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How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond by Cesar Millan, Melissa Jo Peltier
kimberly_b's review against another edition
3.0
We just got a new puppy, so I thought this would be a good book to read since it's been a while since we've had one. Well, I can say that overall I liked the book, but I also found it lacking in detail in certain parts, mainly during the discussion of common problems. For instance, I was interested in his solution for a biting/nipping dog (our puppy keeps playfully biting the kids), but his solution wasn't very in-depth, nor has it worked. It remains to be seen how his techniques will work with our puppy, but I'll also be reading other books and educating myself on other training philosophies. I do really like his main mantra of exercise, discipline, then affection--dogs need to be exercised and if they have excess energy they aren't likely to behave the way you want them to.
daffodill37's review against another edition
(Audio)
I started this book knowing I'd take it with a grain of salt based off other reviews. There wasn't anything particularly controversial in this book. This is a good book to read when you're contemplating adopting a new puppy. It gives you some good food for thought. I wouldn't take it as some sort of puppy bible, by any means.
The bottom line of this book is that dogs, in general, and specifically our new baby, communicate in much different ways than humans do. This is a big mistake, or perhaps better put, common misunderstanding for people when they're trying to train their dog. Cesar gives some tips that have worked well for him on how to communicate with pups in a way that's more similar to dog communication. By setting up good communication between dog and human when they're little, it will improve your relationship with them throughout their life.
I started this book knowing I'd take it with a grain of salt based off other reviews. There wasn't anything particularly controversial in this book. This is a good book to read when you're contemplating adopting a new puppy. It gives you some good food for thought. I wouldn't take it as some sort of puppy bible, by any means.
The bottom line of this book is that dogs, in general, and specifically our new baby, communicate in much different ways than humans do. This is a big mistake, or perhaps better put, common misunderstanding for people when they're trying to train their dog. Cesar gives some tips that have worked well for him on how to communicate with pups in a way that's more similar to dog communication. By setting up good communication between dog and human when they're little, it will improve your relationship with them throughout their life.
kristidurbs's review against another edition
3.0
A great resource for bringing a puppy into your family and training it correctly. I really enjoy Cesar Millan's approach, and have already experienced success with many of his tips regarding crate training and communicating using their "nose-eyes-ears" -- in that order. Our puppy is much more receptive to eye contact and body language than verbal cues. I would definitely read more by Cesar Millan on raising dogs.
cdlindwall's review against another edition
3.0
This book makes me want to get a puppy so badly. Like, so so badly. I'm hoping to move into a pet-friendly apartment next year and maybe get a dog that I can take on hikes with me.
Cesar Milan's love for dogs is obvious and infectious. My favorite part about his books and tv show in general is that his skill and confidence makes me feel confident, as well. There are definitely a lot of tips in this book, although most of his advice boils down more to overall mantras and less to step-by-step guides. Example: Cesar would say, "Always have calm-assertive energy," rather than "First, have your dog sit." So, if you are looking for a lot more specific instruction on certain tasks, this really isn't the book for you. This is more of a general guidebook on how to be a pack leader and how to stop basic problems that arise with puppies/adolescent dogs.
My issue with this book is that I think Cesar overestimates how well the dog will respond to someone's "energy" who hasn't had a ton of experience being "in tune" with animal behavior.
For example, when a dog has an item that he should not have and does not want to give it back to his owner, the owner should look at the dog authoritatively, "get in his space," look at the object, be firm and calm, and wait for the dog to give it back. That's great advice, but I don't think my dog would really "get" that from me. It may work the first time for The Dog Whisperer, but I would probably need a lot of experience before something as simple as that would completely solve the problem. His advice is similarly one-dimensional on other topics such as barking and aggression. I feel like sometimes energy (or, rather, my energy) wouldn't be effective enough and I need more advice than just that.
But overall, I think Cesar Milan has a fairly unique and wonderful strategy when it comes to molding well-behaved, balanced dogs. I can't wait to get a puppy soon and try out some of these tactics so I can have a wonderful hiking buddy.
Cesar Milan's love for dogs is obvious and infectious. My favorite part about his books and tv show in general is that his skill and confidence makes me feel confident, as well. There are definitely a lot of tips in this book, although most of his advice boils down more to overall mantras and less to step-by-step guides. Example: Cesar would say, "Always have calm-assertive energy," rather than "First, have your dog sit." So, if you are looking for a lot more specific instruction on certain tasks, this really isn't the book for you. This is more of a general guidebook on how to be a pack leader and how to stop basic problems that arise with puppies/adolescent dogs.
My issue with this book is that I think Cesar overestimates how well the dog will respond to someone's "energy" who hasn't had a ton of experience being "in tune" with animal behavior.
For example, when a dog has an item that he should not have and does not want to give it back to his owner, the owner should look at the dog authoritatively, "get in his space," look at the object, be firm and calm, and wait for the dog to give it back. That's great advice, but I don't think my dog would really "get" that from me. It may work the first time for The Dog Whisperer, but I would probably need a lot of experience before something as simple as that would completely solve the problem. His advice is similarly one-dimensional on other topics such as barking and aggression. I feel like sometimes energy (or, rather, my energy) wouldn't be effective enough and I need more advice than just that.
But overall, I think Cesar Milan has a fairly unique and wonderful strategy when it comes to molding well-behaved, balanced dogs. I can't wait to get a puppy soon and try out some of these tactics so I can have a wonderful hiking buddy.
melanieapril's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book plus half of Cesar's Rules with a crazed puppy squirming in my lap, and I can't say I recommend it. Cesar doles out a lot of the same practical advice as other dog trainers, but the "science" he offers up is pretty much fantasy. Plus, he puts a lot of pressure on dog owners to always be "calm and assertive," and since I am NOT a calm person, this advice really freaked me out (unnecessarily as it turns out). But at least this book a) was available immediately from the library in digital form and b) helped me pretend I had some control over the puppy-situation.
stephgrant's review against another edition
5.0
Super clear and full of great tips on human-dog relationships. I can't wait to apply what I learned with my future pup!