Training book for dogs

In My Humble Opinion
1

Since there’s no factual answer to be had and I’m fielding opinions on the subject, I guess IMHO is the right place.

My stepsister is a little woman. She’s 62, about 5’2", about 110 lbs. Has a lot of health issues, unsteady on her feet, had a hip replacement and her bones are bad from years of prednisone use, among other meds. Her Shih Tzu recently passed, and she’s been thinking about a new dog for a few months. She planned on another small dog, but. . .her friend has GREAT DANES, and apparently it recently had puppies. Sigh.

She came over last week with her new horse, that at 10 weeks old, is already bigger than my American Eskimo dog.

I support her and if that’s what she wants, then OK. But she’s had big dogs when she was younger and healthier, and they kind of ran the house. I tried to stress that she’s GOING TO HAVE TO PUT IN THE TRAINING HOURS if she’s going to be able to handle a big dog.

She has a lot of experience with dogs - more than I do - but I don’t think she’s gone out of her way to learn how to properly train them. I don’t want to see the horse drag her down the street or knock her over and break her hip or anything else. Her last big dog was a danger to herself and others. It was kept locked up in the backyard, and her neighbors hated it. It was shot by the police at one point, but it lived. The only time I’ve ever been sorry to hear they didn’t finish the job.

I’d like to get her a good book on the subject as a gift. Not good as in comprehensive, thick, and deep. Good, as in it has workable ideas that she’ll grasp easily and quickly, and preferably presented in an engaging way, if possible. Like a “dummies” book, or a Cliff’s Note’s version of a “dummies” book. If she hasn’t delved into learning this stuff extensively by this point in her life, I can only hope that she browses it and picks up some important pointers.

There are of course, a lot of ppl here with a wide and deep knowledge of almost every subject, so here I am. You know dogs? You know dog training books? How about one that addresses LARGE dogs and the particular issues they present? Short, engaging, to-the-point books?

Hopefully that’s enough info, and I’ll wait on anything you have to offer. I wish she’s reconsider and get a little pupper that’s more in her capacity to handle. Her little Zoe was a sweetie.

2

I’ll try to dredge the grey matter and see if I can recall any specific authors/titles. My general impression is that with dog care, if you read enough books, you’ll find one that says exactly what you want to hear! :wink: I also doubt there is any one BEST system - rather, it is important that the owner chose ONE system, and apply it consistently.

My main reason for posting, tho, is to express my sympathy for you, as what you describe seems very likely to result in a trainwreck. Truly unfortunate when people close to us make poor major decisions.

3

…um, dogs can’t read…

(Sorry, sorry, it was just sitting there all teed up waiting…)

4

There’s also:

Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend.
Inside of a dog, it is too dark to read!

5

Youtube has plenty of videos on training pets.

6

I’ll make my perennial recommendation, Karen Pryor’s Don’t Shoot the Dog, although given the history of your sister’s previous pet, the irony is not lost on me.

Your sister would do best by her pet and herself by enrolling in a good training class. She’ll get proper socialization with other dogs and humans, introductions to lots of different stimuli, and a (hopefully) knowledgeable person to direct any questions to.

7

Instead of a book, why not buy a series of lessons with a trainer?

8

They also do not watch YouTube videos. (Though I’ve tried. “See the dog in the video. When I move the treat, you’re supposed to roll over. You aren’t supposed to back up and jump.”)

9

If it is still available, I would recommend Family Dog. The author’s name is Wolters. He also wrote books on training water dogs and gun dogs. Practical training methods from an outstanding dog trainer.

10

I am writhing in horror at this. I nearly lost a truly beloved elderly friend because she just had to have that Basset Hound. The dog saw a squirrel and took off, dragging her through a ditch and up the embankment like she was a paper doll. Oh my dear Og, the pain that she suffered. Broken wrist, forearm, femur, hip, and elbow. She survived after months in advanced nursing care, but she was never the same, mentally or physically. That kind of pain for that period of time changes a person. She died three years later, and I’ve always believed it would have been ten or more if not for that fall.

In the mean time her son, who was in a wheelchair, tried to care for the dog. It dragged him over too, leaving him stranded on a cold night with a broken axle. Thank Og for cell phones or we’d have lost him too.

