Description

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Finally: A dog training book that makes sense—for both dogs and humans—using positive reinforcement techniques based on animal behavioral science.

For generations, celebrity trainers have preached that dog owners must "dominate" dogs and have criticized people for daring to treat pets with affection.

How To Train Your Dog with Love + Science presents a modern and science-based approach to dog training, showing how behavior can be changed without coercion and force. Annie Grossman, a journalist-turned-dog trainer, breaks down what positive reinforcement actually is and makes the case that "good dog training" may even be a window into understanding ourselves.

Grossman offers building-block exercises and tips on how to train effectively using the reward-based methods she's honed over the last decade with clients at her Manhattan training center, School For The Dogs. Whether you've just brought a new dog into your home or you're wanting to teach an old one new tricks, How to Train Your Dog with Love + Science will help you consider what behaviors you want and help you to achieve your goals using techniques rooted in the science of behavior.

Woven into this lively how-to guide is the century-long history of positive reinforcement training, from Pavlov's dogs and Skinner's rats to today's apartment-dwelling dogs using Wifi-enabled devices.

By employing the easy-to-understand techniques laid out in this book, you will be able to train your dog to live confidently, comfortably, and happily in your world.

Praise For…

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"Dog training has undergone significant changes in the recent past. After many decades of resistance, a large part of the training community has learned about and has accepted the long-established scientific principles of learning as well as the training techniques based on them. This happened in the interest of dog welfare and the human-dog relationship. However, outdated and often cruel techniques still have their defenders, and are made popular by ‘experts’ in books and especially on television. Fortunately, there are knowledgeable and eloquent authors like Annie Grossman, who can explain the science and effective, humane procedures understandably and convincingly to any dog lover. This is a very worthwhile read for anybody having to do with dogs." — Andrew Luescher, DVM, PhD, DACVB, Prof. emeritus, Purdue University, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

"Every rescue and shelter should be giving away copies of this book. The easy-to-consume information about the science of learning is combined with relatable and interesting examples from Annie’s own experience living with dogs. It’s a dog training book, yes, but it is also a book that shines a light on the evolution of our own consciousness, and how it reinvents the world we live in—a world where our success and strength are rooted in our compassion and our knowledge." — Debbie Jacobs, CPDT-KA, RBT, author of A Guide to Living With & Training a Fearful Dog and Does My Dog Need Prozac?

"Annie and School For The Dogs taught my dogs, but mostly taught me. The school is really School For The Dogs and the People Who Love Them, and it is always the most cheerful place to go. Annie is an astonishingly good trainer who leads with compassion, and this book breaks down how that compassion and understanding unlocks behavior modification. You see dogs and people in sync, learning. You can palpably feel the love and see the physical results. If dogs play a significant role in your life, you need this book." — Maureen Johnson, #1 New York Times bestselling author, human companion of School For The Dogs alumna Zelda and Dexy

"Using the latest science and wonderful stories, Annie Grossman shows us how to allow dogs to express as much of their dogness as possible and have satisfying dog-appropriate lives without forcing them to do things they’d rather not do. When dogs feel safe and trust us, it’s a win-win for all—what could be better?" — Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., author of Dogs Demystified and The Emotional Lives of Animals

"From Darwin to Pavlov and beyond, this is the best dog training book I’ve ever read—in fact, if I wrote a dog training book, I’d want it to be this one." — Seth Godin, New York Times bestselling author of This Is Marketing and Purple Cow

"This is the perfect book for people who want to learn positive dog training methods. The science is explained in an easy-to-understand way." — Temple Grandin, New York Times bestselling author of Animals Make Us Human

"A thrilling read! I love the way Annie addresses her readers with straight-talk: delivering practical, no-nonsense information in a way that everyone can understand and use. There is a humor and a realness in her writing that I interpret as coming from her many years of running School For The Dogs in a place like New York City. This book will hold a unique place in my library." — Ken Ramirez, Executive VP Karen Pryor Clicker Training, author of The Eye of The Trainer: Animal Training, Transformation, and Trust

"In this fun and fascinating book, Annie Grossman unpacks the mysteries of dog training in a loving, compassionate approach that will leave you and your dog with bounces in your steps and smiles on your faces." — Clive Wynne, PhD, director of Arizona State University’s Canine Science Collaboratory, author of Dog is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You and Do Animals Think?