[.ca] Beyond Basic Dog Training (ISBN 0764541641)

Harsh methods and out-dated techniques:
I was very disappointed in this book. The author advocates the old fashioned training methods of correction for wrong behavior vs. the newer methods of positive reinforcement for correct behavior. She states that we should pinch our dogs lips and ears to teach them to retrieve. She believes spraying our dogs with a hose is a good way to teach them to drop on recall. She states that they "have been known to throw metal chairs" at big dogs to get them to come. But then reminds us to put a longline on them so they don't run away instead. Wouldn't you run away? She even devotes a chapter expaining why our dogs are stressed while learning. Of course any dog would be stressed by the training methods she advocates. There are many books available that use positive methods for training that will give us success in the show ring without these harsh methods that this book suggests.

worthless approach for active defense reflex dogs:
When attempting to find solutions to training problems in a rough collie showing active defense reflex behavior problems (see William Campbell's 'Behavior Problems in Dogs') I read this book. The author fails to take into consideration the differences between active and passive defense reflex dogs. At the time, a number of dog trainers in our area were focused on this approach to training. In class, I was required to reposition my dog physically rather than using vocal cues to correct his behavior (the Bauman approach). This absolutely does NOT work with an active defense reflex dog! You can't imagine the problems this approach to training caused for my dog. I later found William Campbell's book, figured out a proper approach to training my dog, and consequently put a CD on him. The 'Bauman' trainers had told me I'd never succeed, but they lacked the insight into dog behavior to problem solve outside their 'box'.

This book makes sense:
I have read ten zillion books on dog training and this is my very favourite. I am comfortable with most of the training techniques outlined in the book, except that a few of the corrections are too severe for my taste. For the most part, I think this is a very fair and humane approach to dog training. I highly recommend this book.

Superbly written!:
Diane L. Bauman did a superb job in writing this book! She explains her reasoning behind her methods. She does NOT set the dog up to fail only to punish it, but rather sets the dog up to fail so you can HELP it to see what exactly you want! I cannot give a higher recommendation!

Full of common sense and absolutely humane:
Too many people seize on brand-new, so-called "modern" training methods, such as clicker training, as being automatically better than "old-fashioned" methods that use both praise and correction. This is unfortunate, because so many of the "old-fashioned" methods (not only of raising dogs, but also of raising children) work wonderfully in producing respectful, confident, happy dogs (and children!). Newfangled is not automatically better. Diane Bauman's method is tried and true, and the dogs I've used it with have been my happiest, most confident, most respectful dogs. Which is really no surprise, since dogs understand and appreciate an owner who provides both positive consequences for good behavior, and negative consequences for bad behavior. It is precisely that clear-cut contrast between the two that allows your dog to make the right choices. Just because you correct misbehavior doesn't mean you *aren't* using positive training techniques. This terrific book is packed with positive training techniques. You can use it with confidence -- your dog will learn happily from it.