I'm suprised that I don't see 'culture clash' listed in the book reviews section here. I know it gets rave reviews elsewhere in the dog community. Even when searching through the search engine here, it brings up nothing.
Jean Donaldson (the author) is one of those purely positive trainers (and think of that what you will), but as someone who has studied behavioral science (BF Skinner stuff)...I would recommend this book as a must read for both rank beginners and old timers. I can think of no other book that I would suggest any more highly than this one.
It's an easy to read book, but unlike most of those other easy reads, it's not full of mom&pop folk lore style remedies or other 'traditional' notions. Just solid science laid out in a comfortable reading book. If not this, then you might be stuck reading the good but decidedly dry academic readings out there!
I have no affiliation with this book or author, but I was suprised that a book like this is absent. Most of the books I pick up at the book store are just annoying repeats of very suspect cookbook methods.
Ok, well this is my first post in this forum...nice to meet you!
Kelton
(I have Vol I and II of the Lindsay series along with Schutzhund:Training in Drive....both are available through Leerburg and are also excellent)

Donaldson has some worthwhile things to say, but unfortunately, she puts it into language that is so obnoxiously condescending that it is very difficult to stomach. She is a "holier than thou" author; I particularly loved her comment about abominable, heinous people who happen to NOT have an ethical issue with using some negative reinforcement and (yes, God forbid) positive punishment - something along the lines of how we are clinging to a "MORALLY BANKRUPT" method of controlling behavior. Gag. When I need Jean Donaldson to help me decide what's moral, I'll give her a call. In the meantime, the books by Patricia McConnell ("The Other End of the Leash", etc.) have almost identical content but in a vastly more open-minded and non-accusatory format.

BTW Kelton, I didn't mean that post to sound in any way derogatory towards you - just Jean! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

What I did like was the comparison between primate behavior and canine behavior, and how they can often take on opposite meanings....if that's the book I'm thinking of.

I'm trying to collect a number of reference books on protection training..
I already have copies of MANSTOPPER, HOME & FAMILY PROTECTION DOGS, KOEHLERS METHOD OF GUARD DOG TRAINING, K9 BODYGUARDS.
Does anyone have any suggestions of other books that are of an informative and 'sensible' nature.
(Although my wife complains at the amount of books I buy, I still have another shelf to fill up..ha)
Thanks...

Karen Pryor's Don't Shoot the Dog is a must have. I really enjoyed it. The information is applicable to all training and helps you understand behavior better so that appropriate response is easier. I bought my own copy after I borrowed it from the library and I need to read it again.

I've heard that one is VanCamp's FAVORITE! He loves Karen Pryor.

Lee: discussing the use of aversives is a tricky topic in a forum such as this. I will say, though, that it is clear that Jean (and her ilk) have an honest concern toward giving dogs a good life with a minimum of the nastiness of harsh punishments....and as far as I'm concerned, that's always a good thing. Since she attempts to deal with behaviors in this way, she does get to grab the moral high ground which can be annoying to the rest of the dog training community.
Her attitude WOULD bug me if she was one of those anthropomorphic dogs=humans types, but she isn't...in fact, quite the opposite. Her methods are based upon cold science. She's not just some bleeding heart do-gooder IMO, but she has probably witnessed a hell of a lot of abuse. I'll admit that I did some things in my attempts to train dogs in the past that make me wince when I think back on it today. Putting the hurt on "bad dogs" is a rampant practice, of that there is no doubt.
Since most people...especially beginners...are not at all educated to properly use punishment procedures, the brief periods of moralising that Jean does are OK with me. The best part of all of this is that she bothers to describe, in simple terms, some basic behavioral principles behind the difficult issues with punishment.
Gary: I would recommend this "Culture Clash" to you as well as "Don't Shoot the Dog". IMO, "Culture Clash" is a more interesting style of writing. If you agree that behavioral science is on to something (rather than voodoo, personal experience and folklore), these are great. I have the Koehler book, too,..I like it...but I think many would agree that it is dated.
Really, my interest is not in the "don't punish!" aspect (which isn't exactly what these books are saying). Rather, I appreciate that these books are finally introducing science to the practice of dog training. The principles described were well known even in the 50's to behaviorist, but people were reluctant to go through the learning curve AND old traditions die hard...and, just as likely, they felt that dog behavior is not subject to the principles of a science of behavior.
Anyway, she does a darn good job of describing the principles in changing a behavior (or installing a new one)...and that's the main issue for me. Her moralising just involves some brief sentences here and there.
Kelton

I'm a fanatic for learning theory myself, but I love "dry" scientific books rather than the simplified books. I do realize that I'm waaayyyy in the minority on that! I tend to recommend Burch & Bailey's "How Dogs Learn" or Reid's "Excel-lerated Learning" for a more palatable version. And McConnell does an excellent job of addressing the 'culture clash' between people and dogs. I certainly won't agree that Donaldson gets to take the moral high ground simply cuz she personally prefers a purely positive approach. But that's another thread. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I already have excel-erated learning on my list of books to get. Most of my schooling refers specifically to how organisms respond to environmental variables (behaviorism)....so nothing specific to 'dogs' necessarily. As we would say, though, if the thing has a brain stem...the principles remain the same. I can nit pick most (maybe all) dog training books on their rather loose usage of behavioral terminology. Still, though, these very same books provide excellent ideas in the same way that a back yard mechanic could probably tell a mechanical engineer a thing or to about how to get a rusted bolt off! (did that make sense)
As a matter of full disclosure (before I start sounding like an arrogant smarty pants), I have never 'titled' a dog in any way....my experience with dogs that have been bred specifically for sport/protection has been very brief indeed ... so realize that I have yet to spend any quality time with the blitzkrieg of a hyped up malinois.
In theory, though, these animals should also respond in accordance with behavioral principles! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />