Laura VanArendonk BaughFired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out: Training the Crazy Dog from Over the Top to Under Control (Training Great Dogs)

I have only gotten part way through the training protocol, but I have already seen some improvement in my highly reactive dog. Some reviewers mentioned that she was hard to follow, but I found that rereading the book once or twice really helped me understand the method. Also, it is important to not rush the training, but divide it up into baby steps so the the dog can make steady, successful progress. And she pointed out that if the dog messes up it it probably means that you have to go back a step or two and reinforce what you taught previously. This book has helped us improve our relationship with our beloved dog.

I'm tired of all these gimmicks being sold to (almost entirely) female dog owners.to "fix" their so-called "reactive" dogs.What it all boils down to is obedience and desensitization. That is it. You have a dog that attacks other dogs? That's not reactive- that is aggressive. Deal with it and control your dog. You have a dog that barks at other dogs that get it her face? That is reactive in a normal way. Make sure you can call your dog in those situations and that your dog isn't being forwardly aggressive. Don't bring her to a dog park. Dog barks at strangers at the door- well, you decide to what extent that is acceptable and either put the dog up or train her to go to place when you have guests. Not everyone wants a dog that is social with every stranger that comes to call.This book is fine for those owners who want to try yet another gimmick that is very hard to actually complete in real life because you don't have access to multiple calm dogs to practice scenarios again and again. Most of us live busy lives and want to include our dogs, rather than have our live and activities revolve around the dogs.But if you actually want a dog who can work and live with you, go back to the basics. Starting with choosing the right dog for your situation. Don't want a dog that is "reactive?". Steer clear of border collies, cattle dogs, german shepherds. Go with the stoic go-lucky Labrador or Newfoundland. Want a dog that has a little more edge, be ready to train her. From day one."Reactive" means that a dog is responsive to stimuli in her environment. But now it's the go-to phrase for every dog owner whose dog isn't completely social and friendly or has some character flaws (don't they all). Many dogs are reactive - indeed, some dogs are bred with reactivity as a temperament trait- and it isn't a flaw unless the dog is overly aggressive, overly hyper, or simply under socialized.People need to stop psycho- analyzing their dogs and start training and exercising and managing where needed. If you want an "easy" dog they are out there, but if you chose a working dog, especially a high-energy type with some inherent "reactivity" or a dog specifically bred for a certain level of aggression, you need to step up your game. Stop reading about BAT and "reactive rover" and LAT and Control Unleashed and start working with an understanding your dog.I finally realized this and I won't be buying any more of this type of book. I hope this helps those who were thinking of spending their money and time on yet another feel-good, difficult-to-achieve, and almost never "finished" training pattern to do their research, and train their dogs.

This is a really great book and I would highly recommend it! I adopted a dog from the humane society that came from an abusive background and he was very, very stressed for the for several months. He would constantly pace, become inconsolable if I so much as left the room to take a shower and jump at every little person or dog that walked by. The stress was really starting to take a toll on his health. In combination with a Thundershirt and T-touch, the techniques in this book have really helped him. He has transformed from this jittery, high-strung dog to a happy, relaxed dog in about six months. It does take a lot of dedicated work, but this book teaches you step-by-step. My dog loves his relaxation mat now, it has become kind of like a security blanket for him. I take it to the vet with us and when he sees it, he knows to lay down and self-calms at this point. Again, this type of work does take time and you can't push your dog too fast. I have seen such a positive difference in him that I would highly recommend this book to others.The techniques in this book are great, but the writing is also simple, conversational and easy to read. The book isn't too long-about 150 pages. My dog really responds well to clicker training and this book is clicker based, so be sure you have one. If you dog is not already clicker trained before you buy this book, the author gives you clear instructions on how to "load" the clicker so a click has meaning to the dog.

So, I have a service dog in training who is a perfect gentleman except for the fact that he likes to try and hop on people when they come in the door and lick them to death. Obviously, this is a bit of a problem, but Vincent was no "normal" puppy, and this problem behavior didn't come up until several months into his training. Having most of his other behaviors down and dealing with something like this was more than a little frustrating to me, and I imagine my frustration wasn't very helpful to him, either. When I described the issues to another trainer and explained that other tactics hadn't seemed to work, she sent me this book. At first, all I could do was giggle at the title. As it turns out though, this book contains a wealth of knowledge that was very helpful to Vincent and I. Thanks to the tips and tricks mentioned in this book, Vincent and I have not only managed to bond even more than we already have, but that little problem we've been having is fast becoming nothing more than a memory. This book doesn't read like some training manuals I've looked into, either. It was actually fun to work through--for both of us! I would definitely, DEFINITELY recommend this book if you've got an overzealous four-legged friend.

