Puppy/dog Advice Books

[HeavyPaws]

I went to Borders today, because I like to cruise the dog books, see what I can find.

I picked out a book on first-time puppy owning, a book on puppy training and training extensions into adult life, and a book on training a puppy for dog sports. I'm not getting a puppy anytime soon, but I like learning new things, and puppy dog sport training is one of those things.

The first two books were so disgusting I half had a mind to rip them to shreds or poke them under the book shelves so nobody would happen upon them and take their advice.

First book: Had a section on breeds with information about each one.

I skipped right to the Great Dane, it says that steep stairs are perfectly ok to run your puppy up, as they build up the joints and help the dog grow into it's tall frame.

I'm sorry, that just sounds stupid as hell.

The page before it was on the Dobermann, so I read it coz the pup in the picture was all like "Love me!". A passage said they have a rightful reputation as vicious biters, and the author even said don't get a male, as they're the ones that grow up to be biters, but females are ok. THEN the ridiculous moron said that Dobermanns were the first designer breed, and shows that designer dogs can become a sturdy breed, and it had a little humour-fail with "But we can expect much better things from a labradoodle than a Dobermann!" .

It had a long section dedicated to how fantastic cross breds were, "breed" profiles on the Maltidoodle, Labradoodle, Cavoodle, Puggle, Goldenweiler, etc etc, with actual statistics saying how this or that breed is exactly this high, weighs this much, has this coat or this set or ears and I was like "RUBBISH!". When breeding designer mutts, you have no idea what the puppies will turn out to be like. The pups from two different breeds do not combine to make a flawlessly followed breed standard.

And it had the usual section of "research shows that designer dogs are better than purebreds. They cost less, don't shed, eat less, have less energy, are tempermentally sound, live longer, are easier to train, have no genetic diseases and are far more intelligent"

What?

What?!

WHAT?!

Then it said my ultimate atrocity, that pet shops aren't "that bad" and "in this modern world, don't source their pups from anything but the highest quality breeders" and are "a better option cost wise and let you past the snobbish world of the pure-bred"

I stopped reading that one and shoved it binder-first into the bottom shelf of the Humour section.

Judge that action as you will, but I'm not having that thing on the dog shelves where poor naive puppy owners can buy it.

Second book:

Huge page on how socialisation is over-rated and all your puppy needs to see for the first eight weeks home is you, and you alone, and when it finally meets new people it shouldn't learn that they're fun treat machines if it behaves, but are instead dangerous, and the puppy should use you as it's replacement mother and hide behind you, and sharp corrections should be given if it behaves with friendliness towards anyone else.

Oh, yeah, I'm seeing how that would totally work for a bull breed puppy

This one went binder-first into the computer section.

My god, people actually read these books, and take their advice! Do authors now just ask their bogan mates for dog advice, and put it into a book?

And these authors both had 'DR.' before their names. Where did they get their qualifications? Out of a cornflake box?!

I'm not a vet, a trainer, a breeder, a canine specialist or anything important, but I knew more than these two bumbling idiots.

I'm in half a mind to write a book myself with the help of people who know dogs, not "DR's" with no more idea of dog training than a retarded furseal does.

Can I just let out a huge, resounding 'GRRRR'?!

[Bully]

OMG!!!

I think you should have chucked them in a trash can!

What a load of rubbish.

Yes, I've been known to hide those sorts of books too, at both the library and book stores

[lovemesideways]

I went to Borders today, because I like to cruise the dog books, see what I can find.

I picked out a book on first-time puppy owning, a book on puppy training and training extensions into adult life, and a book on training a puppy for dog sports. I'm not getting a puppy anytime soon, but I like learning new things, and puppy dog sport training is one of those things.

The first two books were so disgusting I half had a mind to rip them to shreds or poke them under the book shelves so nobody would happen upon them and take their advice.

First book: Had a section on breeds with information about each one.

I skipped right to the Great Dane, it says that steep stairs are perfectly ok to run your puppy up, as they build up the joints and help the dog grow into it's tall frame.

I'm sorry, that just sounds stupid as hell.

The page before it was on the Dobermann, so I read it coz the pup in the picture was all like "Love me!". A passage said they have a rightful reputation as vicious biters, and the author even said don't get a male, as they're the ones that grow up to be biters, but females are ok. THEN the ridiculous moron said that Dobermanns were the first designer breed, and shows that designer dogs can become a sturdy breed, and it had a little humour-fail with "But we can expect much better things from a labradoodle than a Dobermann!" .

It had a long section dedicated to how fantastic cross breds were, "breed" profiles on the Maltidoodle, Labradoodle, Cavoodle, Puggle, Goldenweiler, etc etc, with actual statistics saying how this or that breed is exactly this high, weighs this much, has this coat or this set or ears and I was like "RUBBISH!". When breeding designer mutts, you have no idea what the puppies will turn out to be like. The pups from two different breeds do not combine to make a flawlessly followed breed standard.

And it had the usual section of "research shows that designer dogs are better than purebreds. They cost less, don't shed, eat less, have less energy, are tempermentally sound, live longer, are easier to train, have no genetic diseases and are far more intelligent"

What?

What?!

WHAT?!

Then it said my ultimate atrocity, that pet shops aren't "that bad" and "in this modern world, don't source their pups from anything but the highest quality breeders" and are "a better option cost wise and let you past the snobbish world of the pure-bred"

I stopped reading that one and shoved it binder-first into the bottom shelf of the Humour section.

Judge that action as you will, but I'm not having that thing on the dog shelves where poor naive puppy owners can buy it.

Second book:

Huge page on how socialisation is over-rated and all your puppy needs to see for the first eight weeks home is you, and you alone, and when it finally meets new people it shouldn't learn that they're fun treat machines if it behaves, but are instead dangerous, and the puppy should use you as it's replacement mother and hide behind you, and sharp corrections should be given if it behaves with friendliness towards anyone else.

Oh, yeah, I'm seeing how that would totally work for a bull breed puppy

This one went binder-first into the computer section.

My god, people actually read these books, and take their advice! Do authors now just ask their bogan mates for dog advice, and put it into a book?

And these authors both had 'DR.' before their names. Where did they get their qualifications? Out of a cornflake box?!

I'm not a vet, a trainer, a breeder, a canine specialist or anything important, but I knew more than these two bumbling idiots.

I'm in half a mind to write a book myself with the help of people who know dogs, not "DR's" with no more idea of dog training than a retarded furseal does.

Can I just let out a huge, resounding 'GRRRR'?!

Last time I went to borders I did exactly the same thing. They had some excellent books there also, but the elaborate tripe on puppy training and over priced mutts was quickly shoved amongst different sections.

[jules1]

The page before it was on the Dobermann, so I read it coz the pup in the picture was all like "Love me!". A passage said they have a rightful reputation as vicious biters, and the author even said don't get a male, as they're the ones that grow up to be biters, but females are ok. THEN the ridiculous moron said that Dobermanns were the first designer breed, and shows that designer dogs can become a sturdy breed, and it had a little humour-fail with "But we can expect much better things from a labradoodle than a Dobermann!" .

As a 3 time dobermann owner (and general dog-lover), I would like to thank you HeavyPaws for putting that book out of sight!

I get so sick and tired of ignorant people making assumptions about any breed of dog - "all bull terriers are vicious/dobermanns and rottweillers are dangerous and should only be usd for guard dogs/small dogs never bite!!" etc etc

You wouldn't believe how many people watch my beautiful 5 month old dobermann puppy very carefully when we are at the beach etc, just in case he attacks them or their dog - have had a few people pick up their small dogs or even take a wide berth with their bigger dogs when they see my "vicious dobermann" coming towards them (on his lead) when all he wants to do is say Hello and be friendly.

Makes my blood boil

Sorry, rant over - got a bit carried away there - it's a subject that never fails to get me going!

[lanabanana]

at those books.

I am by no means an expert but those are hilarious,....you should have put them in fiction section

[lovemesideways]

at those books.

I am by no means an expert but those are hilarious,.... you should have put them in fiction section

I hadn't thought of that...

Edited June 5, 2010 by lovemesideways

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I'm currently reading "a modern dog's life" by Paul McGreevy.

Dunno if it is in Borders, given the guy works at some uni in NSW not some TV studio in the USA.

Has some good stuff about how dogs operate and why, and how to train (using positive methods) and why he hates check/choke chains.

And he's got three cattle dogs (or variations on that theme) so I'm already biased.

Also like this site.

http://www.dogstardaily.com

Especially the digital dog training book

[Bully]

I'm currently reading "a modern dog's life" by Paul McGreevy.

Dunno if it is in Borders, given the guy works at some uni in NSW not some TV studio in the USA.

Has some good stuff about how dogs operate and why, and how to train (using positive methods) and why he hates check/choke chains.

And he's got three cattle dogs (or variations on that theme) so I'm already biased.

Also like this site.

http://www.dogstardaily.com

Especially the digital dog training book

Anything by Dr Ian Dunbar is brilliant IMO

[HeavyPaws]

You wouldn't believe how many people watch my beautiful 5 month old dobermann puppy very carefully when we are at the beach etc, just in case he attacks them or their dog - have had a few people pick up their small dogs or even take a wide berth with their bigger dogs when they see my "vicious dobermann" coming towards them (on his lead) when all he wants to do is say Hello and be friendly.

But he's a vicious MALE dobie! They should be erecting fortifications around the beach to keep out those horrid, killer, bitey male dobies.

It's in their genes, dont'cha know?

[OSoSwift]

The page before it was on the Dobermann, so I read it coz the pup in the picture was all like "Love me!". A passage said they have a rightful reputation as vicious biters, and the author even said don't get a male, as they're the ones that grow up to be biters, but females are ok. THEN the ridiculous moron said that Dobermanns were the first designer breed, and shows that designer dogs can become a sturdy breed, and it had a little humour-fail with "But we can expect much better things from a labradoodle than a Dobermann!" .

