Product Description

The new wave of excluding aversives and training with positive reinforcement is rapidly proving itself to not only be the method of choice for adding behavior, but now, as evidenced by trainers like Jean Donaldson, the method of choice for getting rid of behavior, especially emotionally charged behavior like aggression. If you are of the school of thought that "treats are fine for training tricks but I have a dog that bites," you owe yourself a serious study of the techniques and theory in "Dogs Are From Neptune".

Nowhere else is the case made more strongly for positive reinforcement training for the resolution of serious problems, not simply from the standpoint of dog and handler-friendliness, but from that of efficacy and deep, permanent change.

"Dogs Are From Neptune" draws from real cases to provide clear, step-by-step advice for troubleshooting problems from obedience proofing stumpers to serious biters and fighters. Many of the owners presenting histories had made the rounds of trainers and behaviorists with no improvement prior to submitting their cases.

There is a comprehensive and enlightening discussion of the finer points of classical and operant conditioning and why the former may indeed "over-ride" the latter when dealing with aggression. Donaldson has treated innumerable aggressive dogs and has an excellent ability to tease out key features in each case history. Her description of "Suburban Dog Syndrome" rings true for dog people everywhere. Perhaps most ground-breaking are her discussions of dog bullying, fighting and defensive aggression.

The first three sections cover aggression, towards strangers, family members and other dogs. The aggression to strangers section contains a case of "socialization omission," to men specifically; a more globally aggressive dog with many triggers, a dog on the comeback trail from a bad beginning in life, a therapy dog with a good history that begins growling at certain people and the case of an exasperated family who feel they have a genetic misfit.

The aggression to family members section, entitled "Resource Guarding" gives step-by-step plans for and background on food and object possessiveness as well as a beautifully structured treatment protocol for a dog that will not allow routine handling.

In the dog-aggression section, the topics are reactivity to proximity, chronic fighting in a dog park, a dog that begins growling after a couple of bad experiences at class, a how-to on handling a dog that bullies other dogs, understanding inter-bitch aggression, the owner's role in dog to dog aggression problems and an extremely convincing case for the use of food in the treatment of aggression.

The second half of the book involves cases of behavior and obedience problems and anxiety-related disorders. Counter-surfing, dirt, stool and garbage eating, amusing and informative cases of barking, pushy play-biting in a full-grown dog, sofa-elimination and its likely motives and a mounting Labrador bitch round out the behavior problems section.

The obedience problems range from new insights into garden variety presentations such as pulling on leash, heeling, jumping up and controlling dogs off leash to the more esoteric context-specific stay-breaking, obedience-ring sluggishness and the relative merits of electric shock and non-aversive approaches to undoing a squirrel hunter.

The fear and anxiety section encompasses both mild and severe separation anxiety, anxiety about traffic in general and about getting into cars and a fascinating case of a dog with Addison's disease who must avoid all stress but whose handler would like to continue training in obedience.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #643828 in Books
• Brand: Lasar Multimedia Productions
• Published on: 1998-11-01
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .56 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Features

• Aggression towards strangers
• Dog-to-dog aggression
• Resource guarding
• Behavior and Obedience Problems
• Fear and anxiety

Review
"Must-reading for the serious trainer or behaviorist." -- Newsletter of the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers

"Neptune has it all: intelligence, brilliance and passion..." -- Daniel Tambourine, owner, Training With Tambourine

"Neptune is a damn good read. Dog owners, dog trainers, animal shelter personnel - all will find these pages invaluable. Jean's advice is orderly, effective, motivating and humorous." -- Sue Sternberg, owner, Rondout Valley Kennels and Shelter

"This book, which is highly readable because of Jean's wit and her flair for analogy is destined to totally revolutionize how trainers, veterinarians and owners view dog behavior." -- Pamela J. Reid, Ph.D. author of Excel-erated Learning

"Written with the engaging, humorous language that is Donaldson's trademark, and contains a wealth of information based on positive training methods." -- Whole Dog Journal

From the Publisher
Jean Donaldson heads the Academy for Dog Trainers out of the San Francisco SPCA. The Academy offers a full-time, six-week program in pet dog training and behavior counseling as well as one-week intensives and weekend seminars for existing trainers. She is also the author of The Culture Clash (winner, Best Behavior Book of 1997, Dog Writers Association of America, Direct Book Service best selling book of 1997).

