentieth century, the Trainers from The Dark Side inflicted a harsher regime of laborious, on-leash, push-pull, squish-squash, narrow-brained methods on unsuspecting owners and their dogs. Sadly, domination was the focus and the poor defenseless dog was viewed as an adversary in the training arena. Why treat your best friend like your worst enemy?

Welcome back to the historically-proven, so-old-that-it’s-new-again, natural, common-sense and enjoyable way to train your dog — off-leash, lure/reward, fun and games, dog-friendly dog training. Dr. Dunbar’s training techniques are altogether quicker, easier, gentler, more effective, and certainly considerably more enjoyable for you and your dog. Lure/reward training techniques work like a treat!