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1st out of 42 books
—
22 voters
Don't Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training
by
Karen Pryor
"Whatever the task, whether keeping a four-year-old quiet in public, housebreaking a puppy, coaching a team, or memorizing a poem, it will go fast, and better, and be more fun, if you know how to use reinforcement."Karen Pryor.
Now Karen Pryor clearly explains the underlying principles of behavioral training and through numerous fascinating examples reveals how this art ca...more
Now Karen Pryor clearly explains the underlying principles of behavioral training and through numerous fascinating examples reveals how this art ca...more
Paperback, 202 pages
Published
November 1st 2006
by Ringpress Books
(first published 1984)
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Забавная книга об искусных методах манипуляции окружающими, у которой есть три больших недостатка (начну с недостатков, а потом сконцентрируюсь на достоинствах): 1) ужасный перевод на русский 2) американский популизм, сквозь который на каждом шагу приходится прорываться 3) отсутствие защиты от дурака, который пойдёт и будет делать “по букварю” всё так, как в ней описано.
Наибольшую пользу от этой книги можно получить, если любить людей и исходить из всленского блага. Карен, увы, ничего не пишет н...more
Наибольшую пользу от этой книги можно получить, если любить людей и исходить из всленского блага. Карен, увы, ничего не пишет н...more
On my recent, wonderful trip to Sacramento, I was fortunate in learning many new things and meeting many fabulous new people. One of those folks was a dear friend of Kyrana’s, named Laurel, who is an educator, currently working on a graduate degree in counseling. She is a delightful woman I am now proud to know, and I enjoyed many a thought-provoking conversation with her throughout the week, on a number of different subjects.
One of the books she was reading (it turned out it was Kyrana’s copy o...more
One of the books she was reading (it turned out it was Kyrana’s copy o...more
I love Karen's cool, observant mind, and her clear, clean, evocative writing. What she did for me is show a new way to communicate with animals, taking out both the frustration and the mumbo-jumbo. Karen Pryor is the pioneer of clicker training, and with clicker training there are very few limits as to what you can teach a fellow-being, up and down the food chain. Basically, you watch for behavior you like, or the smallest beginnings of that behavior, give an acoustic signal, and then give a del...more
So I picked this up after going to Clicker Expo, Karen Pryor's clicking training seminar thinking I really should read this. I've read other books about shaping and have been clicker training for a while. I thought it might be a bit sciency and dry but the information would be well worth it. I was so wrong!
The book was amazingly informative, interesting and it is filled with little anecdotes and practical applications that make it really fun to read. This might be one of the fastest nonfiction...more
The book was amazingly informative, interesting and it is filled with little anecdotes and practical applications that make it really fun to read. This might be one of the fastest nonfiction...more
I have a well worn copy from the 80s, and my understanding is that there is a newer edition. I am not sure if there is any difference, but I enjoyed this a lot. What I really found interesting is that very little of the book has to do directly with "dog training". It is more about using positive reinforcement and shaping to get the behaviors you want out of any living and thinking organism. I tried this with my daughter. Some of Karen's examples come from having children.
Me: "Meredith can you pl...more
Me: "Meredith can you pl...more
I picked up this book on a recommendation. And I can't say I regret it!
I've taken psychology classes before in college, so I've come across the ideas of B.F. Skinner. However, never have I truly thought about how deep his concepts of reinforcement goes. The most fascinating thing about this book was the fact that the term 'reinforcement' was taken out of the labs and placed directly in the context of the real world. Sure, Pryor loves talking about her experiences with training animals—it's quite...more
I've taken psychology classes before in college, so I've come across the ideas of B.F. Skinner. However, never have I truly thought about how deep his concepts of reinforcement goes. The most fascinating thing about this book was the fact that the term 'reinforcement' was taken out of the labs and placed directly in the context of the real world. Sure, Pryor loves talking about her experiences with training animals—it's quite...more
Don’t shoot the dog in the first read started out incomprehensible. I understood the words and the word meaning but it did not translate into something doable. I did not care how marine trainers trained bottlenose dolphins and could not get the psychology, clicker trainer connection until I stop myself and demanded a reread. Then even the cover brought forth an epiphany. The collection of books by Ken Blanchard; Whale Done, Raving Fans, and Gung Ho. All books that use the positive reinforce to b...more
May 02, 2012
Molly
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction-general,
read-in-2012
An excellent book with loads of information, it gives me hope that I can train my dog in a humane and productive manner. However, the terminology comes at the reader fast and furious, so fast, in fact, that I had a hard time keeping it all straight. For example, in a relatively short passage, the following terms were used:
cue
marker signal
learned signal
reinforcement
primary reinforcer
negative reinforcer
discriminative stimulus
unconditioned stimulus
primary stimulus
aversive stimulus
conditioned stimul...more
cue
marker signal
learned signal
reinforcement
primary reinforcer
negative reinforcer
discriminative stimulus
unconditioned stimulus
primary stimulus
aversive stimulus
conditioned stimul...more
An entertaining read that really changes how you think about a lot of preconceptions about dealing with both animals and people. After taking a few psychology courses, they had said many of the same principles, but hearing the stories of how positive reinforcement and clicker training are applied is a whole different matter altogether. Very entertaining and useful. There isn't much practical instruction on *exactly* how to use positive reinforcement, but there are lots of anecdotes and explanati...more
One of the bests book about animals (and humans are also animals) behaviours that I've ever read.
