Vibram K9 Stick Dog Toy

We just picked up our 10 week old Springer Spaniel puppy, and she just loves this toy to death. Compared to a couple of other chew toys, the Vibram K9 don't even show puppy-fang marks yet. It would seem that this toy will last at least until she is full grown. She loves the Vibram K9 Acorn, too.

My 6 month old Lab destroyed it in less then 5 minutes. Watch your dog with it if you get one.

Buy Vibram K9 Stick Dog Toy Now

THis product lasted under two minutes with my strong chewer. If I could give zero stars I would. I would not recommend!

Read Best Reviews of Vibram K9 Stick Dog Toy Here

Newest BK208 Anti-Bark shock Collar with Adjustable Control For Big Dogs

I have an odd situation --my dog moans and literally cries for me --and the collar does not correct those sounds...

My wife bought 2 of these a month or so ago and we have always questioned if they actually worked..... up until 2 weeks ago when we noticed one of the collars shocks the smaller of our two dogs at random, she isn't a big barker but we put it on her to prevent her from attacking the younger bigger male. These collars are junk! My dogs will be outside barking for hours and never get shocked but random times during the day (while inside laying down) these things go off as if to torcher them.

I was not going to write a review but after the next series of events I felt I had too. An hour or so ago I took one of the collars off and took it inside to adjust and change the batteries, the damn thing shocked me! Wasn't the most painful but caused me to drop it on the carpet where it continued to snap! Hell I hadn't even opened it up yet! My poor dogs! I feel terrible I put such a piece of $#%$ on them. I will NEVER EVER buy a product from this company again!!!!!

Buy Newest BK208 Anti-Bark shock Collar with Adjustable Control For Big Dogs Now

I use this collar on my 145 lb. Great Dane. He is not a constant barker, but I wanted to curb the barking when people came to the door, or when the wind blew, or when he had a bad dream and woke himself up barking...ok he barks. Well, with the collar on he only seems to bark when he REALLY feels the need to do so, and he will only bark once or twice. I haven't noticed it hurts him at all. I took the collar off for a day and noticed an immediate difference. The collar definitely has a subtle correction process and it seems to work for my dog. I can take the collar of at night now and he doesn't make a sound, and during the day he stays pretty calm. The collar only works if it is positioned right, and on a Dane that is a pretty TALL order. We have made it work, and as far as I can tell, it does work.

Read Best Reviews of Newest BK208 Anti-Bark shock Collar with Adjustable Control For Big Dogs Here

Used on my 9 month german shepard, absoultly loved it worked on 1st day. Gives puppy sound warnings 2 before giving and vibrations. My pup learned in less than 2 day. And stopped using since then.

Want Newest BK208 Anti-Bark shock Collar with Adjustable Control For Big Dogs Discount?

for sure the price is right but the operating instructions do not agree with how the device actually works. Advertisements and instruction manual says that it has an adjustable shock feature. That is not true. There is an adjustment but what it adjusts is the sensitivity of the device to the loudness of the bark. A further clue to that is that adjacent to the adjustment it says "bark" not "shock". The level of the shock does not change at all. Unfortunately, the level of shock is quite high and goes on for like 3 seconds which seems like an eternity when you are the victim. I don't try anything on my pets unless I try it on myself first. I have an Innotek remote trainer and I can confirm that the different shock levels are adjustable and they really aren't that painful. I just held it in my hand and shocked myself. This device really hurts.

The company offered a refund but due to the cost of return shipping it made no sense to return it. Since I am an electrical engineer I am going to take it apart and see if I can figure out a way to reduce the shock level by some hardware hack.

Zack & Zoey 3-Way Coupler - Jet Black

Well, unless your dogs are all 1 lb. You are fine. I have 5 and 7 lb chi's and this is so tiny they are all stuck together and can't go anywhere. It was funny for about 5 minutes on our walk tonight, but it won't work. Wow, it's tiny. I can't help but laugh.

