The author continually emphasizes the importance of praise, praise, and more praise in teaching your dog the proper way to behave, and her methods really live up to the "positive" claim in the title. This is a very reader-friendly book as well. The writer presents her information in an easy-to-read and often humorous format, all the while providing sound advice. I highly recommend this book as both human and dog friendly!

24 of 25 found the following review helpful:

A ground breaking insight into the mind of your dog  Sep 12, 1999

Ms. Benjamin leaves an indelible mark on the understanding of dogs with this work that recognizes that the time between puppyhood and adulthood is not limited to us humans. The excellent methodology outlined in this text denotes a person with an uncommon insight into the minds and behavior of dogs. The techniques described in the book are both helpful and thorough - follow them and you will get the job done. This is not a book for those who would build a relationship between a dog and the liver snaps in their pocket. It is a book for those who want to enjoy a warm relationship between themselves and their dogs. It DOES NOT recommend alpha rolls in shape or form.

13 of 14 found the following review helpful:

Excellent help for dog owners  Mar 16, 2002

I found this book highly interesting and helpful. It gives practical training tips in ways the new dog owner can understand and easily put into practice... There is absolutely no negative training in this book. It all focuses on the positives of relationship, describing and teaching language a dog can understand. I found it extremely helpful. I would highly recommend it to any current or prospective dog owner.

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:

This book was a life-saver  Feb 03, 2006
By N. Ferguson "Two, Daisy, Hannah, and Kitten"
12 years ago, I remember sitting on my bed in tears. My adorable Golden Retriever puppy had hit a point where she was really hard to handle, and I felt overwhelmed-- like a failure as a dog owner! I knew I needed some good advice, and I ended up finding this book at the library.

It was incredibly helpful, reassuring, and positive. Needless to say, my Golden eventually grew into a lovely, kind, and affectionate dog. This book helped us get through a rocky point in our relationship, and I am really greatful to Carol Lea Benjamin for helping me to handle this stage of my best friend's development effectively/helping me to understand my dog better.

A year after reading this book, I adopted an elderly Irish Setter. Benajamin's book "Secondhand Dog" was helpful to us.

If you like the Monks of New Skete and Brian Kilcommons you will find Carol Lea Banjamin's approach to be slightly different (but similar) and very helpful. You may also want to check out Patricia McConnell's humane, wise dog books (The Other End of the Leash, Beginning Family Dog Training, etc.).

10 of 12 found the following review helpful:

Important tho not Perfect  May 26, 2003
By citywulf
This book is important for two very strong reasons: 1) it alerts dog owners everywhere that their dogs have a teenage stage; and 2) it counters the newly-prevelant ideas that training is 100% positive and you can avoid corrections completely.

I am an advocate of using the friendliest and most positive methods available. BUT, a whole generation of children was raised by parents who were permissive, and look how that turned out. Yes, you sometimes have to tell your dog (especially when they hit adolescence) no!

That said, I can't give it an all-out endorsement because I don't totally agree with it. I don't think you should rely on collar corrections for non-leash work. "Put on the collar and correct the dog for this, that, and the other." If the naughty behavior is occuring off-lead, you need to find an off-lead deterrent. Also, she is a bit limited in her options. By discarding everything reward trainers do, she overlooks some good advice. So, this book isn't the end-all be-all. BUT, the message that your bratty teen needs some structure and leadership is so important, and so lacking in most modern materials, that it's worth the read.

P.S. Absolutely nowhere in this book does the author advocate alpha rolls or scruff shakes or any other physical reprimand. Don't know where that reviewer was coming from.

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