4.66

4

Feb 04, 2020

As we all know puppies are all cute, cuddly, fun and adorable, but if you havent been through puppyhood for a long time like me it can be a challenging time. In November (2019) we decided it was time to find another dog after having to say goodbye to our 17 year old Gypsy in 2018. Then on the 10th of November we went and picked up our 8 week old Border Collie, Rosie.

Whilst researching different things on training puppies I stumbled across Zak Georges dog training YouTube videos. I found the As we all know puppies are all cute, cuddly, fun and adorable, but if you haven’t been through puppyhood for a long time like me it can be a challenging time. In November (2019) we decided it was time to find another dog after having to say goodbye to our 17 year old Gypsy in 2018. Then on the 10th of November we went and picked up our 8 week old Border Collie, Rosie.

Whilst researching different things on training puppies I stumbled across Zak George’s dog training YouTube videos. I found the videos very helpful and very informative and when I discovered he had a book I immediately went and got a copy and I’m glad I did. This book covers everything you need to know about not only training your dog, but also what to expect when you first take your puppy home. I have had dogs most of my life, but it has been a really long time since I’ve done puppyhood and I must admit as cute as our Rosie is she is still a handful and very full on, so this book has helped me deal with those challenging times. This is a brilliantly written book and I highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking of introducing a new dog into their family.

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5

September 19, 2016

This book is wonderful. I'm using the techniques on my two dogs, one is a year old and the other is 5 months old, and they are responding well. Zak George uses positive reinforcement which I think works much better than the old "pack leader, dominance" techniques. Throughout the book you will find n...Full Review

5

June 10, 2017

This book is wonderful. I'm using the techniques on my two dogs, one is a year old and the other is 5 months old, and they are responding well. Zak George uses positive reinforcement which I think works much better than the old "pack leader, dominance" techniques. Throughout the book you will find noted the video that shows the training technique in practice, which is incredibly helpful! You won't be disappointed in this book.

5

Dec 28, 2016

As a first time dog mom, I found Zack George on the YouTubes first. I like his positive approach to building a relationship with your pup. When he released this book, I decided to give it a try.

The format is user-friendly. The chapters follow a logical order:
1. Choosing the Right Dog for You
2. Everything You Need to Prepare for Your Pet's Arrival
3. Steps for a Smooth Transition
4. Dog Training Revolution: The Key Principles
5. House Training 101: The Five Basic Rules
6. Basic Training: The As a first time dog mom, I found Zack George on the YouTubes first. I like his positive approach to building a relationship with your pup. When he released this book, I decided to give it a try.

The format is user-friendly. The chapters follow a logical order:
1. Choosing the Right Dog for You
2. Everything You Need to Prepare for Your Pet's Arrival
3. Steps for a Smooth Transition
4. Dog Training Revolution: The Key Principles
5. House Training 101: The Five Basic Rules
6. Basic Training: The Fundamental Skills Every Dog Needs to Know
7. How to Troubleshoot the Most Common Behavior Problems
8. In Sickness and In Health: Basic Care for Your Dog
9. Time for Fun: Cool Tricks, traveling, Exercise, and More

I had been researching and reading before we got our puppy, but this book and the companion videos hyperlinked into the e-book definitely helped. We didn't want our little guy going to a puppy obedience class until he was fully vaccinated, so the resources here helped me start training our Labradoodle right away.

The chapter and videos on house training are worth reading and viewing, especially if you're like me and you've never had a dog before.

We still wanted to attend obedience classes for the weekly structure. Plus we picked a puppy class that included socialization time. But this book has been a fantastic resource for the past several months as I continue to reinforce training. Sometimes a method from class doesn't work, so I check out videos from the Dog Training Revolution. ...more

2

January 22, 2017

Love this book, great for any dogs and is great if you practice non-aggression principle.