Before relocating to San Francisco, Jean lived in Montreal, where she studied at McGill, founded the Montreal Flyball Association, started up Renaissance Dog Training, the first positive reinforcement school and counseling service in the province, and toiled her way to a black belt in Hung Gar Kung Fu. She has lectured extensively in the US and Canada on animal learning, dog training, people training and dog aggression and is a charter member of APDT. Her dogs and dogs she has trained have numerous titles and wins in obedience, tracking and Flyball.

A health nut, animal nut and tired of Canadian winters, she is happy to be in California, "where I belong."

About the Author
Author Jean Donaldson has over 30 years experience in dog behavior and training and is the Founder and Director of the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers. Jean s award winning books include The Culture Clash and Oh Behave! She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her Chow, Buffy.

Customer Reviews

Jean Donaldson understands dogs!
I love Dogs are from Neptune and Culture Clash, both by Jean Donaldson. This expert trainer is also a thoughtful and engaging writer. By really moving into and explaining the mind of the dog, Donaldson goes beyond a training how-to. Instead, she gives me, as the trainer of my own dogs, the tools I need to figure out how to solve my own training problems. It has caused me to think about my dogs and how I train in a whole new way. If I wasn't training my dogs, I'd still read these books because they make me laugh (a lot)!

A very good book on how to teach/train difficult dogs
If you liked Ms Jean Donaldson's first book "Culture Clash" - you will like "Dogs are From Neptune" ... In fact, I would suggest that this book is a necessary follow-up.

"Dogs are From Neptune" is written in Ms Donaldson's distinct and forthright style ... The author is clear in her views and sure of her methods ... The reader can either agree or disagree but there is little grey where the author is concerned ...

That said - Ms Donaldson writes in an incisive way, expressing her thoughts in a manner that makes for easy reading ...

"Dogs are From Neptune" is a collection of case studies ... dealing with "difficult" and "problem" dogs - dogs with whom the more traditional training methods may not work so well ...

Together with Patricia B. McConnell's books, "Dogs are From Neptune" make essential reading for any owner/trainer interested in or needing to learning how to use positive training methods to "re-condition" a dog with difficult temperament or bad habits, ranging from counter surfing, food & object possession to the more serious issue of dogs that bully, dogs who are difficult to handle and dogs exhibiting nervous or defensive aggression ... The Editorial Review above provides a good summary of the areas covered in the book.

I found the use of case studies particularly the details provided - most useful ... by providing background to the "difficulty" faced by the respective dog and its owner/trainer ... the book allowed me to appreciate & understand with greater clarity the intention & purpose behind the methods used and suggested by Ms Jean Donaldson ...

Essentially, the book format adopted by the author, brings meat to the bones of training ...

And it doesn't take long for the reader to realise, that while the case studies are by their very nature specific to each case ... Ms Donaldson's methodology, rational and style of training & teaching a dog - can easily be adapted/modified to meet the range of difficulties and issues an individual owner/trainer may face with his/her own dogs.

The book emphasises and teaches why it is so important for every owner/trainer to first understand basic dog behaviour, instinct & psychology and how using such knowledge & understanding in the teaching/training of our dogs reduces frustration, stress & trauma to both owner/trainer & dog, and increases our chances of success.

Most important, the author teaches us how to maintain through all difficult times, the essential bond of trust between our dogs & us.

All in all ... the book is detailed and very sufficient ... A very good read and a worthwhile buy ...

Try Jean's methods, they work!
Some of the techniques Jean Donaldson recommends are counterintuitive. They go against everything we have been taught about dogs and dog training for the last 20 years. But, what do you know? When you try them, by golly, they work. Jean is down to earth and she knows dogs.

If you have a problem dog, a dog you are ready to give up on, try Jean's training methods first. You owe it to yourself and your dog. They aren't quick, easy fixes. They take time and effort. This book is worth every penny if you use the methods she describes.