Save 60% Off

Petco Nylon & Mesh Dog Muzzle, X-Small, Color:Black

My chiauaha /palmeranian hares to get wet..needless to say bath time was not fun for me more like a challenge to get Biscuit clean and keep all my fingers in tact. I bought this muzzle and put it on him with ease. During his bath the other day I didn't feel nervous about him trying to bite me and was able to give him a nice bath and ear cleaning...well worth the $$$$$

fits my chihuaua (5 lbs) perfectly and my jack chi mix (15 lbs) perfectly and came very slowly after ordering so do'nt give up hope, it did after all.....arrive

Buy Petco Nylon & Mesh Dog Muzzle, X-Small, Color:Black Now

This muzzle fits chihuahua, and other similar small dogs. It helps to use this muzzle while clipping dogs. you should get it if you need one

Read Best Reviews of Petco Nylon & Mesh Dog Muzzle, X-Small, Color:Black Here

Pet Doorbell Mat System TM ®

We bought this pet doorbell mat system more than 6 years ago. It finally stopped working so we bought another one. The shipping was super fast and the packaging was great. After monkeying around with the old mat, my husband got it working again, so now we have 2. I would never be without this mat. I think it's one of the greatest things made if you have a cat that goes in and out many, many times a day. I would definitely buy another one when needed. I give it a 10.

Bought 2 mats, had less than one week when they started just going off on their own. Customer service is bad also. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS MAT OR COMPANY.

Buy Pet Doorbell Mat System TM ® Now

We have had both of our mats replaced because they weren't working. One by one these mats, that are supposed to be weather resistant, got water in them and shorted out. Now we are sitting here with $170.00 worth of something that is going to be an ongoing fight. I think that if you are paying the kind of money you are being charged, the product should not be sold unless it is going to perform the way the seller says it will. This is a worthless product!

Read Best Reviews of Pet Doorbell Mat System TM ® Here

Easy Walk Harness - Black Small

Yes we've tried the Gentle Leader, and Sporn Halters, and a zillion other things. This halter is the greatest. With many dogs in tow, my 2 small, alpha dogs were contantly pulling me and the other dogs in a rendition of some sled dog movie they must have caught on TV. After the intial figuring out of how to put it on, there was an immediate difference in how my dogs walk after the first walk. So now I don't have to juggle a bunch of clickers, treats, and other what-nots, my dogs just walk like nice dogs now. Shew. Now I can finally concentrate on regular obedience training.

The best way to use a harness with a D-Ring on the chest is to attach the leash to the d-ring on the harness and also the d-ring on the dogs collar. I had a harness similar and that was the recomended use by a trainer, forgot the brand name. When attached in this manner if the dog slips out of the harness he still is attached at the collar. You might think attaching it to the collar is defeating the purpose of the harness but it does not. The harness keeps the collar d-ring on the underside of the dogs neck and allows you better control over the dog. Without the harness the dogs collar and leash rotates to the back of his head and when the dog pulls you have little control. So if the front strap of the harness is loose enough give this method a try and see how it works out for you.

Buy Easy Walk Harness - Black Small Now

I had to return 2 of these harnesses (and got dinged a 20% restocking fee from this seller on top of the cost of shipping both ways). This harness does not work with all dogs. Both my dogs fit the "girth measurement" but the loop where the leash attaches drags on the ground. My two dogs were able to walk out of the thing and kept getting their front legs tangled up. Also there is one dimension where the harness can't be adjusted so you might find, as I did, that the girth measurement is correct, but it still is too big for your dog. The description should have warned the owners of "short" dogs that this would not be a good choice.

If you want to try this out on your dog, buy it from a dealer who will refund ALL your money other than the shipping costs. It's too risky otherwise.

Read Best Reviews of Easy Walk Harness - Black Small Here

Prompt delivery and good service. I have found that my dog can slip out of the harness by standing up on her hind legs, but she is a very small dog so maybe I should have gotten the smaller size. She is in the weight range this harness was supposed to fit. The harness works well to stop pulling behavior.