5

March 17, 2017

This book is very repetitive and keep saying the same thing over and over again

5

Mar 25, 2019

Even before i brought home my sweet furry boy i started looking for training tips and all the stuff i can learn since it was long time ago i had a dog(nearly 10 years ago) and i needed a refreshment course.
I learned about Zak George trough youtube tutorials which are really helpful and decided to read his book as well.
I am a husky mom and with that strong willed breed, consistent training is crucial!
This phrase comes to mind in that case "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a Even before i brought home my sweet furry boy i started looking for training tips and all the stuff i can learn since it was long time ago i had a dog(nearly 10 years ago) and i needed a refreshment course.
I learned about Zak George trough youtube tutorials which are really helpful and decided to read his book as well.
I am a husky mom and with that strong willed breed, consistent training is crucial!
This phrase comes to mind in that case "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." - this book is not about do this or that and be a stamp generalizing things...it's about teaching a proper way of thinking and be creative with the training and adapting to your dog!Like hoomans,every dog is different and its not one cure for all thing.
The most wonderful part of all is that he is pushing a new kind of training!No more "Roll the paper" or be the alfa old debunked methods!Instead it's all done trough positive reinforcement and making everything fun for both and all the while building a bond with your pup!
Really recommend this book to all who want to train their furry companions! ...more

3

Dec 31, 2019

Composition: 3/5
Evidence: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Balance: 1/5

Bringing a new puppy into ones life is a big decision, and I assume that making informed decisions early on with training will make life with a dog much easier and more enjoyable in the long run. So that meant finding a resource to help me do it right. Finding and choosing a book to teach the ways of dog training is a formidable challenge because of the sheer bulk of manuals, guidebooks, and tutorials. I sought out a book because I Composition: 3/5
Evidence: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Balance: 1/5

Bringing a new puppy into one’s life is a big decision, and I assume that making informed decisions early on with training will make life with a dog much easier and more enjoyable in the long run. So that meant finding a resource to help me do it right. Finding and choosing a book to teach the ways of dog training is a formidable challenge because of the sheer bulk of manuals, guidebooks, and tutorials. I sought out a book because I considered myself ignorant on many topics and probably ill-informed on those which I thought myself knowledgeable. That ignorance and misconception also makes it difficult for me to be a good judge of which book would be the right one to pick. So, I went with what was popular on lists, reviews, and sales. Now, having read it, I can say that while Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution helps set expectations, clears up some common misperceptions, and can work as a reference book, it was not the definite puppy training guide I was hoping for.

Part of my mediocre impression of the book lies in expectations. I wanted a book on how to train a puppy. There is certainly some of that in the book, but Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution is really meant as a broad introduction to dog care. George and Port are writing for long-time dog owners who are only now getting around to trying to train their dogs, new adoptees of adult dogs from the animal shelter, and for owners of puppies as well. So, its attention is divided. Also, the book does not focus exclusively on training. There are sections or entire chapters on such topics as picking a suitable dog, preparing your home for the dog’s arrival, and health care for your pet. For someone like myself, wanting to know how to start training an eight-week old puppy, there was a lot of extraneous material. That extraneous material was not all bad; I learned a lot, in fact, picking up interesting facts and helpful recommendations scattered throughout the book, but the reward-to-word count ratio was fairly low. The book will be better received by a reader with different expectations. George and Port do a great job keeping the text and instruction simple. There is a lot of repetition and reminders. The authors were quite successful in writing a book for someone with zero dog knowledge. This was aimed at those with no clue as to what age, size, or energy level of a dog they will want to choose; how much of a time commitment to expect, or what equipment will be needed as a dog owner. The final product was a one-size-fits-all guide made accessible to those wanting to learn the general basics on everything touching on dog ownership.

The heart and best part of the book is a mentality to go along with dog ownership. The authors want to dispel the ideas long common to dog trainers and pet owners that dogs are wolf-ancestors who need firm discipline and must be taught to yield authority to their masters. The authors are proposing instead, as the title suggests, a revolution. The revolution is positive reinforcement only. Love and attention exclusively. Patience and understanding completely. George and Port bring in supporting evidence from veterinary and animal associations as well as from animal behavior research. They make expert opinions, research findings, and anecdotes simple and accessible, neatly and convincingly building a case for their revolution. The sections and chapters which do deal directly with training explain how to encourage positive behaviors (such as housetraining, sitting, walking on a leash, fetch, or roll over) and discourage negative ones (biting, jumping, chasing cars, etc.) using the positive reinforcement method of “lure training.” This is basically using tiny treats to coax your dog into wanted behaviors. Whatever the problem, whatever the frustration, the author’s advice is to a) make time for your dog, b) put your dog in a low-distraction environment, and c) use the treats alongside repetition of voice commands or hand signals to train the dog. Those portions on dog training go through and explain how this positive-reinforcement method can be used with different breeds, pet personalities, dog ages, environments, and to address different goals and problems. The message is the same throughout the book: it is never your dog’s fault, you should never punish your dog; adult humans are responsible for making themselves available to teach, for limiting distractions that can interfere with teaching, and for consistently and patiently teaching using rewards. It is a clear and, in some ways, appealing message.

There are two main weaknesses to the book, the first already mentioned. Even though “Dog Training” is in the title, probably at least half, and perhaps closer to two-thirds of the book, is actually devoted to topics other than training. Most of this is helpful information for the new dog owner, but George and Port seldom pass up an opportunity to make clear their ethical position on a number of pet-related issues. Therefore, animal shelters are good, puppy mills are bad. Ear cropping and choke collars are both unnecessary and undesirable. For most of these, the authors genuinely seem to have the well-being of the animal at heart, and their values and recommendations resonated with my own preferences. In other places, however, advice creeps in which one suspects is not based on dog care but on other outside social or environmental values. For instance, in a section on treats George and Port recommend “100 percent naturally shed deer antlers.” The “naturally shed” portioned caught my attention. I grew up in an area where antlers could be gotten from hunters or from a kill without much trouble. Is there something about these that would harm the dog? Do naturally shed antlers have some unique property that ones taken from a hunted animal do not? The authors do not say. One suspects, however, that here, as in many places throughout the book, their values on social and environmental issues sneak into the instructions in the form of health advice. George and Port have opinions on such various issues as avoiding crass and disrespectful dog names and declining to try to pass your dog off illegitimately as a service animal. Most of these are reasonable positions, but they were unnecessary for a book on dog training and ultimately result in diminishing their trustworthiness as experts because they do not limit their advice to their expertise. In other places, they are more upfront about their limitations as experts. There are over 100 mentions of the term “vet” throughout the book, many of them some form of “ask your vet,” “check first with your veterinarian,” or “consult your local vet.” This seems to serve as a sort of legal disclaimer. It would not be a complete guide if the authors did not discuss behavioral or health problems, but as they are not licensed veterinarians themselves, they regularly begin or end a section with a caution that the vet should always be consulted before on in conjunction with addressing some concern or starting with some new activity. Much of this guidebook, then, turns out to be more for preparing yourself to know what kind of questions to ask or what to expect from the vet visit. The definitive answers are going to come from there it seems, not here. If every section in the book which contained the refer-to-vet-disclaimer were removed, there would be little remaining for readers. The recommendation to see a vet becomes so repetitious that one must start to doubt the reliability of the advice being given.

The second main weakness to the book is its one-size-fits-all approach. Here, as with clothing of the name, it leaves out those who do not fit standard sizes. This book is written with the assumption that the reader will be an upper-middle class suburbanite without young children and who has concerns about such things as whether or not to leave up the pool fence or how to evaluate professional pet groomers. There are instructions on how to appropriately use dog parks, the importance of selecting a good veterinarian, the usefulness of doggy daycare and dog walkers. None of this is relevant if you live in a place where there are no dog parks, there are limited veterinary options, or doggy daycare is unheard of. A few of these assumptions lead to some fairly dispiriting conclusions for an aspiring dog owner. The authors’ estimation of the cost of caring for a dog is “from about $1,000 a year to ten times that.” The implication, unfortunately, is that dogs are only for people who can pay one to ten thousand dollars a year. Similarly, George and Port have very little to say about children’s relationship to pets. They offer some advice on keeping young children from getting hurt by an excitable dog and acknowledge that “it can be one of the best things you ever do for your children,” but it soon becomes clear that the children they have in mind and which are participating in the dog training revolution are older children. “Kids older than twelve can help train the family pet if they’re serious about doing so,” the authors write, “but it’s not realistic to expect your dog to listen to kids much younger than that.” For the vast majority of the book, children are out of sight and out of mind, which anyone who has children will know, is seldom true in a home. Because “Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution” is so insistent on patient repetition and the refusal to use punishment, there seems to be little place for children in the year the authors think it will take to adequately train a dog. The training method always involves removal from distracting environments, being patient with problems such as a nipping mouth, and consistently rewarding good behaviors. George and Port are at least honest here, even if the implication is buried as a single sentence in the 240-page book: training a dog does not work with young children. This points to a larger problem with the book. Because it is selling an idea, a mentality for dog training, it sells it uncompromisingly. This is not a guide offering tips on how to work in a non-ideal situation with minimal financial means, limited time, or in the presence of children. The proposed method is intensive. The dog is more needy that a new baby is and is going to require more time and energy than will a newborn through their first few months. The results George and Port are able to get with their revolution are spectacular and inspiring. Readers can follow the links in the book to George’s well-known Youtube channel and watch demonstrations of the principles he is trying to teach. Those results, the authors consistently tell us, depend on consistency with the principles of the dog training revolution. If the Zak George method is the only proper way to train a puppy, the sad implication one has to draw from this is that most people cannot responsibly get or satisfactorily train a puppy. ...more

4

Feb 10, 2019

My new baby, Harriet, will be coming home from the breeder in two weeks. As a result, Im reading five books on positive reinforcement-based puppy training and comparing them for anyone trying to decide which of the most popular puppy books to read. Links are below.

The Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skete

Before and After Getting Your Pupppy by Ian Dunbar

The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller

How to Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days by Shirlee Kalstone

***

Ive already binged Zaks My new baby, Harriet, will be coming home from the breeder in two weeks. As a result, I’m reading five books on positive reinforcement-based puppy training and comparing them for anyone trying to decide which of the most popular puppy books to read. Links are below.

The Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skete

Before and After Getting Your Pupppy by Ian Dunbar

The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller

How to Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days by Shirlee Kalstone

***

I’ve already binged Zak’s Youtube videos. He’s got a great teaching style.

This book is the same—definitely the most straightforward of the five puppy books: no nonsense, just information and explanations behind that information.

The emphasis here is on communication. Zak really emphasizes the fact that puppies don’t really know human language (body or verbal) at first, and they certainly don’t know your personal type of human language yet, just as you don’t really know your new puppy’s language right away.

He focuses on the bond you need to develop between you and your dog before you worry about anything else. You and the puppy need to learn to speak the same language before you can relate what you want from each other—you need that sense of connection, that recognition in the dog’s eyes that goes “Ah, you want me to do X? That’s what you wanted from me? Sure, I can do X for you, here.” ...more

5

Feb 09, 2020

Even before getting a dog I loved these little or rather big cuteis and I always searched and read about them.

I first watched Zak's videos on YouTube which helped me a lot to train my first hyperactive dog and then I found his book and read it.

It gives all essential details about dogs but sometimes you really gonna need to watch videos.

3

Dec 31, 2019

I normally loath self-help books, but I have a dog with a complicated past and a few issues. This is a great book for a new or soon to be new dog person.

3

Feb 24, 2020

A good resource if you're considering a dog (or preparing for your new puppy!) covering ownership basics and positive training methods. (His ongoing YouTube series, Dog Training Experience, is a great resource as well.)

4

Nov 09, 2019

Just getting ready.... I've made enough transitions from the academic world to the practical world to know that not everything is always transferrable in ideal ways, but at least these techniques put my mind in motion.

4

Jan 15, 2020

The book is okay and an absolutely stellar way for starting dog owners to learn about their new responsibilities. It's a shame though that Zak's YouTube content is by far richer as well as more advanced, it's free too. I would recommend checking out his channel instead.

5

Jun 11, 2019

This training is loving and amazing! It is exactly what I needed to read to set me and my new pup on the road to happy success!

5

Feb 02, 2018

This book really helped me with potty training. I forgot how difficult it was, but the author made it easy! Bella will be a well trained dog in no time!! My fingers are crossed ????

