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The Dog Guardian
Struggling to solve your dog's behavioural problems? Looking to achieve the perfect relationship with your dog? The Dog Guardian is here to help.
Dog behaviourist Nigel Reed teaches emotional intelligence for dog owners, leading to confident, happy and well-behaved dogs. Through his many years of experience Nigel has found that there are four fundamental components for a content and well-behaved dog.
In The Dog Guardian Nigel explains the philosophy and gives you practical, step-by-step advice. This new and vital information will empower you to address any of your dog's undesirable behaviours, no matter its age, breed or history. The Dog Guardian has already helped thousands of dogs and their owners address problem behaviours including anxiety, nervousness, aggression, hyperactivity, lead pulling, jumping up and much more.
It's easier than you'd think.
Dog behaviourist Nigel Reed teaches emotional intelligence for dog owners, leading to confident, happy and well-behaved dogs. Through his many years of experience Nigel has found that there are four fundamental components for a content and well-behaved dog.
In The Dog Guardian Nigel explains the philosophy and gives you practical, step-by-step advice. This new and vital information will empower you to address any of your dog's undesirable behaviours, no matter its age, breed or history. The Dog Guardian has already helped thousands of dogs and their owners address problem behaviours including anxiety, nervousness, aggression, hyperactivity, lead pulling, jumping up and much more.
It's easier than you'd think.
- GenresNonfictionDogsAnimals
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2017
85 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Nigel Reed
3 books4 followersOnline courses (videos), group courses, a book and one to help revealing the secrets to a happy and well behaved dog.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 10, 2021
This is the most useful book I have ever read. It has turned the life around for us and our young ‘aggressive’ rescue dog in a way that I never thought it could. The impact after a day of following Nigel’s programme was huge. We had reached the stage where we felt that we were irresponsible in keeping her in case she bit one of our young adult children. However we all agreed to stick with Nigel’s advice and it paid off. Literally, immediately. It took will power to change how we communicated with our dog but the benefits were there to see. Within a day she was relaxed and her stressed eyes were replaced happy engaging ones, she was willing to listen to us and to please. She is now going from strength to strength and I can now see a very positive future for our Great Dane cross which holds no limits. I just wish I had known this all my life rather than at nearly 50!
March 12, 2018
Excellent
Finally a book which explains clearly the relationship between a person and dog. This is not about 'training' the dog, but more about moderating our behaviour to enable the dog to fulfil its potential. The book describes how to provide your dog with the best foundation for a rewarding and happy two-way relationship
Finally a book which explains clearly the relationship between a person and dog. This is not about 'training' the dog, but more about moderating our behaviour to enable the dog to fulfil its potential. The book describes how to provide your dog with the best foundation for a rewarding and happy two-way relationship
March 12, 2024
The best dog behavioural training book I have read.
The dog guardian follows 4 main principles which all require the owner to show strong leadership. If dog gets into anxious state let it calm and put in cage for a few minutes before proceeding
1. Always feed yourself first before your dog and let your dog see that you have your food. Once dog has eaten take away bowl and don’t let dog go back to it until next meal time. Never feed dog if it demands food by barking. You decide when it’s time to eat so ignore him. If it pesters tell off or isolate. Tell off by tone of voice and look in eye and hold finger up. Then ignore.
2 when walking on a lead show the dog that you decide where to walk. If dog pulls stop and stand still and wait for it to calm. Then either change direction or proceed.or do stop command repeatedly.
3. When arriving home don’t go straight to dog to greet. When you do let dog out of cage then ignore for 5 minutes. You play when your ready to so ignore dog if trying for your attention. Then call dog to you.
4. Protect your dog. When they hear a noise acknowledge dog and show him that you have checked what it is. When outside and there is a potential threat lead dog away or freeze and hide dog behind you.
Follow these points and dog will respect you as its guardian and will be much happier as it will feel more secure. Ps with children don’t let them invade dogs space and get them to call dog to them to play
The dog guardian follows 4 main principles which all require the owner to show strong leadership. If dog gets into anxious state let it calm and put in cage for a few minutes before proceeding
1. Always feed yourself first before your dog and let your dog see that you have your food. Once dog has eaten take away bowl and don’t let dog go back to it until next meal time. Never feed dog if it demands food by barking. You decide when it’s time to eat so ignore him. If it pesters tell off or isolate. Tell off by tone of voice and look in eye and hold finger up. Then ignore.
2 when walking on a lead show the dog that you decide where to walk. If dog pulls stop and stand still and wait for it to calm. Then either change direction or proceed.or do stop command repeatedly.
3. When arriving home don’t go straight to dog to greet. When you do let dog out of cage then ignore for 5 minutes. You play when your ready to so ignore dog if trying for your attention. Then call dog to you.
4. Protect your dog. When they hear a noise acknowledge dog and show him that you have checked what it is. When outside and there is a potential threat lead dog away or freeze and hide dog behind you.
Follow these points and dog will respect you as its guardian and will be much happier as it will feel more secure. Ps with children don’t let them invade dogs space and get them to call dog to them to play
May 19, 2019
YouTube directed me to Reed's dog training videos, which led me down the garden path to his website, and then to his book--full circle. Much of what he tells in the book is seen on the videos, but as is usually the case, the written word carries more of the backstory.
I remember getting quite a dressing-down in my formative years for saying that I wanted to raise a dog before I raised my own offspring. How dare I compare dogs to children? Well now, cognitive behavoir is more basic than some enlightened persons care to realize. Let's keep the lessons simple and clear, set realistic expectations for social behavoir (of both man and beast) based upon mutual respect, develop trust, and practice calm leadership. Reed's nailed it!
I aspire to be the guardian that my pups need me to be, and this is a reliable guide for my training.
I remember getting quite a dressing-down in my formative years for saying that I wanted to raise a dog before I raised my own offspring. How dare I compare dogs to children? Well now, cognitive behavoir is more basic than some enlightened persons care to realize. Let's keep the lessons simple and clear, set realistic expectations for social behavoir (of both man and beast) based upon mutual respect, develop trust, and practice calm leadership. Reed's nailed it!
I aspire to be the guardian that my pups need me to be, and this is a reliable guide for my training.
March 6, 2022
Such a beautiful book. I wish I read it earlier. Informative, engaging, simple and on point. Made me see my dog and other dogs in a completely different way. Pay more attention to my dog and his body language and slowly pay attention to other dogs, their body language and behavior and their guardian's behavior and understand them or at least a part of it. Simply a beautiful book.
April 21, 2022
This book is helping me so much with my 30 month old Springer Spaniel and my 10 year old x-breed dog, they are both very reactive on their leads and we're so far managing to walk past other dogs without them barking and lunging at them. They're beginning to realise that I'm their guardian and they're starting to trust that I'm the decision maker, they don't need to be.
February 4, 2018
Amazing eye opening book
This really is a wonderful book . Which carefully explains how to communicate with your dog and show you are the one making the decisions and keeping it safe . Would recommend if you are having trouble with any dog .
This really is a wonderful book . Which carefully explains how to communicate with your dog and show you are the one making the decisions and keeping it safe . Would recommend if you are having trouble with any dog .
May 6, 2019
Well-written, easy to read...
... And full of sound common sense, but based on a clear, deep understanding of dog behaviour. I'm looking forward to putting in the work with our new rescue dog, Tilly.
... And full of sound common sense, but based on a clear, deep understanding of dog behaviour. I'm looking forward to putting in the work with our new rescue dog, Tilly.
September 22, 2024
There are good principles and explanations of these principles in there.
However, the author mentions jerking the lead, which is not something that sits well with me. The only jerk is the human standing at the end of the lead…
However, the author mentions jerking the lead, which is not something that sits well with me. The only jerk is the human standing at the end of the lead…
April 21, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. Has some really interesting ideas and insights into dog behaviour.
Feel like I understand my boarder collie a whole lot more!
Feel like I understand my boarder collie a whole lot more!
