Book Review: The Loved Dog by Tamar Geller

The Loved Dog: The Playful, Non Aggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior, Tamar Geller with Andrea Cagan, 2007.

I raised my two previous dogs from puppyhood. Since Gracie was three when I adopted her, I knew training her would be a completely different experience. What had her previous owner(s) instilled in her? Did she have any doggie manners? Would she try to attack the cats? Was she properly socialized?

The Loved Dog was one of the first books I read after Gracie joined our family. Ms. Geller is a former Israeli intelligence officer who founded the first cage-free doggy boarding and daycare center in southern California. She developed cruelty-free training techniques based upon her experiences from a troubled childhood and the abusive training methods she witnessed while serving in the military.

I really enjoyed this book. Ms. Geller’s approach is gentle and methodical. I felt her techniques were geared more toward gradually building a bond with your dog than mastering dominance over him or her. In fact, it seems to me that “gentle leader” would be the role she wants you to have, not domineering master.

Her methods are logical. For example, she notes that we often ramble on and on when giving a command to our dog: “Now, Gracie, I want you to be a good girl and potty as soon as we go outside because Mommy is tired and wants to go to bed.” So, what exactly did you want me to do, Mommy?? She recommends that you say the word “good” and add the command – “good walk,” “good sit,” et cetera. It builds the dog’s vocabulary and gives him/her a better chance at success.

Another technique I liked was her rewards system. She recommends having three levels of treats: gold, silver, and bronze. The higher the treat value (i.e. gold), the more complicated the behavior. I tried this technique early on with the car-riding phobia. Unfortunately, Gracie had completely shut down by then. No treat in the world would bring her back. I still think the system could be very effective, though. In my situation, I feel it would be better to try it when Gracie and I are learning other obedience commands, not trying to conquer fear.

Overall, I have found that her non-aggressive methods are effective with Gracie. I do not want Gracie to do something because she fears me. I want her to do it because she is having fun. You will find lots of great tips in the book. I would definitely recommend adding The Loved Dog to your training library.

Rescue Mommy