Good Evening everybody,

my boyfriend and I are looking into buying a pug puppy and before we make a snap decision we are trying to get as informed as possible.

I had a look on the internet regarding good puppy training books and it seems that people are praising either Gwen Bailey or Cesar Millan.

Could you please advise me on what books have been helpful to you?

For me the book would be a source that I would use to gain insightful knowledge on puppy behavior, do's & dont's etc.... but still try to apply this information in a way that suites the puppy's and ours personality.

Thank you for your replies,
Nissa

get The Perfect Puppy By Gwen Bailey. I'd avoid Cesar Milan .

Gwen Bailey is about a million times better than Cesar Milan.

Ian Dunbar is also good, and worth reading.

The perfect puppy by Gwen Bailey
Before you get your puppy by Ian Dunbar
After you get your puppy by Ian Dunbar

I'd go for Gwen Bailey - it's the best puppy book, Ian Dunbar is excellent, I'd avoid Cesar Millan :-)

Have a read of The Puppy Primer - it's an excellent book for new and experienced puppy owners alike.  Shows you how to train with positive reinforcement and is full of easy steps and practical examples

More about the book, and author Patricia McConnell, on her website here

Another vote to AVOID Cesar Millan

Another vote to AVOID Cesar Millan

ditto!

The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson, in addition to those above. And avoid Cesar!

Dr Ian Dunbar - anything by him is great.

As for Milan - avoid like the plague. 

hi, question...why does everyone suggest to avoid cesar millan?

Have a search for previous threads about him. He's a very good showman but a very bad reader of dogs and their behaviours.

ok - thanks - i'll do a search and see what people have to say.

i read all the views on Cesar Millian and I guess everyone has their opinon.

I have a pup and noticed that as well as cesar and puppy schools, all trainers train in slightly different ways and have different ways of punishment.  I treat my dog as i would my child, firm but fair. 

My advice/opinion would be to do as much research and reading as you can about the breed you are interested in, analyise your lifestyle and try to ensure they match.  There are so many resources out there and there are a lot of people here that give sound advice.  I did 3 years of research as it was my first dog, you may not need that long.

Good Luck!!

i read all the views on Cesar Millian and I guess everyone has their opinon.

I have a pup and noticed that as well as cesar and puppy schools, all trainers train in slightly different ways and have different ways of punishment.  I treat my dog as i would my child, firm but fair.

People do train in different ways, but CM has done some really bad things - he will bully, frighten and  choke a dog for example. He will also set up dogs to be aggressive by using a dog to wind them up away from cameras. And laugh when he does this. Seen this on film.

The other point to make I guess is that most of the highly reputable organisations including Dogs Trust, WSPA, vet organisations, training and behaviour ones, do not support CM... that must say something.

As a dog trainer and behaviourist, I do not support CM, either ;)

Lindsay
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Another vote for Dr Ian Dunbar (check out DogStarDaily, too) and Puppyschool by Gwen Bailey. Also, books by Sarah Whitehead - not too expensive and nice and clear :)

Lindsay
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> all trainers train in slightly different ways and have different ways of punishment.

Punishment has no legitimate place in training - set your pup up to succeed, provide positive reinforcement and there will be no need to 'punish' :)

>I treat my dog as i would my child, firm but fair. 

Absolutely - which is why you wouldn't copy Cesar Milan, by setting you child up to fail then strangling it when it behaved as predicted and tried to save itself.

> hi, question...why does everyone suggest to avoid cesar millan?

my take on him is that he is able to get dogs to do what he wishes (and not always by methods most pet owners would like)  but... his technques are not very followable - particulary as much of the action does not appear on TV screen.  where as if you follow the advise given by the likes of Gwen Bailey, Ian Dunbar they are easy to follow and work . plus they work without risk of creating fear/conflict between owner and pup - they are methods which even if you mess up a bit you will not do any harm. with the more confrontational/punishment based methods if you mess up with inexperience you can ruin your pups temperament.

Thank you very much for your replies and advise.

I will have a look at all the authors mentioned above - perhaps even buy all there books to make sure i have covered all angles :-)

Thanks,
Nissa

>Punishment has no legitimate place in training

Says it all!  :-)

I don't think anyone is supporting any kind of violence, but for example i've been told by one trainer to use a can and another trainer horrified by the thought of it.

In regards to dog training, like to many things in life, there are many conflicting messages and methods.

thanks