Commentary/review

This is a successfully produced audio handbook for dog training. It is not easy to make an audio handbook. However, I can say it is successful because I used this audiobook as a handbook, with positive results.

This, in my opinion, was achieved by following these rules: (1) there is a clear, even rigid structure of the contents (the training guide is dry and rigid while the additional guidance and side remarks are relegated to the last chapters), (2) lector has a very pleasant voice and very appealing (and non-patronizing) approach to performance – this is important as you will be listening some sections of the audiobook several times, (3) sentences in the course section are short and contain only the most relevant data (this means that you will absolutely need to listen to these parts several times in order to understand why every sentence is important; this is also why I rate the book as “Very long”), (4) last but not least, the book is written by an accomplished expert.

Of course, this book irritated me many times but this is only to be expected. Learning how to train your dog is a complicated process, necessitating learning on the part of the trainer and of the dog, thus constantly changing. This is why I appreciated the book also giving expert advice on how to always have fun with the dog, be gentle and avoid becoming too ambitious. I recommend this book – and not other books I tried for this purpose – for this very reason.

It must be added, however, that the book is not breed-specific. If you have or plan a dog with strong traits, such as a talent for hunting, you will need to supplement your training with data from other, possibly breed-specific, sources. My dog did not react too well to a clicker and prefers natural, spoken praise (which of course is allowed in the positive dog training method). Also, I do not encourage my dog to constantly sit as I find it rather unnatural. Yet all of the behavioral observations in the book are very valuable and most of them will make your personal dog training program a great deal better.

I must also emphasize – this book is fantastic in many ways thanks to the lector, Susan Boyce.

Lovely cover, showing a puppy attentively listening to trainer (you can tell). Beautiful composition and very clear letters, the cover took some effort and careful attention.

Cover Photo by paje victoria on Unsplash