Easy to understand but still detailed descriptions of training techniques with all theirs results, possible problems and reasons of working (or not working). So everything that is needed to understand learning processes with a lot of great, easy and often funny examples which not only helps as imagine such situation but also better remember and understand technique.
All that in very light, nice and e...more
Easy to understand but still detailed descriptions of training techniques with all theirs results, possible problems and reasons of working (or not working). So everything that is needed to understand learning processes with a lot of great, easy and often funny examples which not only helps as imagine such situation but also better remember and understand technique.
All that in very light, nice and e...more
(1984 edition--I want to look at the 2002 edition; it seems a bit different) I read that this is a good book to help change one's own behavior. I don't remember where I read that, but I did not find that to be the case in this book, which was just OK, 2.5 stars, in my opinion.
It has many helpful ideas for training anyone or anything alive, but nothing step-by-step. I appreciate that the author is/was an excellent trainer, and her ideas are worth trying, but some are not too helpful. For example:...more
It has many helpful ideas for training anyone or anything alive, but nothing step-by-step. I appreciate that the author is/was an excellent trainer, and her ideas are worth trying, but some are not too helpful. For example:...more
Saying I "read" this book is misleading. I learned my lesson from that awful Cesar Milan book and only Picked and chose the parts that seemed applicable to me and what I needed. This is NOT a dog book. This is a book on positive reinforcement that can help in any aspect of your life from friends who are perpetually late to a child who misbehaves to...yes, your annoying dog (but really it's favorite animal to highlight is dolphins and how many of us have pet dolphins?). Seemed like a decent book...more
An excellent book which will provide a moderately deep understanding of training via reinforcement, as opposed to punishment or bribery. I see this book as especially useful for teachers, bosses, pet owners, and coaches. The point is to get results, and you can and will get results with a well executed reinforcement schedule for many behaviors. And yes, this book covers how to eliminate unwanted behaviors, too.
I would recommend other books for specific shaping of tricks and commands in dogs; thi...more
I would recommend other books for specific shaping of tricks and commands in dogs; thi...more
I really like this book so far. It is an everyday persons guide to understanding and using the tried and true techniques of some of the most successful animal trainers (%100 positive reinforcement) in everyday situations (whether with your dog, children, colleagues or even that annoying aunt) . First the author takes time to boil all the techniques that are available with dealing with a problem behavior (including shoot the dog, hence the name of the book), as well as the perks and the problems...more
I almost gave this four stars.
I did choose this book for dog training purposes, but in the knowledge that it is much broader and not a dog training manual. It is readable with lots of interesting not overused anecdotes but also a first principles book. I enjoyed the way she used the same set of examples to show how each method could be used - from grumpy spouse, untidy housemate, barking dog, cat jumping on the table, children noisy in the car, lazy employees, poor tennis swing, to adult child w...more
I did choose this book for dog training purposes, but in the knowledge that it is much broader and not a dog training manual. It is readable with lots of interesting not overused anecdotes but also a first principles book. I enjoyed the way she used the same set of examples to show how each method could be used - from grumpy spouse, untidy housemate, barking dog, cat jumping on the table, children noisy in the car, lazy employees, poor tennis swing, to adult child w...more
This was the first book I read on clicker training and I read it in 2006, Bonnie (then a pup - now a Dog Scout) watched intently as I read pages and then tried things out "on her". One day I left the book on the coffee table and returned from a phone call only to find Bonnie with paws planted firmly on the book proudly sharing that she had ripped it in half. Needless to save "I did not shoot the dog (-o: " we continued with Karen's program and my timing improved, my knowledge grew and we have ha...more
Karen does a good job of explaining the science and reasoning behind positive reinforcement, without getting too complicated. She provides a lot of stories and examples to put everything into perspective. But despite the title, this book isn't specifically about training animals, it deals more with positive reinforcement in all situations, including human ones. Therefore it provides a very good introduction into the overall concept of positive reinforcement. Well worth reading if you are into cl...more
This is one of the best books I have ever read. The behavioral training methods taught in this book can be used on just about anyone. Want to train your cat to play the piano? This book can teach you how. Have a fussy kids that wont go to bed? This book can teach you how to get them to go to bed on time, without having to use punishments. That's what really sets this book apart, you can train anyone or any animal without the use of punishments.
Read this book. If you are a parent, please, read t...more
Read this book. If you are a parent, please, read t...more
Our dog trainer recommended this, and I've been picking at it for the last couple of days. I think that this year is going to be at least partly about learning more about dogs, for me. This isn't specifically a dog training book, but more of a psychology book. I should try to read more, but reading anything for too long has been so hard for me lately. I've got a whole stack of dog books (from 2 different libraries) that Steve and I are both looking through, in honor of the rescue dog that we've...more
Received a copy of this as a gift from a biologist friend to help me deal with my rabbit problems, but it's a great read. She believes in using positive reinforcement in every area of life, whether with a pet or a difficult roommate.