The dog simply never left the yard again. They had a good sized property, thank goodness, but nobody would risk putting a leash on her.

If you love this lady, get her some training lessons with a reputable school. Group lessons are cheaper and I think they are better, as a socialized dog is less likely to take off after other animals.

Above all, tell her this story. And tell her to hold the lead only with her fingertips never over the wrist. : shudder :

11

Crap, had an answer written out, but clicked out of the browser and accidentally closed it when trying to close something else.

TruCelt, I’m quoting you because I wanted you to know I’ve read this, and will pass this story along to her, but I’ll try to address the whole thread to date. Your story is pretty much what I fear for her.

If anyone knows of any Youtube videos that seem helpful to this situation, feel free to pass some links along. They will be watched and the effort appreciated. I’ll check out all the books suggested - the one entitled, “Don’t shoot the dog” is awfully tempting, because it fits my dark twisted humor, but I’ll look into it and see if it looks like something she would take to, along with the others. I’m trying to tailor the choice to her as much as I can.

I’m not signing her up for lessons. She’s 62 and had dogs for 35+ years, never trained any of them to my knowledge. I’m not sure she’d go if I did sign her up. I’m just hoping to find a book she’ll open if it’s sitting next to her. The best possible outcome would be if she gave the dog back while it was still just a pony, so it can find a home that would better suit it. Her house, age, size, lifestyle and medical condition REALLY scream, “pocket dog”. This is a remarkably BAD decision on her part. Short of adopting a face-eating chimp, I don’t know how she could have chosen worse. A Caucasian? Mastiff? A legit wolf-dog hybrid?

I might pick up one of these books for myself. My American Eskimo dog is a rescue - we thought she was a big Chihuahua mix, she had almost no hair when we adopted her. Don’t know her history, but given her lack of socialization, the price of AED pups, and the fact that she was just finished weaning pups when we adopted her, I suspect some sort of breeding operation was involved. I never wanted her to do anything but be a dog, do her business outside, and not run off, so that much is a resounding success, but maybe I could learn a few things and maybe make her feel happier and safer.

Thanks to all, and I’ll continue to monitor the thread for more suggestions.

And yes, TruCelt, GREAT reminder. Fingertips, never wrist. I WILL pass that along as well.

12

OMG, I’m really sorry to be negative, but this has problem written all over it. Unless that Dane gets service dog training, this is a huge mistake. (Or to put a positive spin on it, a Dane is a good size to be the kind of service dog that helps her get up after a fall or steady herself against. It will need professional training for that, though.)

My young punk (greyhound) came to us after being adopted to a 65 year old lady. Because he was … well, young and a punk, he unwittingly wrapped her up in the leash causing her to fall and break her clavicle. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a fantastic pup which is why we kept him. But just too much dog for her.

People need to learn and understand this phrase: “it’s too much dog for $person” That doesn’t mean he’s a bad dog, or that $person is a failure. It just means it’s an inappropriate match.

13

In the movie Deadpool, Gina Carano constantly had a matchstick in her mouth. Ryan Reynold’s character made fun of her (“Big Stallone fan?”) and his eventual escape from the bad guy’s evil supersoldier-making facility was made possible by him knocking it out of her mouth and applying a flame to an oxygen tank.

In the 80’s we also made cinnamon-flavored toothpicks. Tasted like those little red heart-shaped candies (red hots) I saw near Valentine’s Day, only these would burn your mouth if you held it in place too long.

14

Looks like Face Intentionally Left Blank inadvertently bumped their own thread by intending to reply to this thread in cafe society about movie tropes about toothpicks. So random.

But, while we’re here, how is your sister doing with the dog?!

15

d’oh!

16

nm

17

Jesus, I WONDERED where this post went to. Yes, it was supposed to go into the “toothpick trope” thread in Cafe Society. I think I’ll blame it on the boards recent problems. . .yeah.
Last month when I spoke to her she still had it. It hasn’t put her in the hospital nor eaten her yet, but I think she’s begun to fully understand the enormity of the animal, and of her mistake. She said someone might be taking it off her hands, but I haven’t heard anything further on that. I hope she gives it away, but god help that person - I doubt that horse has any training whatsoever.

Don’t see her much these days, so I’m not entirely up-to-date on the situation. Only saw her last month because of a funeral.