I have a highly reactive dog, particularly towards other dogs when out for a walk.After reading other reviews I expected this to be just what I needed... I was wrong.The book explains the physiological aspects of the reactive dog in a way that is informative, humorous, and easy to understand. So far, so good.Then the book puts the theory into practice. It requires the owner to train their dog to remain calm whilst ON A MAT. Now, this would be great if my dog was reactive in the house, but he isn't. The example in the book continues to use the idea of a dog that barks etc at the doorbell going/ postman/ visitor to the house.My dog is reactive outside the house and the "tips" offered around this are ridiculously impractical. "Carry the mat with you on your walk" and another one includes having to train your dog whist getting someone else to come near with their dog (that is also an unknown dog that your dog will react to but that you can also direct at a distance!?!)Great if your dog has a problem in the house, poor if (like mine) the issues are outside.3 stars given as the price is great and I would recommend it to anyone who needs/wants to understand fear physiology in dogs and/or has a indoor doggie issue.Would absolutely NOT recommend for any other issues.

SUMMARY: The ins-and-outs of teaching a solid settle to serial canine over-reacters.AUDIENCE: The author primarily wrote this book for owners, but the protocols may be too demanding for that readership without the encouragement of a professional.REVIEW:In a nutshell: Another book in the recent trend of reducing prompting, and letting the dog work it out more. This one focuses on mat work, or how to teach your dog to relax at the mere sight of your training mat.There is also a great chapter on puppy socialization - possibly one of the best chapters I've ever read on the topic (pragmatically concise, responsibly thorough, and surprisingly original).Style: The book meets the big three's of non-fiction: it flows, it entertains, and it educates. The author has this knack for illustrating abstract concepts with great analogies. It turns out she is a professional writer (fiction and non fiction) in addition to her dog work. She certainly raises the bar for the rest of us on the style front.Technique: She not only writes well, but she clearly masters the underlying theory. I have not face-palmed once. Not - one - single - time. Coming from this painfully pedantic theory nerd (i.e. me), it means a lot. Her reasoning and facts were as good as water-tight.She also produces references for the facts she presents, which is a nice touch in a book written for the layman.The book also got me to pause and think about some of the finer stuff:Downside of prompting: a full-length discussion reviewing the dangers of over-promptingCue as tertiary reinforcer, when the cue itself becomes motivating.Delivering the reward by throwing it away for the dog to chase, to allow him to shed tension.Technique meets style: Her grasp of technique and style made for insightful imagery. Some extracts:Dogs asking questions: A dog making a mistake is asking you a question. You have failed to answer it if he makes the same mistake twice.Combat pay: That extra yummy piece of cheese for the really tough situation.Poisoned cue: A cue with a history of unpleasant, or unclear, consequences.Splitting, not lumping: About the importance to taking solid baby steps before running a marathonOn the minus front: The demands on owner compliance seem utopic. The need to keep records, and the micro-nano-mini-splitting (i.e. if the dog gets stuck, split the next step into five tiny steps) will discourage many 'civilian' readers, I fear.I would love to see one chapter dedicated to training school settings. I am considering using it for our school, but I need additional guidance before I do that.The verdict: I absolutely loved it. It read like a breeze, it was accurate, it added original points to old theories, and it was chock-full of analogies (always a plus for client communication). And, it gave me new things to add to my toolbox as a trainer. Consider me a happy customer.

Initial everything seemed sensible. Dog responded to using the mat and I can get her to lie and stay on it anywhere in the house or garden.But she would not completely relax on her mat as she was always waiting for another treat. The use of the clicker as soon as she saw (before she becomes fixated on) another dog did not work. As I suspected you shouldn't reward a dog for unwanted behaviour and soon the clicker had no affect. But she has learnt a lot from working on the mat and enjoys it.

Extremely informative, very helpful and interesting. Highly recommend.

This is a great book if you have a hyper, reactive dog. The exercises are easy and doable, even if you lead a busy life, and they work if you consistently do them. I was amazed at how quickly my Patterdale terrier calmed down and started focusing on me regardless of distractions. And I had tried a lot of other approaches.The book is well written and a pleasure to read.