Want Easy Walk Harness - Black Small Discount?

I only gave this item 4 stars because I just used it for the first time yesterday. I also have a small dog who thinks he is a sled dog. Upon using the harness for the first time yesterday I immediately saw a 50% improvement while on our walk. However, I do need to adjust the harness a bit more. I'm sure by the weekend I will see a huge improvement. Would definitely recommend this product. I wanted to try this halter first before having to try the tradional Gentle Leader head halter.

ValuePad 200 30X36 90 gram Dog Training Puppy Pads

I read many reviews on many training pads and these were rated very well. And they are....not only are they absorbant but great price too. The vendor is awesome to deal with and I have been a repeat customer. For the value you can't go wrong and they do not leak through....I highly recommend these

Save 30% Off

D.T. Systems SPT2432 Training Collar, Black

Stay away from D.T. System training collars. Poor quality and short life span, especially when you consider the price. I paid premium price for a training collar and it worked for about 10 months. This collar was used on an inside dog. I returned to the manufacture for warrantythat's $25.00 for them to just check it. It worked for about another 10 months and not not serviceable again. I purchased a different brand collar.

I have purchased and have other DT Systems products (2 H20 collars and transmitters), but this will be my last DT Systems purchase.

My problems started when the screw that attached the lanyard to SPT2432 came out, leaving me with only the lanyard, and no transmitter.

My training partners and I searched for an hour but couldn't find the transmitter.

Giving up, I contacted DT Systems about purchasing a replacement. "Fine no problem, return both collars so that we can pair them with the new transmitter."

I returned the 2 collars and a week or so later received a call. They no longer had a transmitter that would pair with my 2 collars and only had a demo set that would work. I paid full price for a new transmitter, they kept my practically new collars and I received a well used "demo" set with a transmitter that only holds a charge for 30 min and one of the collars' locator beepers can only be heard from 30 yards away. I would have been better off applying my $250 to the purchase of a new system, but now I am disgruntled. They can have my $250 and my new collars but they will no longer have my business.

Buy D.T. Systems SPT2432 Training Collar, Black Now

I bought this training system because it is the more complete and with more features in the current market: includes an electronic/light tester to test signal, and you can test it on your own skin to see what your dogs will feel (in case is too strong, you can lower it), rechargeable and replaceable battery, more control on stimulation: 'nick' or 'momentary', and 'continuous' button , and Vibration, and Rising stimulation, and locator, waterproof , long range etc.. I also liked the D.T. Systems's idea of integrating a Remote training device with a No-Bark trainer. However, this device is not the one, and has some issues as all the other brands as well:

First this expensive SPT2432 collar is not what DT Systems claims:

"The Super Pro Elite TM series is the very first and only electronic dog training system to integrate a Remote training device with a No-Bark trainer. Thus, eliminating the need for two separate collar systems."

FYI: The material of the orange collar is not the same as the black collar. I liked the orange collar more, as it is more soft and easier to put on the dog. The black collar is hard and seems to be different material.

1) The 2 point contacts / electrodes are like rounded nails (around 1 centimeter each), and with short term use can hurt/damage the dog's skin. The manuals of these collars including other brands clearly indicate that, and the name of the disease is: Pressure Necrosis. You have to clean dog skin regularly in case of irritation. The point is: as the manual indicates you can not leave the dog unattended when the dog has that collar (as no electronic device is perfect, as indicated in the manual). Whoever created those stainless steel contacts should try them on themselves for a few hours and see how that feels. This is not the only electronic collar with that nail type contact issue. All of the ones I saw including other brands have 2x very similar contacts on each collar (some brands longer than others). I would have preferred something like: multiple short rounded contacts around the dog's neck to ensure conductivity, or something else. I tried the collar with a proper snug fit (as indicated in the manual) on myself for less than a minute and the 2x contacts left marks on my skin. Imagine if you were to keep the collar on for multiple hours, and then look at the condition of your skin.

