 "A must read for someone who wants to better understand man's best friend" | 2009-10-16 |
| - Reviewed By mwbookrevw |
| Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, dogs are from Neptune. Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, "Dogs Are From Neptune" plays on the concept of that other famed self-help book to a guide readers better understand their dogs and their occasionally baffling behavioral patterns which so often seems to work against dog and owner's best interests. Outlining the fundamentals that all creatures follow and building on that, "Dogs Are From Neptune" is a must read for someone who wants to better understand man's best friend. |
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 "Dogs Are From Neptune" | 2009-07-21 |
| - Reviewed By dewt |
I was disappointed. The advertisement for the book said, "If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, then dogs are from their own planet, Neptune, where the rules for social interaction are very alien to our own." I had expected it to be more about the psychology of canines but it is a book that contains questions and answers that have appeared on the Website of a dog trainer about how to deal with aggressive dogs. Good title, good book if you are looking for ideas on how to deal with aggressiveness in dogs, but not psychology of dogs.
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 "Poorly written" | 2008-12-26 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1S7C9B934OQ0O |
| This is a poorly written book, and I liked it less than Culture Clash, which I didn't really like either. Many of the problems she highlights, like pulling on a leash, end up with very little practical advice. Instead we get intellectualized jargon. Donaldson is in need of a very good editor, or prhaps a co-writer who knows the art of wordsmithing. |
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| "Q&A for Dog Issues - Good Beginning But Needs More" | 2008-03-16 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1JBLO92HTRN53 |
The book is well written and easy to read. The book is set up in a Questions and Answer format. Someone, generally another trainer, submits a problem dog issue and then the author gives her recommendation. The answers sound and use positive dog training methods. However, the answers are brief and only give you a superficial beginning/understanding of the solution. It is a good book if you want an overview of handling several dog issues.
My trainer suggested this book along with several others to help with my fearful dog. I found a few good ideas, but since the book only has a small section on this issue, I did not find it as helpful as other books I have read. If you have a fearful dog, I would highly recommend "Scaredy Dog! Understanding and Rehabilitating Your Reactive Dog" by Ali Brown.
If you are looking for some quick suggestions on several dog issues, this would be a good book. If you want some in depth understanding and suggestions on a specific problem, I would suggest you skip this book.
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 "Dogs are from Neptune - Good Training Information" | 2007-04-04 |
| - Reviewed By shortgrin |
After struggling through The Culture Clash, I found Dogs are from Neptune to be a much easier, more outlined reading experience. The book is organized around problem areas and while much of the training recommendations are repeated, it still gives the reader clear cut, easy to follow training suggestions. I have used the book as a resource guide many times when working with my cattle dog foster dogs and coaching other foster families. Dog owners looking for a quick fix may be dismayed at the amount of training she recommends to solve dog behavior issues. However, I have found her suggestions to work well. I still recommend The Culture Clash as a necessary read along with Dogs are from Neptune, however expect this book to be much easier to follow.
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| "Highly practical advice, entertainingly written" | 2006-11-10 |
| - Reviewed By tomkirshbaum |
Jean Donaldson is one of the world's foremost experts on how dogs learn and how to teach them. Her methods are humane, based on the well-studied science of behaviorism, not stressful or harmful to dogs, and very, very effective.
The gems in this book are practical solutions to the everyday problems dog owners face, with just enough information thrown in so that dog owners can understand why their old methods didn't work, why these methods do work, and how to apply the principles to other situations.
Ms. Donaldson's most famous book, Culture Clash, goes into much more detail about the learning theory, how dogs think, and why we so often use the worst possible methods to train them. It is less a "how to" book than a "why" book. For people whose dogs are giving them fits, Dogs are from Neptune is the book to start with. Then, follow up with Culture Clash for a deeper understanding.
As a dog trainer specializing in behavior problems, I often recommend Neptune to my clients and they love it! |
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