As a 3 time dobermann owner (and general dog-lover), I would like to thank you HeavyPaws for putting that book out of sight! :D

I get so sick and tired of ignorant people making assumptions about any breed of dog - "all bull terriers are vicious/dobermanns and rottweillers are dangerous and should only be usd for guard dogs/small dogs never bite!!" etc etc

You wouldn't believe how many people watch my beautiful 5 month old dobermann puppy very carefully when we are at the beach etc, just in case he attacks them or their dog - have had a few people pick up their small dogs or even take a wide berth with their bigger dogs when they see my "vicious dobermann" coming towards them (on his lead) when all he wants to do is say Hello and be friendly.

Makes my blood boil

Sorry, rant over - got a bit carried away there - it's a subject that never fails to get me going! ;)

A a 3 time Dobe owner as well - yep you do get sick of it.

WHen I had my brown male though many people thought he was a GSP or a WEIM. They would be giving him a big love up and I would say no he's a Dobe and they would visible shrink back. I always then asked them if they had felt threatened by him in any way? The answer was well no, so I then had a chance to educate. Bit harder when they are black though. I have had many a person cross the road so they didn't have to wallk past my CDX Dobe, who couldn't have cared if they were there or not.

My Dobe was attacked by more jack Russels (many many of them down here, just ablout all BYB) with idiot owners than anything else. But no my Dobe was the vicious one!

Luckily we don't seem to have those types of puppy raising books in our Bookshop, we have a small selection of books and then you have to order in others. The few we have seem to be okay.

[jules1]

The page before it was on the Dobermann, so I read it coz the pup in the picture was all like "Love me!". A passage said they have a rightful reputation as vicious biters, and the author even said don't get a male, as they're the ones that grow up to be biters, but females are ok. THEN the ridiculous moron said that Dobermanns were the first designer breed, and shows that designer dogs can become a sturdy breed, and it had a little humour-fail with "But we can expect much better things from a labradoodle than a Dobermann!" .

As a 3 time dobermann owner (and general dog-lover), I would like to thank you HeavyPaws for putting that book out of sight! :D

I get so sick and tired of ignorant people making assumptions about any breed of dog - "all bull terriers are vicious/dobermanns and rottweillers are dangerous and should only be usd for guard dogs/small dogs never bite!!" etc etc

You wouldn't believe how many people watch my beautiful 5 month old dobermann puppy very carefully when we are at the beach etc, just in case he attacks them or their dog - have had a few people pick up their small dogs or even take a wide berth with their bigger dogs when they see my "vicious dobermann" coming towards them (on his lead) when all he wants to do is say Hello and be friendly.

Makes my blood boil

Sorry, rant over - got a bit carried away there - it's a subject that never fails to get me going! ;)

A a 3 time Dobe owner as well - yep you do get sick of it.

WHen I had my brown male though many people thought he was a GSP or a WEIM. They would be giving him a big love up and I would say no he's a Dobe and they would visible shrink back. I always then asked them if they had felt threatened by him in any way? The answer was well no, so I then had a chance to educate. Bit harder when they are black though. I have had many a person cross the road so they didn't have to wallk past my CDX Dobe, who couldn't have cared if they were there or not.

My Dobe was attacked by more jack Russels (many many of them down here, just ablout all BYB) with idiot owners than anything else. But no my Dobe was the vicious one!

Luckily we don't seem to have those types of puppy raising books in our Bookshop, we have a small selection of books and then you have to order in others. The few we have seem to be okay.

It is very sad that Dobes have this very undeserved stigma (and rotties/bull terriers of any sort - my parents always had staffies and had similar problems). I actually feel grateful if anyone stops to pat him or ask about him! How sad....for him - he's a lovely friendly puppy.

I remember talking to a dog behaviourist/psychologist that a friend was using many years ago who thought dobes were great dogs, much more predictable and family orientated than a lot of other breeds. She prided herself in being able to 'fix' any dog no matter what the problem/breed, and she specialised in aggressive dogs. She said there had only been one dog in over 30 years that she had strongly recommended be PTS due to it being too vicious and no amount of training seemed to do anything - and it was a black labrador!! ;) Now who would have guessed that? (I love labradors by the way - this was obviously just a one-off!) ;)

[Bully]

You wouldn't believe how many people watch my beautiful 5 month old dobermann puppy very carefully when we are at the beach etc, just in case he attacks them or their dog - have had a few people pick up their small dogs or even take a wide berth with their bigger dogs when they see my "vicious dobermann" coming towards them (on his lead) when all he wants to do is say Hello and be friendly.

But he's a vicious MALE dobie! They should be erecting fortifications around the beach to keep out those horrid, killer, bitey male dobies.

It's in their genes, dont'cha know?

And I've been informed by very

know it all

knowledgeable public that Pele (Bull Terrier) has lock-jaw. Ya learn something new every day BTW Pele is trialling in Open towards her CDX title Not bad for a "vicious, killer" Bull Terrier