2) Deceiving advertising: Super Pro e-Lite is NOT: No-Bark Trainer and Beeper Locater in 1 collar. It is only a Beeper Locater.

I did some research and the only model that used to be 2 in 1 is the DT Systems SPT-7802. That collar is not longer available, not even in ebay nor in the manufacturer's website. It was released a few years ago, but the only online store that had it in their system indicates the following about that collar: Current Status: Unavailable / Discontinued. I did read the manual of the SPT-7802 and found out that you can have only 1 option active at a time. An expensive device that does not provide the option of controlling both modes at the same time becomes useless, considering the high price.

A collar claiming those 2 features should allow the user to have 3 options:

No-Bark Trainer and normal remote stimulation mode ON (barking is controlled + useful in cases were the dog is doing something that the dog is not supposed to do owner can send remote stimulation to dog)

only No-Bark Trainer ON

only Beeper Locater ON

3) The quality of the screen is not good at all. I tried to carefully clean the screen with just a microfiber towel that I use for my glasses because I saw a little bit of dust on it, and just by doing that it left small marks on the screen. I did not see a plastic cover on top of the screen that needed to be removed, but after seeing the mark on the screen I preferred to avoid more contact with the screen. Imagine a screen of that quality for a simple phone.. you would have to buy a screen protector for it prior to start using the device, otherwise it will have tons of marks that would not be possible to eliminate.

I would have kept the device if it provided those essential options mentioned above, and had multiple or better designed contacts to ensure conductivity and most importantly a collar that does not damage the dog skin. These collars are supposed to help the dog's owner eliminate issues like bark, behavior, carrying 2 collars (1 for no bark, and 1 for training) etc.. not for creating new issues: skin irritation, Pressure Necrosis, 2 collars etc..

By the way, these are some of the instructions included in the manuals for these type of collars:

Place the collar high on your dog's neck close to the ears. Center the contact points underneath your dog's neck, touching the skin.

Note: It is sometimes necessary to trim the hair around the contact points to make sure that contact is consistent.

Check the tightness of the collar by inserting one finger between the end of a contact point and your dog's neck. The fit should be snug but not constricting

Check the fit to prevent excessive pressure by being able to insert one finger between a contact point and your dog's skin.

Examine your dog daily for any signs of a rash or sore.

A condition called Pressure Necrosis, which is a devitalization of the skin due to excessive and prolonged contact against the contact points.

If a rash or sore is observed, discontinue the use of the collar for a few days.

If the condition persists beyond 48 hours, see your veterinarian.

Your dog's neck and the contact points must be washed weekly with a wash cloth and mild hand soap, then rinsed thoroughly.

A loose collar can promote skin irritation from moving or rubbing too much on a dog's neck while they are running or training. The proper snug fit will help prevent this from occurring.

Read Best Reviews of D.T. Systems SPT2432 Training Collar, Black Here

I've used this model, and the generation model before it for many years now. Reliability is superb. The other review doesn't make sense. D.T.'s service Department coupled with the SPT 2432 lifetime warranty makes it a no brainer. Many times collars don't seem to work because they are misapplied to the dog, incorrectly positioned, heavy dog hair on the neck, etc. Yes, there is actually a correct way to put the collar on the neck as well as prepping the neck. You can actually do it wrong and not be happy. Seek the help of a professional dog trainer if you are unsure. Each collar has a 'how to' book in it.

PRO's:

1. Has a 'nick' or 'momentary' button. When pressed it only delivers a fraction of a second stimulation. Very humane.

2. Has a 'continuous' button which when pressed and held can deliver constant stim up to 8 seconds until the fail safe kicks in which causes it turn off (in case you were to accidentally sit on it or something unknowingly).

3. Has Vibration. Just like the old pagers we use to carry around, it vibrates. Use this as praise or as a warning...very humane feature! See my how to train your own bird dog page at brittanys d0t c0m

4. Has Rising stimulation. Use this for avoidance training, i.e. chasing cars, deer, etc.

5. Has a beeper that works 3 ways. You can touch a button to cause it to beep so that you can find your dog or you can use one of two more settings in which it will beep as your dog runs about. This feature has a built in motion detector that lets you know when your dog has stopped by changing the beep duration.

