Teach Your Dog to Behave : Simple Solutions to over 300 Common Dog Behavior Problems from A to Z

An encyclopedia to common canine problems provides dog owners with an A to Z reference to everything from dealing with incessant barking to reading body language. By the author of Dog Training by Bash. 25,000 first printing. National ad/promo.

You might expect a second book to build on or enlarge the contents of an author's first, but in this case, you'd be wrong. Here Dibra, so-called Dog Trainer to the Stars, and his writing partner Rudolph extract the training principles from their Dog Training by Bash , then recast the remaining information in alphabetically ordered entries about canine behavior, problems and solutions. While Dibra and Randolph acknowledge that only a steady obedience program will address the causes of most doggy depredations, they accommodate those pressed for time by offering stopgap remedies as well as more complex "cures." For example, if your dog enjoys grabbing the toilet paper and dragging it around the house ("Toilet-Paper Unrolling"), you can either leave the bathroom door closed or set up a nasty surprise to teach him to keep his paws off. The book's alphabetical organization, however, fails to set forth fundamental laws of obedience training--e.g., how do you teach a dog a new command?--and, assuming a standard index, seems completely unnecessary. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Dibra, a noted celebrity dog trainer, has compiled a handy, readable problem-solving guide for dog owners. Behavior problems are alphabetically arranged, with extensive cross references, and the trainer provides examples, diagnoses the situation, and recommends corrective strategies. This is a useful companion title to his earlier work, Dog Training by Bash ( LJ 1/91), although libraries already owning Job Michael Evans's People, Pooches and Problems ( LJ 1/91) or Carol Benjamin's Dog Problems (Howell, 1989) may decide to skip it. But public library patrons will like the easily accessible format, and demand from Dibra's fans, especially in the New York area, will certainly be strong.
- Jennifer King, Monmouth Cty. Lib., Marlboro, N.J.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.