Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence: A Positive Training Program

Howell reference books

by Carol Lea Benjamin, Stephen Lennard (Photographer)

In Praise of Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence

""Carol Benjamin has brought her usual wit and insight to bear on what is one of the most troubling phases for dog owners.... Whether you're having difficulties with a youngster or have a puppy who will soon be an adolescent, you can't help but benefit from reading this book."" Robert G. Maxwell President, The American Kennel Club

""A concise and practical guide Zthat] confronts almost every potential problem...with solid advice and good humor. It is destined to become a dog owner's next best friend."" Roger A. Caras President, ASPCA
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

Genres: Dogs, Nonfiction, Reference

210 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 1993

About the author

A noted dog trainer and former detective, Carol Lea Benjamin is the author of books on canine behavior and training as well as the Rachel Alexander and Dash mystery series. She has been honored by the International Association of Canine Professionals with her election to their Hall of Fame. Ms. Benjamin lives in Greenwich Village with her husband and their dogs.

Reviews

[Abby]

Some helpful passages, but overall, Benjamin relies heavily on the 1990's paradigm for dog training: Always be the alpha, use lots of "leash pops," and never let your dog get the upper hand. It's a combative and now outmoded approach to training, but you can't really fault her for it, since the book was written in 1992. It was nice to find a book with a specific focus on the adolescent dog, but I don't think I'd recommend it to anyone, mainly because of how outdated the advice is.

[Tububa]

This book was recommended to me when I had my previous dog, and I wish I hadn't wasted so much of my time on it. It's full of bad advice. Don't let your dog go through a door first. Never play tug with your dog. Put your hands on your dog's muzzle to make it drop stuff. Yank on the leash. Dogs are wolves in dogs' clothing. On, and on, and on. I wouldn't even put this book in a free trading book pile, because I would not want to perpetuate this mode of dog training.

[Leslie Manis]

This book is a little dated since training methods have evolved to more positive and clicker methods. However, there is a wealth of great information about behavior and training. You just need to take the time to read the book and invest time in your dog. I love At the end how the author says each dog you live with can be the dog of your dreams as long as you give him the time and love that relationship requires.

[Connie R. Patterson]

Absolutely the WORST book I have ever read about dog training. Nothing positive in training recommended. Nothing in the book was appropriate for positive training or helpful. Very rambling.

[Johanna]

I really don't think this author has a clue as to what positive training is.

[emily]

the amount of 1-star reviews has me cackling

overall some useful anecdotes but not much i'll be implementing meself

[ThDogs]

This book would have been outdated and full of misinformation when it was published, let alone now in the year 2024.

Despite the claim to being a positive training program, the author goes on a multi-page rant against positive methods and indeed doesn't even seem to understand the positive reinforcement quadrant. The method within the book is the "natural dog training movement" built off the debunked dominance pack theory and relies on physically bullying and nagging your dog into compliance, micromanaging every part of life to create a state of Stockholm syndrome than any real connection. This book would have you solve all adolescence problems by flooding your teenage dog in situations they cannot cope with, saying "no" and collar popping them over and over until you give up. Then call the dog that has given up and avoids the owner as "respectful".

Painfully painfully obsolete and outdated.

[Stef]

I would never be so mean to anything with such sharp teeth. Some people are able to use slip collars effectively (they are not for me), but I dont think it is something you can (or attempt) to teach a new dog owner in a book.

[Judy]

Another book with helpful training tips -- positive training -- those that i tried did work!