6. Antenna is built into the dog collar so no problems losing/breaking external antenna's.

7. Has a rechargeable battery that lasts about 4 or 5 years of heavy use and is inexpensively replaced by DT when / if it does expire.

8. Waterproof! 100 percent.

9. 50, yes, FIFTY levels of stim. Most humans can't feel the first few levels and to the dog, it feels like a finger tap. I put it on my own neck to try.

10. Available in 2 dogs models and newer models have the 'add a collar' feature so your system grows with you.

11. One year bumper to bumper warranty, Lifetime Parts warranty.

12. D.T. is based in Dallas, Texas on Walnut Hill Lane.

Cons:

1. it is not a small lightweight collar for small dogs. Also smaller dogs may need the beeper moved closer to the receiver...free by DT. If you have a small dog, you should try their Micro IDT collar. It works terrific for small breeds and for trainers who want something lightweight that won't cause 'collar wiseness'.

2. with heavy use, you'll have to have DT replace the battery in about 5 years.

Note of Disclosure: I am on D.T.'s Pro Staff but used the product Prior to joining them. I believe in this product and train daily with it in Texas and 2 months every year in Montana from horseback. If it didn't work I wouldn't bother as I certainly don't won't folks thinking I endorse junk.

Want D.T. Systems SPT2432 Training Collar, Black Discount?

Mountain Rope Choke Collar 24 Inch - Royal Blue

Look at the picture of the product, See the metal crimp at each end that is used to create the loop? The one that goes through the ring is the problem. When the collar is opened to its max, i.e. ring to ring, the crimp lies inside of the choke ring. If there is any kind of tension from the pull/leash end and the crimp comes into contact with the choke ring, it binds and can't be pulled through. It renders the choke collar to a fixed length collar. I've tried yanking at the leash but that didn't work. The crimp does a great job at binding with the ring. Very annoying.

Save 15% Off

Travel Jump Set

This is a nice training tool for dogs. I have two border collies and they both love jumping each of the hurdles. They are adjustable and have a nice carry bag too.

I specifically enjoy the travel bag, but overall it is a great travel jump set, easy to put up and take down.

Buy Travel Jump Set Now

Given the incredible low cost I'm quite pleased. The only concern I have is with the snap-on pieces that hold the bar. I haven't had an issue and if I just leave them on and slide them up and down as needed I shouldn't have a problem. I'd like to have two crossbars but given the price and ease of putting together, this is a great deal.

Read Best Reviews of Travel Jump Set Here

they are very nice. the only bad thing is is that they are a little small for me. I use them a lot and they come with a carry case. have sliding jump cups and are easy to knock down if you hit them.

Want Travel Jump Set Discount?

I like these jumps, they were easy to set up, good quality. The only thing that would make this product better is if the standard bar height was marked on the poles. You have to measure/mark the bar heights after the jump is put together. Even a template would be helpful. Otherwise it's the best I've purchased and the price was right.

IRIS Plastic Exercise/Containment Pet Pen, 4 Panels, Blue

We bought this for our Chihuahua puppy and it works great. It is easy to assemble, and sturdy. I do suggest putting it in a corner or securing it to a wall, due to the fact that it is not very heavy and can be pushed across the floor fairly easily.

Sets up and comes apart in seconds. You can make this pen as big as you want by adding more panels.

Buy IRIS Plastic Exercise/Containment Pet Pen, 4 Panels, Blue Now

This "baby gate" arrived in 2-3 days of order to be used for our new Golden Doodle Puppy as a wide area (80 inches) gate between kitchen/family room and the rest of the house. This is a nice, moderately light, blue, smooth (no rough edges) adjustable gate which works perfectly to keep puppy in his living area. We simply spread the 4 sections across the wide doorway, slightly leaning the gate against the outer walls of the opening and this works well for our purposes. Understand this is made for a "PlayPen" purpose, but it was the most practical and the one requiring no hardward into the wall. Pup is respectful of this gate, accepts it, and it allows easy entry and exit for these Grandparent owners to step in and out of Puppy's living area for now. I would recommend this gate for a very young puppy for training purposes...probably too easily moved for a bigger and more active grown new dog.

Read Best Reviews of IRIS Plastic Exercise/Containment Pet Pen, 4 Panels, Blue Here

Treatstik Small Blue Meal And Treat Dispensing Dog Toy

I own the large Treatstik (9.75" long), and the small (6" long but with the same size treat dispensing hole). The large holds up to 1.5 cups of treats or kibble; the small ½ cup.

Both are well made of thick, hard, sturdy nylon that is smooth, with no sharp parts. Even the hole treats are dispensed from has smoothed edges. I have not used either size long enough to speak to how long it would last. I can't say what a stronger/larger jawed chewer than mine would do with it, but this toy is so sturdy and well made that I fully expect that it would last for years with my dogs. I bought the large to feed my 50lb. border collie one of her 2 meals a day of dry kibble. It both entertained her and slowed down her too-rapid eating. She did not seem too interested in chewing on it, mainly just knocking the food out (which occupied her for quite a while, but was not so hard to do that she became frustrated & felt the need to chew it open). She worked on it quite vigorously, pawing hard at it and knocking it into furniture. So I toss throw pillows or towels in front of certain furniture legs, etc, when I use it inside.

I've bought several treat/food dispenser toys, but this is the only one I've continued to use. Unlike the others, both sizes of Treatstik are very easy to fill through its large opening; even my sore hands can screw the cap on/off easily; cap stays on while my dog plays with it; and it's very easy to wash by hand, or it's dishwasher-safe.

Note that the Treatstik website says it is not for "toy" dogs: the hole that dispenses the treats is by my measure approximately 3/4" long by 1/2" wide oval. The small size has the same size hole. So in my opinion a dog might be a bit safer if she has lower canines farther apart than ¾".

The large size also works fine with my 14lb mini poodle, and she loves it (I supervise her with it, and her lower canines are wider than the hole). She rolls it all around, pawing at it & nosing it until she gets as much kibble out as she can, then looks to me to shake the rest down to the narrow end so she can work on it some more. I have to shake it down several times for her to get it all. So I bought the smaller size for her, thinking that she would be able to pick it up & tilt it to shake the last remaining bits of kibble down to the dispensing hole, which she cannot do with the large size (too big even at the narrower end for her small mouth to pick up). But she still can't pick up the fatter end of the small one, which is where she would need to grasp it to tilt it to get the food to fall down to where the hole is (she frustrates easily & won't experiment with more creative ways to tilt it). So she has the same problem with both sizes, causing her to get frustrated & give up on getting the last 10 or so pieces of (very small bites size) kibble out. So whichever size Treatstik we're using, I continue to help her out when she gets down to the last pieces. Occasionally I just open the end & dump out the few remaining pieces to save time.

Also, the smaller toy is so much narrower in diameter in the part where the dispensing hole is, that if I put her entire 1/3 cup meal of kibble in it, my dog feels she might be able to reach the kibble by just lying down & chewing at the hole to get to the food something she never even tried with the large version, and not what I want her to do with this toy. So I have to feed her the 1/3 cup in 2 installments, a minor nuisance (but not an issue if you're only using it to feed a few treats at a time).

My dog gives up easily & never goes back to toys that frustrate her, but some small dogs might work at the small Treatstik until they figured out a way to tilt the food out which might even be a good thing to keep them busy longer?

So both sizes work pretty much the same for my small dog, except that I can put her whole meal at one time in the large one, and the small one just requires a refill part way through. She likes both, and we use both, but I wish I'd known all this before I invested in the 2nd one that I ended up not needing. I prefer the large one, even for my small dog.

This is a really heavy-duty product that stands up to our dog's powerful chewing. She loves the toy and thinks getting her dinner in it is great. We got it since she would house her food so fast we thought she might choke or get bloat and it has definitely slowed down her eating.

Buy Treatstik Small Blue Meal And Treat Dispensing Dog Toy Now

Housebreaking / Training Pads-DTP3

I've tried numerous pads and these have worked the best. They don't leak through, like all the others I've tried. Also, my dog (14 years old) is picky regarding which ones she will use. I don't know if it's the material others use or maybe it's a fragrance they use. But these have been given her "mark of approval".

The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs

Owning an embarrassing number of dog training/behavior books and having kept Border Collies for a long time, I feel qualified to say that if you only bought one book on canine behavior, this would be it. Dr. McConnell provides a clear and lucid explanation of why dogs behave and respond as they do -all the while being careful to make note of the ambiguities and idiosyncratic nature of both canine and human behavior. There are no 'magic formulas' here. But there are many guidelines and explanations of why some things tend to work, while others tend not to. The strength of this book is that it provides an understanding of why dogs respond, allowing the reader to refine his/her behaviors to better communicate with dogs. This focus on human behavior and how dogs interpret it provides unusual insight into effective interaction and training. Extensive experience and academic preparation in animal behavior and communication have provided McConnell with an exceptional understanding of how much of what we do in interacting with dogs is actually counter-productive because dogs see the world quite differently than primates do. Changing some of my behaviors after reading this book, I could almost see my three Border Collies thinking, "Well, about time you figured that out."

"The other end of the leash" is a book that could easily disappoint the purchaser if they did not know what they were buying. This is not a book on the practicalities of how to train your dog. Ms McConnell does not tell you how to make spot sit, down or fetch, or tell you how to teach him competition obedience. It is also not a book on the theory of teaching dogs, or on fixing behavioural problems. You will not hear about the benefits of positive reinforcement versus punishment in this book, or learn how to stop your dog from chasing the postman.

However, if you accept this book for what it is, it is truly wonderful and quite unique. "The Other End of the Leash" is simply a informal discussion on the similarities and differences between canine and human communication. McConnell has studied human behaviour as well as dog behaviour, and has come to the conclusion that many behaviours and verbal tones that seem friendly and natural to humans are aversive to our canine companions.

When used inappropriately, these human signals can trigger a fearful or aggressive reaction in dogs. Less seriously, using inappropriate body language or vocal tone can undermine our obedience work. When teaching a recall for example, signals that might seem appropriate to a human (leaning forward, looking directly at the dog and barking a loud cheerful "come!") can in fact inhibit the dog from approaching.

This book also contains one of the most sensible discussion of dominance that I have ever read. McConnell contends that dominance is a much misused but still useful concept. She discusses the way that we can mistakenly give up our "Alpha" status to our dogs by using the wrong body language, and explains the severe behavioural problems that can be caused when we do this. Most importantly, she tells us how we can earn back Alpha status without resorting to physical violence. However unlike some other dog trainers ("Dog Listener" Jan Fennell springs to mind!), McConnell does not try to ascribe every behavioural problem to a lack of human dominance or leadership. She is careful to include anecdotes about dogs that were misdiagnosed as having dominance issues when they were merely untrained, and explains how this misdiagnosis actually exacerbated their behavioural problems.

Her explanations of canine body language are excellent, and far superior to any other book of this type on the market. Unlike many other dog trainers Turid Rugaas, for example McConnell discusses the body language of aggression and fear as well the language of submission and "calming". This information is essential for anyone dealing with a potential aggressive dog.

The only complaint I have with this book is that McConnell appears to deal mainly with herding breeds, and although she briefly mentions a few other dogs in the book (mostly retrievers and a few smaller terriers), her anecdotes are mostly about border collies. This bias is relevant as border collies are a breed that was developed to work closely with humans, and specifically selected to be alert and sensitive to the nuances of human and animal body language. I know from experience that some of McConnell's conclusions aren't necessarily going to be quite so accurate with other types of dog for example, dogs that are bred to guard, dogs that are bred to fight, and dogs that are bred to work independently of humans.

