What Do I Do When... My Dog Pulls? by Turid Rugaas
| What Do I Do When... My Dog Pulls? by Turid Rugaas | |
|
| |
| Category: Pets | |
| |
Reviewer: Sue Magee
 | |
| Summary: A kind and simple training method to stop your dog pulling - it's proved to work and will leave you with a happy and contented dog. You'll enjoy the walks a lot more too! | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 64 | Date: October 2004 |
| Publisher: Qanuk Ltd | |
| ISBN: 978-0954803209 | |
|
Share on: | |
|
| |
If you ask dog owners what problems they have with their pets you can be certain that some will come up time and time again. Failure to return when called is common, as is intrusive barking but the one that comes up most often is the failure to walk properly on a lead. It might not seem to be a major problem if you have a small dog but for those of us with big dogs – I have two Rhodesian Ridgebacks – it can be a major and dangerous problem, particularly in frosty weather. If my two dogs decided to pull there is no way that I could control their combined weight of 75kg - and most of it is solid muscle.
Turid Rugaas is a Norwegian dog trainer with an impressive record from her work on calming signals and she has developed a kind, but effective, method to encourage dogs to walk without pulling. It can be applied to any dog – regardless of breed or age – and produces a dog that will walk calmly on a loose lead. Walking your dog can be a real pleasure.
No expensive equipment is required – possibly a harness and definitely a long, soft training lead – but there are various strictures about equipment which you mustn't use. I raised a cheer when she forbade the use of pinch collars and choke chains, but I was less certain about her dislike of head halters. The basis for this is that it's uncomfortable to be pulled around by the head and that they are often ill-fitting. Both of my dogs wear head halters, but they are of a type which can be adjusted to fit perfectly and there is no question of them being 'pulled around by the head' as they walk at my side on a loose lead with complete freedom to move their heads as they wish. But whilst I might argue about this particular piece of equipment, it's a minor niggle in the context of a well-thought out method for training a dog to walk contentedly on a loose lead.
The method is simple and involves encouraging your dog to react to a particular sound. This does take time and practice – but then no kind training method has even been developed which doesn't require time and practice. The various steps are clearly explained with colour pictures to illustrate each point. There are plenty of case studies to illustrate the problems and what can be achieved. When you've read this book you're left with confidence and a longing to get out there and get started. Most importantly the method has been examined in a controlled trial and it's been established that it does work.
The cover price of £8.99 might seem high for a sixty four page book, but it's well produced and it will save you a lot of money on equipment which you can do without. If it saves you one fall when you're pulled along in icy weather, or one altercation with a disgruntled owner as your dog lunges forward then you'll think it money well spent. The book's highly recommended here at the Bookbag kennels.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy along to the Bookbag.
We've also enjoyed The Dog Whisperer by Graeme Sims for an all round look at dog training or for a book that looks at a kind way of life with your dog you might like to see our review of The Loved Dog by Tamar Geller.
Please share on: 
Facebook, 
Twitter and
Instagram
You can read more book reviews or buy What Do I Do When... My Dog Pulls? by Turid Rugaas at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy What Do I Do When... My Dog Pulls? by Turid Rugaas at Amazon.com.
Comments
Like to comment on this review?
Just send us an email and we'll put the best up on the site.
