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How Dogs Learn (Howell reference books) | 
 enlarge | Authors: Mary R. Burch, Bailey, