Dog Training for Kids: Fun and Easy Ways to Care for Your Furry Friend

by Vanessa Estrada Marin, Alisa Harris (Illustrator)

Children Will Take the Lead with Fun & Easy Dog Training Techniques

Every child wants a dog, yet not every child--or even grown-up!--is equipped to take on the responsibilities that come with owning a dog. But with the help of Vanessa Estrada Marin, the director of a sought-after dog-training program for kids, your child will have fun being in charge!

Dog Training for Kids breaks down lessons and tutorials in simple steps and easy-to-follow instructions. Kids will have everything they need to be caring and responsible dog owners:

  •  Basic Training Lessons including Stopping Unnecessary Barking, Potty & House Training, Obedience, Leash Training, Crate Training

  •  Essential Commands including Sit, Stay, Heel, Drop It

  •  Clever Tricks including Roll Over, Speak, High Five, and Leap

  •  Super Fun Games including Obstacle Course, Frisbee, Tunnel

  •  And More -- Equipment List, How to Train Your Dog to Be Calm at the Vet, How to Dog Proof Your Home 

Whether young dog lovers will be raising puppies, adopting rescues, or getting their first dogs, this all-in-one book will give them the confidence and knowledge to properly train, take care of, and establish a lasting bond with their well-behaved furry friends.

Genres: Dogs

176 pages, Paperback

Published November 26, 2019

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been a helpful book for our family last spring when we adopted our rescue lab/setter, Moose, since it had been a while since we brought a new dog home and he had a lot to learn. The book goes through basic information about what to do when adopting a dog, with a little bit of emphasis on puppies. It goes over lots of safety information like foods dogs can't eat and how to dog-proof your house, plus things like what things you'll need to buy (some are not things I consider mandatory). Then there are basic commands to teach like recognizing their names, then simple tricks like sit and drop it, then fancier tricks like bow an for shame (put a piece of tape on their nose that they'll try to brush off so they learn to paw their face like they're ashamed), and finally fun games to play with your dog like obstacle course and soccer. All total there are about a dozen tricks, commands or games in each section, with a few more in some.

There are simple sketches showing some of the tricks but most do not have illustrations. The steps are well detailed but may be a little long and complicated for some kids. Positive training is used, with treats. Discipline is not mentioned but physical discipline is not encouraged. It's rather dog-friendly in terms of pointing out appropriate behaviors that may bother us but are normal (like sniffing other dog's rear ends) and is very gentle in training.

I disagree with some of the training advice, like the advice to train puppies to go to the bathroom inside for the first four months of their lives on puppy pads since they won't be fully vaccinated yet. And some of the training information makes things seem much easier than they probably will be, like teaching dogs to walk with a loose leash and heel. For the most part it's good, step by step techniques that should ultimately work though with patience and practice.

This is the third or fourth dog training/tricks book I've read this year and it's a pretty good one. I do prefer the books that have lots of color photos of the steps, but this one has more detail and troubleshooting of steps than some. It's also nice that this is designed specifically for kids.

All in all, this is a fun and helpful book for kids who are getting a new dog and want to have fun teaching it manners, tricks and games.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

[Madeline Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really kid-friendly and gives great tips even for adults with dogs.

[Jini Clausen · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for quality of information. 3 stars for length/detail considering the target audience. I've worked with dogs for years, and was very impressed with the quality of information, as well as the descriptions. But this is a long book! I feel like the level of detail is relevant to teens, even adults. But the cover makes the book look like it's targeted more towards a 10 year old. And I don't know that a 10 year old has the attention span for the level of detail in the book.

I 100% recommend this for older kids though, and adults as well.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this for a child who was having difficulty adjusting to a new puppy. He didn't read it or try anything at first, it took a little while for him get interested, but he eventually did after I read it and tried some things with him present.
Has some good ideas and fun tricks to learn.

[Sonia Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ideas

This book has great ideas on how to train a dog. It is useful and the book is detailed with information that teaches you how to handle a dog.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book! Easy to follow and engaging.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very informational!!!!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference for kids, easy to understand, and valuable for adults as well!

[GraceTindall · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is about how to train a dog that is in needs to be trained for example my dog

[Jacob O'connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine advice, but hardly for kids. Simple pictures, but not simple language.