5

May 28, 2017

I stumbled upon Zak George's training videos on YouTube. After watching quite a few, I bought his book. So glad I did. We have a new puppy arriving in our home in a few weeks. Since it has been more than 13 years since we were last down the puppy training road, I was definitely in need of a refresher course. Plus, I wanted to change things up a bit (I hired a trainer for my last dog and don't want to do that this time). Zak George has been teaching me how to be my dog's best trainer through his I stumbled upon Zak George's training videos on YouTube. After watching quite a few, I bought his book. So glad I did. We have a new puppy arriving in our home in a few weeks. Since it has been more than 13 years since we were last down the puppy training road, I was definitely in need of a refresher course. Plus, I wanted to change things up a bit (I hired a trainer for my last dog and don't want to do that this time). Zak George has been teaching me how to be my dog's best trainer through his books and videos. There are so many great tips and tricks to be learned from the author

I highly recommend the Dog Training Revolution.
...more

5

Apr 07, 2018

I love this book!! Zaks positive approach is much more appealing to me than the Alpha Dog approach. Its also a really easy and fun read, as many of the sections in the book have a YouTube video to accompany the description. This is wonderful if youre not much of a reader, as the videos are a little break from the book. Im a big reader myself, but when it comes to learning to do something, Im very visual. So the videos are great, and Zak is fun to watch!! You can tell he really has a passion for I love this book!! Zak’s positive approach is much more appealing to me than the “Alpha Dog” approach. It’s also a really easy and fun read, as many of the sections in the book have a YouTube video to accompany the description. This is wonderful if you’re not much of a reader, as the videos are a little break from the book. I’m a big reader myself, but when it comes to learning to do something, I’m very visual. So the videos are great, and Zak is fun to watch!! You can tell he really has a passion for training and loves the animals so much.

Also, his approach WORKS!! We have a new puppy. Henri, a mini Australian Shepherd. He’s only 3.5 months old now, and already knows “sit”, “lie down”, “roll over”, “look at me”, “shake”, “stand”, and “stay”. We’re working on “come”, “dead dog” and “leave it” now... I’ve used Zak’s approach for all of these commands. It’s so fun to see him learning and enjoying himself at the same time!! ...more

5

Jul 23, 2017

Puppy love

Just recently purchased a new puppy, so I was looking for a good book to teach me everything I needed to know about the little guy (Australian Shepherd) and how to train him. Picked up this book on a recommendation from a friend and am glad I did! Very detailed of what to do and not to do. Now I recommend it to you.

5

May 18, 2017

All people who have dogs or who are thinking about getting a dog should read this book.

I'm a dogmom. Not in the sense that I have a dog (which I do, I have two). I'm a dogmom in the sense that my dogs go everywhere with me, I spend hours a day pouring time and energy into their training and enriching their lives. I'm a dogmom in the sense that I've considered buying my anxious dog a doggy stroller so that she will be more comfortable in dog-friendly stores when I bring my dogs out with me.

I'm All people who have dogs or who are thinking about getting a dog should read this book.

I'm a dogmom. Not in the sense that I have a dog (which I do, I have two). I'm a dogmom in the sense that my dogs go everywhere with me, I spend hours a day pouring time and energy into their training and enriching their lives. I'm a dogmom in the sense that I've considered buying my anxious dog a doggy stroller so that she will be more comfortable in dog-friendly stores when I bring my dogs out with me.

I'm the kind of person that researches things relentlessly before committing to anything. When I was considering getting a puppy last year, I stumbled across Zak George's Dog Training Revolution on YouTube. I quickly exhausted all of his videos and have returned to them frequently while training my puppy, Lily. Recently, they've become a wealth of knowledge for training my anxious 2 year old adoptee, Pandora. The fact that all of his videos are available for free on YouTube is astounding!

This book basically condenses all of his videos into one place. There's info on puppy biting, leash pulling, crate training, kibble, barking--you name it, Zak George likely addresses it here. I

It should be noted that, because I've watched all of his videos, I didn't really find any new knowledge in this book for myself. That was a bit disappointing. However, for someone just starting out, this book would be an incredible resource. I bought this one mostly to support him and his work. Thank you Zak George for helping me dogmom a whole lot better than I could have on my own. ...more

5

Mar 19, 2019

I grew up with the Alpha Dog theory

I grew up with the Alpha Dog theory. Ive had dogs since I was born. The ideas that people used to have were very different from what now we are trying to follow. I 15 years ago I would use a newspaper and scare my dog to stop certain behaviors. Didnt really work... Now I have a chocolate lab and I am following the positive reinforcement training. I feel much better results and as better human being. There are so many things I like about Zak George however I I grew up with the Alpha Dog theory

I grew up with the “Alpha Dog” theory. I’ve had dogs since I was born. The ideas that people used to have were very different from what now we are trying to follow. I 15 years ago I would use a newspaper and scare my dog to stop certain behaviors. Didn’t really work... Now I have a chocolate lab and I am following the positive reinforcement training. I feel much better results and as better human being. There are so many things I like about Zak George however I this book is for people who are planning to get a dog.
I repeat this book is for people planning to get a dog or for those who just got a dog. In general I would love everyone who has a dog to read about this new type of training.
Zak George covers absolutely everything from the beginning. Why are you getting a dog and he throws in all the responsibility it will take.
I foster dogs and have been always helping the “rescue” community, and it has always bothered me that people don’t put one and one together. It is not their fault, it is very easy to fall in love with dogs but there is a huge gap between “loving how cute and fluffy dogs are” and “they NEED training, MONEY and it take a LOT of time”.
I love my dogs BUT I also made mistakes. I also have raised them with questionable methods. I would love for people to know that there is a better way. BUT it WILL require Time, Patience and consistency.
...more

5

Jun 04, 2016

Zak George's Dog Training Revolution, written by Zak George and Dina Roth Port, is a wonderful book that covers all of the essentials in dog training. I initially found out about Zak George when my son adopted a Border Collie and Black Lab mix puppy last March. I was looking for, and desperately needing help with training, and found his amazing videos on YouTube. Like his videos, this book covers everything from house-training to teaching your dog tricks. I have had dogs in the past, but never a Zak George's Dog Training Revolution, written by Zak George and Dina Roth Port, is a wonderful book that covers all of the essentials in dog training. I initially found out about Zak George when my son adopted a Border Collie and Black Lab mix puppy last March. I was looking for, and desperately needing help with training, and found his amazing videos on YouTube. Like his videos, this book covers everything from house-training to teaching your dog tricks. I have had dogs in the past, but never a Border Collie. Border Collies are amazing dogs, but more high-strung than I am familiar with, and his methods were a great help with the training process. The book also covers behavioral problems, such as biting, chewing, barking, and aggression. Everything is explained in great detail, and offers methods that truly seem to work. Choosing the right dog for your family is discussed, as well as caring for your dog. Like I said, this covers just about everything you can think of when it comes to training and caring for your dog. I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for help with training their dog.

I was given an advance copy of this book from Ten Speed Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

5

Nov 27, 2017

I might be overly rating this but I lOVED it! My husband and I were in the process of getting a corgi puppy and I saw this book in our new collection at the library. There are so many helpful insights and tips. Though I have had several dogs in my life I had never officially dealt with a puppy before. But with the help of Zak George we started off running. It made everything so much easier and I learned so many things I didn't have a clue about! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

He has great tips for those I might be overly rating this but I lOVED it! My husband and I were in the process of getting a corgi puppy and I saw this book in our new collection at the library. There are so many helpful insights and tips. Though I have had several dogs in my life I had never officially dealt with a puppy before. But with the help of Zak George we started off running. It made everything so much easier and I learned so many things I didn't have a clue about! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

He has great tips for those who have older dogs too, not just puppies! This is a must read for any dog owner!

Plus he has a youtube channel that runs with the book. So if you are more a visual learner you can see everything he does. ...more

4

Feb 25, 2017

Great as an introduction or refresher on positive dog training methods and philosophies. Love his YouTube videos too! We're having lots of success with his methods.

3

Aug 18, 2019

Useful. Am new mother of two huskies and I learned a lot. I love Zacs passion and enthusiasm. Will go along well with the you tube series to see the techniques in action. Sometimes a bit repetitive in terms of content but it hammers things home I suppose. Useful. Am new mother of two huskies and I learned a lot. I love Zac’s passion and enthusiasm. Will go along well with the you tube series to see the techniques in action. Sometimes a bit repetitive in terms of content but it hammers things home I suppose. ...more