Monday, June 6, 2011

Calling all dogs! Great news fur us - bad news fur Cesar Milan

Scout 'n Freyja say: Calling all dogs! Go tell your human'beans to go to the book store or buy for their Kindle this book. It is a good one!

How what we understood about dogs was very wrong

Salon, Kelly Lauerman (Click on the Salon link to read a great author interview) It's news that should shock and delight dog owners, scolded for decades by trainers and dog whisperers that they must relentlessly assert their dominance over their dogs: Yes, it's perfectly acceptable to let Fido sleep in your bed.

You can also let him enter a room before you, and you can let him win at a game of tug of war, all without fearing that you will somehow signal that you are the submissive one and he is in charge. Contrary to long-cherished theories, dogs aren't competing with us for position in the pack, but are largely performing for our approval. And that -- no matter what the Cesar Millans of the world would have you believe -- is because much of what we've been led to be believe about dogs' hard-wired behavior has been totally wrong.

In his densely illuminating new book, "Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet," John Bradshaw explains how our understanding has been skewed by deeply flawed research, and exploited by a sensationalized media. In place of the rigid, often violent, alpha-led wolf societies we once believed produced the modern dog were actually cooperative, familial groups. And in place of the choke-chain school of negative reinforcement should be a training program based primarily on the positive.

National Canine Cancer Foundation

17 comments:

booahboo said...

Positive reinforcements do work.. be it for pets or children or any human for that matter.

I'm gonna go check out this book. Thanks for telling us :)

Angus said...

Would think the majority of dog owners would agree with his findings 200 % . A repeated treat is the greatest educational tool !
I'm off to order it on Amazon .

Two French Bulldogs said...

We will tell mom to check it out
Benny & Lily

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

{SIGH}... FINALLY the VOICE OF REASON!!! My mom and I (Frankie Furter) have NEVER been a Fan of C.M.. WE always thought he MEANS well... butt goes about thingys the Wrong WAY.
THANKS fur tellin us about this book!! I hope the AUTHOR gets a TV show!!!!

Oskar said...

Wow this sounds like a pawsome book. We are writing down the title!

Nubbin wiggles,
Oskar

Unknown said...

Every review I have read about this book has raved about it. I can credit Cesar with his very basic mantra - exercise, discipline and affection; too many dogs do not get enough exercise nor training. However, I have never been able to wrap my mind around the dominance theory thing; it didn't ring true with any but one dog in my rescue - and that dog was a killer :(. I will check my library for this book and if they do not have it, I will suggest it. Thank you! Happy woofs from the Silverwalk pack.

rottrover said...

While our mom is a huge Cesar fan who doesn't equate leadership with dominance, WE think that humans need all the good resources they can get in order to give us dogs the best possible lives! Thanks for sharing this resource!!

-Gizmo, Bart and Ruby

JacksDad said...

I saw that book. I like his thinking about pawsitive reinforcement!

Molly the Airedale said...

Our mom is jotting down the title and author. This sounds like a winner for sure! Thanks, guys!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

houndstooth said...

I'll have to see if it's available on the nook, too! Thanks for the tip!

Ruby Rose and the Big Little Angels 3 said...

We really try to avoid giving advice about dog rearing since our two dogs combined weigh 12 pounds and controlling dogs is a lot easier when you can just pick them up. But I do not believe in making dogs submissive and will check out this book. Is there any book out there that can give me positive re-enforcement.

Lorenza said...

I knew it was not wrong to share the big bed with my mom!
Thanks for telling us about this book!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Dear Scout and Freyja

Thank you for telling me about this book.
I always did sleep in the bed under the blankys.. and I always did all the "wrong stuff"
Cesar would think I was a bad puggy.. but now this book might give hope to me and many others
love
tweedles

White Dog Blog said...

Totally timely for our family! We have long believed that it is through cooperatin and family bonding that our Pack will succeed. Thanks for the review, we are off to purchase!

Maxmom said...

Dear Mimi

Thank you for a thought provoking blogpost. Whilst I haven't read this book, I do have many thoughts around the issue. Here are some of them:

My immediate reaction is:
"Kindness evokes kindness.",
"Tolerance affirms patience.",
"Education promotes fairness"

As with each living creature, each dog is different. No two dogs are the same. It is only their species which categorises them, and make scientists believe that the answers to training are simple and 'collective'.

Surely our task, as dog owners is:
"To teach your individual dogs, to be the best dog they are meant to be, in our packs/households"?

But in doing this, let's do it with thought, understanding, patience, tolerance, kindness, self-control, fairness and love.

It goes without say that, if we are to live with congruent dogs, we need to attempt to understand them - their abilities, their weaknesses, their aches, pains, fears, insecurities, needs, etc, etc.

And in doing this, to remember that...
NO CREATURE WANTS TO LIVE UNDER THREAT!

Good food, good veterinary care, providing apt learning opportunities and challenges, offering understanding, patience, exercise and care...are all things which breed security in our canine companions.
Added to this, only positive reinforcement will effectively direct their development.

I can only say..."Ditto"

Sending lotsaluv
MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

the booker man said...

thanks for the book review!
i don't care what anyone says, there's nothing like having a warm pup cuddled up beside you in bed. :)

the booker man and asa's mama

♥Mona + Prissy + Angel Weenie♥ said...

Mommy says she gotta go get that book. Mommy agrees with the Booker Man's MOM.

{{{huggies}}}....Mona & Weenie