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I'm Ordering Books - Please Advise (4iC)

Last post 05-05-2008 6:24 AM by RescueSheltie997. 23 replies.
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  • 04-19-2008 5:31 AM In reply to FourIsCompany

    • corvus
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    Re: I'm Ordering Books - Please Advise (4iC)

    I don't have any suggestions to add. To be honest, I don't read many dog books. I start a lot, but don't finish many. Usually I get annoyed that I'm not learning enough.

    I have finished Bones and Other End of the Leash, though. I found them a great balance for one another. I love Clothier for her spiritual approach and McConnell for her scientific approach. I didn't like Culture Clash much, though. I didn't like the tone of it. Stanley Coren's books aren't bad. I've browsed them a little. There is a book called "So your dog isn't Lassie" which I read most of, finding it an interesting perspective from someone who trains bulldogs. Or tries to. Wink

    I've been thinking about Pigs Might Fly. And maaaaaybe Kevin Behan's natural dog training book. I'm currently browsing The Puppy Whisperer. It's pretty decent for puppy stuff, anyway (4 1/2 weeks 'til I get my puppy!) Smile.

     

    Melissa's family: Penny - corgi, Kit - wild hare, Bonnie - rabbit, Kivi Tarro - Finnish Lapphund

    "She's always talking about her hare."
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  • 04-19-2008 7:19 AM In reply to corvus

    Re: I'm Ordering Books - Please Advise (4iC)

    corvus:
    I didn't like Culture Clash much, though. I didn't like the tone of it.
    I've heard that. And even though I don't like Jean Donaldson,  I'm a bit of a harsh communicator myself and I can either overlook or ignore an unpleasant tone if I want to (most of the time). And I've heard so much good about the book. So I had to weigh that out and make a decision.

    Click to Calm wasn't in stock anyway, and that helped make my decision not to get it just now. I am curious about it, but maybe not enough to spend $25 to find out about the technique. Not right now, anyway.

    LSTM (Laughing Silently to Myself)

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  • 04-19-2008 8:24 AM In reply to FourIsCompany

    • ron2
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    Re: I'm Ordering Books - Please Advise (4iC)

    Now, I'm going to have to dig out a book I have that was compiled from the wisdom of several people but it was about understanding how your pet communicates and the technical aspects of it. For example, in the book, there are several parts where they compare the hearing range of humans, cats, and dogs. The visual accuity, including color range and eye function. Etc.

    For example, when  momma dog is communicating with a pup and "means business" her tone lowers at the end of the growl or bark, sometimes so subtly that a human can't hear it. I found that to work with Shadow. So, like in the training video I made, I lower pitch on the comand and the end of the spoken word and he responds to it. As important as the command is the pitch and change of pitch.

    Humans can see farther than dogs but dogs see movement better. Dogs and cats have eyes that are better at collecting low light than humans. Dogs see farther and better than cats. Dogs smell more acutely than humans or cats.

    On the whole, an excellent insight into the mechanics of the senses between the different species. Sometimes, if you are wondering, "didn't that dog hear me?", quite possibly, no, or at least they didn't understand what they heard because of your pitch, intonation, inflection, etc.

    The way you treat your dog in this life determines your place in heaven. - chukchi proverb


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  • 04-19-2008 11:58 PM In reply to ron2

    Re: I'm Ordering Books - Please Advise (4iC)

    All the books recommended are great books and I would recommend anyone of them. 

    1.  Canine body Language (Photographic Guide) - Brenda Aloff - Indispensable! 

    2.  Bones would rain from the sky - Suzanne Clothier - Wonderful!

    3.  If you read and liked Culture Clash - Jean Donaldson -  Follow up with Dogs are from Neptune (also by Jean) it gets little recognition but is a good book even with all the typos, spelling and grammatical errors. Big Smile

    And..  On Talking Terms w/dogs; Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas:  Simple little book. It's cheap and doesn't look like much, but the content is awesome.

    Knowing you are not a novice and based on your ability to get down into the depths of some discussions.  I will recommend a couple of books that are not your everyday "train this way" books.  I think you might enjoy them as they are based on sciences and studies.  They are truly very informative and interesting and will make great additions to your library.

    How Dogs Learn by Mary Burch, PhD & Jon Baily. A text-y type book but easy read. It explores operant conditioning and applied behavior modification (where science and dog training meet). The basic principles of behavior and how they can be used to teach your dog new skills, diagnose problems and eliminate unwanted behaviors.  Easy read, very affordable. 

    The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behavior and Interactions with People.  Cambridge University Press published this book sometime in the mid 1990's (1996 I think).   It's carefully researched on canine behavior and development. For the general reader, the writing style may be a bit dry; however, because each chapter has different authors, the writing style, while basically academic and fact driven, varies.  It is an expensive book but being that it is so full of information its worth it (IMO).  I learned a lot from it, found it very interesting and love having it in my library.

     Dawn

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  • 04-20-2008 5:59 PM In reply to luvmyswissy

    Re: I'm Ordering Books - Please Advise (4iC)

    luvmyswissy:
    And..  On Talking Terms w/dogs; Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas:  Simple little book. It's cheap and doesn't look like much, but the content is awesome.

    Great suggestion - how could anyone have missed this?! 

     

    "Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life." (Pratchett, Jingo)

    "I used to look at [my dog] Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'" - Fred Jungclaus
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  • 04-21-2008 3:47 PM In reply to Chuffy

    Re: I'm Ordering Books - Please Advise (4iC)

    "when pigs fly" is a nice resource even for people who DON'T own impossible dogs.

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  • 04-23-2008 11:15 AM In reply to mudpuppy

    Re: I'm Ordering Books - Please Advise (4iC)

     And, if you want to go broke, but understand a lot, Karen Overall's "Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals" and Steven Lindsay's three volume set on behavior.  Very pricey, but this is the real deal scientific stuff.

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  • 04-23-2008 11:32 AM In reply to spiritdogs

    Re: I'm Ordering Books - Please Advise (4iC)

    Well, you know, I'm not all that into the far scientific end of things. I like to know how things work, but when the discussion gets too sciency, I start to fall asleep. Smile

    I feel pretty good about the books I've ordered and I think they (along with classes and training) will keep me busy and entertained for a while.  

    LSTM (Laughing Silently to Myself)

    Click Daily to Give Free Food and Care to Animals:
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  • 05-05-2008 6:24 AM In reply to FourIsCompany

    Re: I'm Ordering Books - Please Advise (4iC)

    After a crummy training session yesterday morning, I came home and blew the dust off Smart Trainers, Brilliant Dogs by Janet Lewis. I've committed to reading it cover to cover.

    It is not so heavy on learning theory that it puts you to sleep but does talk smartly about how dogs learn, the pluses and minuses of reinforcement and primary and secondary reinforcers and when and why they are appropriate.

     

     

     

    Someday, I will be a CT UDX
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