Good Dog, Bad Dog, New and Revised : Dog Training Made Easy

I would highly recommend getting a couple of dog training books rather than one. I haven't found one that gives me all the information that I need. If you are looking for a great second book, I would recommend "Good Owners, Great Dogs". Happy training.


Missing some key points   May 27, 2003
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

This book is great if you have a dog that is having problems with obedience. It keys on different dog personalities and ways for the dog to become obedient. However, this book falls short on several items. For example, it fails to give the importance of hand signal commands and verbal commands at the same time. (It does list it on some commands but not all). My two golden retrievers listen more to our hand commands than they do our words and tone. Secondly, it misses some other minor, but important commands. My favorite is the "Leave It" command, that is not listed in this book. We use this one on walks, when our dogs want to pick up every leaf and piece of paper left on the ground. This has to be one of the most effective commands that I have needed.

I would highly recommend getting a couple of dog training books rather than one. I haven't found one that gives me all the information that I need. If you are looking for a great second book, I would recommend "Good Owners, Great Dogs". Happy training.


the best dog training book i've read   October 17, 2000
Laurie & Cleo (Peabody, ma United States)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

as a dog trainer & affecionado, i find this book a must-have, since it acknowledges the different training methods for different temperments of dogs. this is the only book i've read (out of more than i can count!) that goes into detail on the different corrections & praises appropriate for each temperment of dog. surely you cannot correct a dominant rottweiler the same way as a skittish yorkshire terrier! this book also gives recommendations to the most common behavior problems. he also has a brief synopsis with training recommendations for the most common breeds and i have yet to have come across a breed to train that is not in this book. if you buy only one book, buy this one! (if you buy two, buy "mother knows best")


Good General Info - Too cursory on breeds!   May 25, 2000
6 out of 10 found this review helpful

We own a 95% basenji, so naturally we turned to the "expanded" breed entries. It was barely a full page, and some information was just plain wrong!

The authors say "its OK to leave your basenji alone for long periods because its not a 'nervous' breed". No mention was made of crating which is essential for this breed if they are left alone. Basenjis are also very pack-oriented and will be very unhappy if left without human or canine companionship for very long. I didn't expect the authors to include every relevant fact about a specific breed; but I did expect them to get what they did include right!

If you own a basenji, or are thinking of owning one, or another other purebred, I strongly recommend purchasing a book specific to your breed. This one will very likely shortchange your breed, and should not be used as a sole authority.


Good Dog, Bad Dog: Dog Training Made Easy   May 16, 2000
LINDA C NEVILLE (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

Informative and witty, but the substance of training gets lost in all the excess verbiage, making it difficult to zero in on specific training. Actual training instructions are hazy and undiliniated from text.