A year or two ago when surfing the net I found a conservative excoriation of an article in the New York Times in which the author used positive reinforcement to train her husband. These bloggers seemed to be afraid their wives would learn something. Really, it inv...more
A year or two ago when surfing the net I found a conservative excoriation of an article in the New York Times in which the author used positive reinforcement to train her husband. These bloggers seemed to be afraid their wives would learn something. Really, it inv...more
Read it poolside one summer. Found it interesting re: dealing with people. Not really inclined to use clicker training on my dogs, though. Would prefer to keep my hands free to teach signals and mark desired behavior with my voice- same concept, just simpler and with less paraphernalia. Not really into the whole "clicker training" thing, though it is definitely effective and successful. Everybody's got their something. I don't even own my copy of the book anymore- can't remember who I gave it to...more
The book seems to mainly talk about training animals, but if you're willing to experiment, I believe it is a good guide on how you can use some of the principles listed to shape your relationship with others.
Now, you might think that's crazy. We shouldn't be "training" people like we are training animals. It's humiliating to the other party.
However, you need to keep in mind that what the author advocates is positive reinforcement. By using this principle as your guide, and using the methods li...more
Now, you might think that's crazy. We shouldn't be "training" people like we are training animals. It's humiliating to the other party.
However, you need to keep in mind that what the author advocates is positive reinforcement. By using this principle as your guide, and using the methods li...more
This is a very helpful book in that it explains the scientific facts behind clicker training and other forms of positive reinforcement. Even though I have been using this method of training for several years the book explained some of the terms I had encountered over and over and only partly understood. I recommend this book highly. You can perhaps learn to get what you want from two and four legged creatures using the ideas she puts forth.
A good book if you are training animals. I would recommend it if you want to teach your dog or cat new tricks. However, she attempts to relate all of her training techniques to human relationships: how to train your kids, how to train your lovers, how to train your friends. I cannot say that I agree with this method at all, since we, as humans, have much better means of communicating and understanding, and when we start to "train" friends and family,I don´t see how that is any different than man...more
Brilliant book. Straight forward and easy to read. Karen Pryor lays out the common issues pet owners may run in to, and helps build a bridge between canine and human behaviour! Anyone interested in how to "train humans" should invest in this book. Hilarious, as always is Karen's way of explaining, and using real world examples and scenarios, she gets through to everyone. Again, no PhD required to mull through this book.
I skimmed this book for my behavioral learning class, and really want to go back and read it in depth. The author makes some great points about the best ways to 'train' people or animals. All the information does come from behaviorist ideas, but it is interesting, and helpful nonetheless. I think behaviorism gets a hard time, but really, they make some great points, and the stuff really works if you use it correctly.
This is a wicked-good book about positive reinforcement and shaping behavior. And not just for animal training. As I was reading it I thought how useful the book's methods would be in "training" (manipulating) people to do/behave how I want them to. How great is that? I will become unstoppable! Anyway, the organization of the book was nice and seemed to build on previous sections. The book's not long, but it took me a while because I found my mind wandering as I was reading it. It's not a super...more
Oct 03, 2009
Beverly
added it
Wonderful, well written book on the power of positive reinforcement -- not only with training dogs, but people too!
Karen Pryor is an astute and communicative trainer in the realms of getting the results you want without aggression, punishment, harassment or guilt. It goes beyond the concept of "manipulation" into the more enlightened aspects of filling needs in exchange for behaviors. Try it on your spouse!
Karen Pryor is an astute and communicative trainer in the realms of getting the results you want without aggression, punishment, harassment or guilt. It goes beyond the concept of "manipulation" into the more enlightened aspects of filling needs in exchange for behaviors. Try it on your spouse!
This book will help you relate more productively and enjoyably with your dog--and with everyone else in your life! A solid foundation in positive training and positive communication geared toward getting better behavior from companion animals, spouses, kids, bosses, etc. Don't Shoot the Dog!
Jan 09, 2012
Christine
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
animals-and-nature
As I have come to expect from Karen Pryor, this book, like her others, presents a simple take on some complex training processes and behaviors.
What's different about this book, is it shows you how to use these techniques not only on dogs, but dolphins, crabs, cats, and even humans.
I found it was an interesting and useful book, and one that will continue to be useful in training and shaping behaviors in the future.
What's different about this book, is it shows you how to use these techniques not only on dogs, but dolphins, crabs, cats, and even humans.
I found it was an interesting and useful book, and one that will continue to be useful in training and shaping behaviors in the future.
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Karen Pryor is a behavioral biologist with an international reputation in two fields, marine mammal biology and behavioral psychology. She is a founder and leading proponent of "clicker training," a training system based on operant conditioning (isolate wanted behaviors and ignore the unwanted) and the all-positive methods developed by marine mammal trainers. Clicker training is not in use world w...more
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Jan 23, 2012 04:47pm