Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 A necessity for anyone who has a hyper dog August 1, 2008
F. Koster (Chicago, IL)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
1. This book is great for dog owners who, despite their best intentions and the love they give to their unruly pets, need help in curbing their dogs' troubling habits - like constant barking, growling, chewing, jumping up, straining on the leash, rolling in do-do, ignoring commands, running away, soiling the carpet, and just plain manic behavior. The authors don't offer a magic bullet. They make it clear that if owners want to be the masters they need to be persistent trainers of their dogs. That takes tough, but gentle, love.
2. The book provides clear, no nonsense techniques to get the job done. Some of these seem counter-intuitive to those of us who may think we can simply rely on innate "feelings" to train and care for our pets. But they are time-tested, and Ms. Ammen promises that they will work. Your dog is trainable. Being a pack animal, it actually seeks direction from someone (that would be you) who knows how to give it. The secret is communication.
3. I was impressed by the book's upbeat tone. The joy and rewards of having a spirited dog comes through. It talks of the dog, as well as its owner, having fun, even during their training sessions.
4. Ms. Ammen has owned many dogs, and she's found that once she has invested the time and energy in training them, the ones who started out "hyper" are usually the most fun to be around.
5. The book also has a lot of other information about dogs, like how to teach them tricks, and how to get them used to a new dog, cat or baby, or to traveling, moving or visiting the vet. And there's plenty of things I didn't know, like:
* "Come" is the most important command
* Use the leash, not your hands, to correct bad behavior
* It's not cruel to crate your dog: many dogs love their crates
* Dogs need mental direction: physical exercise is not enough
* Dogs don't experience shame or guilt, despite how they look
* Repeating an unobeyed command doesn't reinforce it; it teaches the dog to ignore it
* There are a number of books on doggie massage, but there's much more to winding down the hyper dog than massage.
The book is very useful - even essential - if you have a hyper dog. And I'm thinking it will be a great gift for a friend of mine who's got one of those dogs.
 Good advice, but Not much new here, July 28, 2008
F.Faulkner (Hartford, CT USA)
I was disappointed. There were very few new obedience games or "attention exercises" within the book's pages. A lot of stuff anybody would already be doing with a hyper dog - throwing the ball, retrieving, walking the dog, throwing the ball up the carpeted stairs to tire out the dog... etc.
The horseback riding suggestion was over the top. Please give me a break. How many people does this author think have access to a horse nor land to ride, nor a dog well-trained enough to follow along off-lead!?!?! Or even know how to ride? Crazy! If they did, they wouldn't have a hyper dog. I was appalled to see this as a viable solution. Rollerblading with your hyper dog I also found hard to swallow.
Worth reading, but only a few chapters worthwhile or helpful.
 Hyper dog book not so hyper July 7, 2008
freida damon (Sunny Florida)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I didn't gain a lot of useful information from this book. There are a couple of chapters that make the book worth buying.
 Big Disappointment October 1, 2007
K. Tregar (Ossining, NY USA)
17 out of 21 found this review helpful
Let me preface this by saying that I've been working with animals for about 10 years in varying capacities, including working as a sealion trainer, and I have done extensive reading of various training methods. In this book, I expected to find new ideas for training interesting games with my hyper dog. Instead, pretty much every training suggestion given in this book involved "jerking" the dog's leash if they didn't immediately comply with what was being asked. I have always worked with positive training methods, and continually yanking on my dog's throat just doesn't fall in with those methods. Because of their high energy, hyper dogs need even more patience to teach them productive and appropriate ways of using their energy, but instead of patience, the authors of this book recommend routinely punishing the dog for being hyper- exactly the dogs this book was written for.
Sadly, this book was a total waste of my money, and I really can't recommend it for anyone. Thankfully, my dogs won't be subjected to the discomfort suggested by the authors of this book.
 Great for Rambo OR Couch Potato pooches May 11, 2007
Roz Pick
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
This manual is a great resource for any dog owner. It breaks down ideas into easy, understandable steps and will work if your dog has lots of energy or even if he/she doesn't. Great how-to photos and common sense manners training for a happy relationship with your best friend.
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