The Other End of the Leash - Patricia McConnell

[k9mania]

Who has read this booK? How did or did not it help you understand your relationship with your dog/s or make you a better trainer? For those that have never read it. I would recommend reading it and then we can have a discussion on how the author's insight relates to your experiences with dogs.

[TTBALLMOM]

I loved this book. I have read over 15 different books on training and behavior and this is by far the best in my opinon. I recommend this to everyone I meet. It has totally helped me understand the way my dog is communicating with me and hopefully has aided in my way of communicating with him. I especially liked the part when she writes about how speech confuses our dog. How some people use the command "sit" and then after they sit they say "good sit" how that can confuse your dog. She says you can't expect your dog to read your mind and to understand when "sit" means to actually sit and when "sit" means "don't do anything, I'm referring to something you've already done"

I've tried to implement things she recommends. It does work. My Neice who has Toto's brother does not use these techniques and you can see the difference in our dogs behaviors.

Especiallyl when her dog is underfoot and she tries to get him under control. She'll use words such as "move" "come on" "get outta here" I tell her that all her dog is getting out of that is "Mom is all worked up" and that just gets him excited He doesn't understand the words she uses.

Would love to hear what other people think of this book and if anyone has read anything else by Patricia McConnell. I have her other book For The Love of A Dog and haven't started it yet. Has anyone read that?

[grizzle]

TT...This is one of the best books and trainers you'll ever read about in my opinion. Both of pats books are very good. There is a wed site you can visit called( dogsbestfriendtraining.com) ENJOY

[CerbiesMom]

I just picked up the book and started reading last night. So far, it's pretty informative.

[ann_hawes]

I bought it for myself for Christmas, and have just started reading it.

[Carol]

There is a program on tv called "At the end of my leash" and I love it. The trainer is Brad Pattison. He can work miracles with dogs very quickly. He fixes families in the process.
He always says: I am here for the dog, not the people.
It is not the dogs who have the problem, it is the people.

[luvsdogs]

I have read the book a few years ago. Patricia came to Australia to speak at the Annual APDT conference. I enjoyed it immensely & the book.

[TTBALLMOM]

lucky you...I would LOVE to hear her speak, and better yet to get a chance to talk with her...I'm going to start one of her other books as soon as I'm done with the one I'm reading now...

[KatherineI]

I recently put this book on a "hold" at my local library and I'm waiting for them to tell me it's ready for pick up.

I've heard nothing but good things about this book. Is it true it does away with the whole "Pack" mentality, reiterating that while Dogs once, long ago, descended from Wolves, they are NOT wolves and therefore do not neccesarily following the heirarchy of Alpha Male, Alpha Female, Pack Leader, Dominance, etc.?

[grizzle]

Katherine... This is a great book and I won't speak for others on how they interpreted her thoughts. Wolf pack behavior and domesticated dog pack behavior are some what alike but not just the same by any means. I think this is what she means but it's been a lot of years since I read it. We took the wild out of dogs many years ago. Not to say they can not return to it given the chance. They now depend on humans to much and have lost much of there roots as far as temperament and struggle for survival go's. You'll just have to read it and see what you think. You won't be sorry you got it though. Have fun and let us know what YOU think. I think pack behavior varies a lot between breeds. Just my opinion.

[CerbiesMom]

I've finished, I really enjoyed it. It made me think about what I'm physically doing with my body and face when I'm talking to / training my dogs. I really liked it. I liked the chapter about starting off saying sit, then it proceeds to screaming sit. Funny stuff.

[mothergrizzly60]

I think it is a great book and should be mandatory reading before getting a dog:p All of her titles are good. I also recommend Pat Miller, Jean Donaldson, Karen Pryor, Ian Dunbar DVM, Paul Owens, Victoria Stilwell, Turid Rugaas, Linda Tellington-Jones, and Sheila Booth (to name just a few) to my clients.

[TTBALLMOM]

I've finished, I really enjoyed it. It made me think about what I'm physically doing with my body and face when I'm talking to / training my dogs. I really liked it. I liked the chapter about starting off saying sit, then it proceeds to screaming sit. Funny stuff.
So funny. I agree.. My Neice (who has Toto's brother) makes fun of me as I tried to explain some of her thoughts concernig the body language and facial expressions. My Neice actually laughs her head off at me. She will put a big smile on her face :D and say to Toto "Are we having a good day" then she'll furrow her eyebrows and frown :( and say "or a bad day"
She can laugh all she wants, but Toto listens to me, and understands my expressions. I know he does. The sitting scream part is also funny, but so true. My Neices husband will shout at their dog (Teddy) "get out of the kictchen" "move" "come on Teddy out of the way" etc. guess what? Teddy thinks he's either playing with him, or just yelling for some unknown reason. Teddy never understands what all those words mean, so he never leaves the kitchen. Toto, on the otherhand. I just point and say "out" and he may protest with a whimper but he'll back out of the kitchen.
I'm getting ready to start her other book For The Love of The Dog (I think thats the title)

[TTBALLMOM]

I think it is a great book and should be mandatory reading before getting a dog:p All of her titles are good. I also recommend Pat Miller, Jean Donaldson, Karen Pryor, Ian Dunbar DVM, Paul Owens, Victoria Stilwell, Turid Rugaas, Linda Tellington-Jones, and Sheila Booth (to name just a few) to my clients.

Thanks so much for the tips. I will check them out. Are you a trainer?

[zorasdad]

This is a great book I read it and another by the author. I learned alot had have improved my relationship with my dogs, the ones i sit and train.