"Reaching the Animal Mind" by Karen Pryor

Stacita

However in reading the book, I found strong arguments for clicker training. I've never done harsh training, and never had huge expectations so I didn't see a big need.

Hi

I got into reward oroientated training through clicker training, and while i describe myself as an ecletic posiitve trainer, i would never be seen without a clicker. 

I think that modern neuro science may help us understand why such a sound is so successful, but IMHO, my dogs are way to quick for me to use a verbal marker. My dogs do flip finishes in three frames fo film...

I have started researching the Neuro Science that Karen Pryor mentions, and i find it very exciting. I have had more lightbulb moments with this than in any other book that i have read on training in several years.. probably since my first CT book. 

 Just in case anyone is looking for the other book, it's Lads Before the Wind. I didn't read that until after I read Reaching the Animal Mind, so I guess I wouldn't have realized the rehash, but I could see where one would feel that way. I liked it, and then I went and bought Lads Before the Wind. If you care about how it works, I think then you'd like it. If you just want to train your dog, and you don't care about how it really works, I don't know if you'd care so much about either of these books.  I think I liked Lads better, but I think the masses would like it less. Probably because I don't feel as much like Lads was written for the masses. I don't think Lads would get time on GMA.

 I have to admit, I find Karen's style a bit dry for the masses, but sound science nevertheless.  I would be willing to bet that had Jean Donaldson's "Culture Clash" made it to Oprah first, she might get time on GMA.  Hey, someone send Oprah a copy...

It's on my list of books to buy when I am able to. I like Karen's style because it's more...institutional...than some of the more anecdotal training/behaviour books. But that's likely because I come from a background where the learning theory I read was really dry so even Karen's seems a lot more fun!!

 Kim, that's a great interpretation. The other stuff I am reading these days are books on behavior analysis, so it isn't nearly as dry as the stuff I usually read. Though actually, some of my textbooks aren't horribly dry.