August 28, 2018
I love how the author expresses his concepts! I'm my pup's guardian and reading what he's trying to communicate keeps us connected in a meaningful way!
January 3, 2020
Excellent book for dog owners.
January 30, 2020
3.5 stars, brief review will be posted eventually on my insta!
June 28, 2020
Um dos melhores livros sobre treinamentos de cachorro. Uma mescla interessante de "faz sentido" e funciona. Me ajudou bastante. Recomendo.
November 25, 2020
Not great at all
Not even worth detailing. A re hash of better written books. Disappointed overall. Would definitely not recommend to anyone really.
Not even worth detailing. A re hash of better written books. Disappointed overall. Would definitely not recommend to anyone really.
February 4, 2017
The Dog Guardian is a hands-on, comprehensive guide to achieving the perfect relationship with your dogs, whilst ensuring that their well-being and happiness is paramount. Nigel Reed, author and expert, demonstrates his passion for dogs from the very first page, where a heart-warming introduction details how Reed decided to take his love for animals further by pursuing a career. This book is the accumulated result of years of experience, research, and work in the field of all things canine.
Reed writes with a bouncy, straight-forward prose that is easy to comprehend, even when more complicated psychological ideas are discussed. The book is wide-reaching and all-encompassing in its discussion of all things dog-related, beginning with a brief exploration on how dogs are descended from wolves and discussing the ways in which this heritage could affect their behaviour today.
Reed also proposes new models and theories regarding the training of dogs, such as how to understand their needs in a new, hierarchical format. New insights into what motivates bad behaviour is also present in the text, with potential to really change the way we, as dog owners, guardians and lovers, interact with our furry friends. Reed’s approach is stoutly non-violent and it is clear that a love of dogs is at the very heart of this work. The guide comes with a series of videos in which Reed walks owners through some of the solutions to many common behavioural issues. These videos add some sparkle to the book, as Reed’s personal dynamism is really able to shine through as he takes the stage in a series of hands-on demonstrations.
This is a well-researched and informative book, complete with statistics and clear diagrams. Reed’s approach to the science behind being a good guardian is brilliantly balanced: easy to understand whilst at the same time providing all the necessary information. I can now say with confidence exactly why dogs need access to water throughout the day, or detail the three important things to keep in mind when attempting the perfect dog walk.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who has a dog and would like more advice and tips on how to form a healthy relationship with said canine, a relationship where the interests of the dog are central. Reed’s research is sound, his methods lucidly laid out, and all content is supported by videos that serve to elucidate the methodology. An interesting and informative read.
Reed writes with a bouncy, straight-forward prose that is easy to comprehend, even when more complicated psychological ideas are discussed. The book is wide-reaching and all-encompassing in its discussion of all things dog-related, beginning with a brief exploration on how dogs are descended from wolves and discussing the ways in which this heritage could affect their behaviour today.
Reed also proposes new models and theories regarding the training of dogs, such as how to understand their needs in a new, hierarchical format. New insights into what motivates bad behaviour is also present in the text, with potential to really change the way we, as dog owners, guardians and lovers, interact with our furry friends. Reed’s approach is stoutly non-violent and it is clear that a love of dogs is at the very heart of this work. The guide comes with a series of videos in which Reed walks owners through some of the solutions to many common behavioural issues. These videos add some sparkle to the book, as Reed’s personal dynamism is really able to shine through as he takes the stage in a series of hands-on demonstrations.
This is a well-researched and informative book, complete with statistics and clear diagrams. Reed’s approach to the science behind being a good guardian is brilliantly balanced: easy to understand whilst at the same time providing all the necessary information. I can now say with confidence exactly why dogs need access to water throughout the day, or detail the three important things to keep in mind when attempting the perfect dog walk.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who has a dog and would like more advice and tips on how to form a healthy relationship with said canine, a relationship where the interests of the dog are central. Reed’s research is sound, his methods lucidly laid out, and all content is supported by videos that serve to elucidate the methodology. An interesting and informative read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews