Product Description

This very thorough book on training a protection dog builds from understanding protection work to training, being an agitator, evaluating temperament, and more. Safety is emphasized throughout. It is fun, exciting, compelling reading, even if protection work is not a goal but simply a fascination.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #377234 in Books
• Published on: 1998-02-04
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

From the Back Cover
If you've ever thought about training your dog for protection work, or simply if the power and grace of a canine guardian fascinates you, Manstopper! leads you through the process, emphasizing safe handling practices every step of the way.

Joel McMains, a former police officer and a professional trainer, takes you inside the mind of trainer, agitator and dog, offering an exciting, compelling look at how a canine becomes a manstopper.

Praise for Joel McMains: Manstopper!: Training a Canine Guardian

"I could not put the book down. McMains describes the dogs' instincts and drives as they pertain to training and behavior." —Dog Fancy, Connie Jankowski

"While reading his descriptions of why a dog does what he does, there were several times when I felt like smacking my forehead as the light bulb went on." —Good Dog!

"The author's keen love and kindness towards dogs comes through on every page...offers a deeper understanding of how dogs think and learn." —K9 Capers Advanced Obedience: Easier Than You Think

"McMains' emphasis is on training...for the dogs' well-being and enhancing the human...dog bond.... Like all the best training books, Advanced Obedience informs readers about their dogs." —Dog World, Donald McCaig Kennels and Kenneling

"First rate. McMains' book fascinates me. His anecdotes are wonderful." —Dog World, Donald McCaig.
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

Customer Reviews

Just enough information to be dangerous...
This book is a jumble of poorly thought out and untested idea's. The author uses bad examples to try and prove his points, but it isn't hard to see that he literally doesn't know what he's talking about.
It only sells because idiot "sic'em" dog trainers buy it.

Broken Promises
Although this book promises an engaging subject, the style of writing, less than exciting stories, and minute passages of actual training knowledge are enough to make one choose to read the tax codes over this waste of paper. The multiple interjected "stories" and comments about alledged events during training, detract from any useful information, which in and of itself is difficult to find. Very disappointing.

Read It!
I highly recommend this book in tandem with "Dog Logic". Even if you have zero interest in protection training (and let's be honest--even Joel says it's not something you do from a book!) this book gives valuable insight into how to think "associatively" like a dog does. It's great information to help identify where current problems may have cropped up from, and to help you think ahead to prevent improper associations in your training routine.