Buy The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs Now

Patricia McConnell is probably best known the co-host of Wisconsin Public Radio's "Calling All Pets." But she has also written a series of books. "The Other End of the Leash" is probably the best known. As an ethologist specializing in canines, she brings a different, professional viewpoint to people's relations with their pets.

Her point is simple: dogs and humans both communicate, but because we are very different animals, we often misread each other's nonverbal cues. The nonverbal greeting signals for a human, for example, are threat signals to a dog. What she does is help dog owners learn to send the nonverbal messages they intend to their dogs, to speak to dogs in the nonverbal dialog that dogs understand.

It's an important, even critical point, in dealing with dogs. Mixed signals, unintended signals and the wrong signals can confuse a dog, and even trigger hostility and attack. It's especially important for stranger dogs. Her points can help you a lot in dealing with dogs.

But what this book isn't is a primer on training your dog. It's a guide to dog behavior, it's not a book on how to train your dog. Make no mistake, Dr. McConnell's insights can be of immense help to you in training and dealing with dogs. A dog that is relaxed and comfortable, that isn't getting the wrong nonverbal signals, is easier to train. But it's not a training book.

As other reviewers have noted, sometimes Dr. McConnell repeats her points a few extra times. Perhaps it is a consequence of dealing with difficult dogs and difficult dog owners for a long time. But that's a minor annoyance. This is a valuable useful book to anyone with a difficult dog or any dog owner who wants to understand his or her dog better.

Recommended.

Read Best Reviews of The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs Here

The Other End of the Leash is a delightful, thoughtful, and thought-provoking study of our canine friends' behaviors. The author uses her experience as both a behaviorist and a dog owner to shed light on the often-misunderstood actions of dogs. Her book also enables us to learn how we can best interact with our dogs -basically, in a compassionate fashion that takes into account their individual personalities and the genetic inheritence of their species. The Other End of the Leash includes practical advice. You'll learn how to "speak dog" by using body language, how to help your dog understand that strangers and other dogs are part of his "family" and to take them in stride, also, and what NOT to do while training your dog. Plus, you'll become fond of McConnell's dogs as you learn their wonderful quirks and habits! I found this book's wisdom and emphasis on kind, compassionate dog training very impressive.

Want The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs Discount?

In this wonderful book, McConnell deftly explores some of the all too common problems that arise between humans and canines because the two species have inherently different ways of communicating. For example, while humans consider it polite to make eye contact and approach another person directly, dogs consider this hostile and confrontive. Polite dogs approach each other from the side, and only if they play together often do they get away with making direct eye contact. McConnell makes the case that humans misunderstanding this bit of canine-etiquette has caused many a dog-bite. Another bit of advice she offers if you want your dog to approach you, don't move toward her; turn and move the other way. (It works!) And yet another tidbit never pat a dog on the top of his head; dogs dislke this. (If you don't believe her, just pat your dog on the head and see for yourself the look on his face!) "The Other End of the Leash" is jam-packed with examples of mistakes we humans make in dealing with our canine companions, and suggesions about how to communicate what we really want to communicate.

Not only is this book filled with helpful suggestions about how to better communicate with dogs, it's loaded with tips about how to choose one! I wish I'd read this BEFORE getting my puppy I'd have been more careful about selecting a breeder. I'd have made better use of that small window of opportunity puppies have to be properly socialized if only I'd known about it before the window closed! I'd have chosen my puppy more carefully i.e., not based the decision merely on breed, gender and looks, but on the puppy's disposition and ability to tolerate frustration.

"The Other End of the Leash" is so much more than a how-to book on human canine communication. It's a well-written, reads-like-a-novel page-turner that's filled with interesting vignettes and useful information. McConnell's love for dogs and respect for their owners shines through brilliantly. When I finished this book, I had that 'aaahhhh' feeling I get when I've read a thoroughly satisfying novel.

Thank you Patricia McConnell!

Save 23% Off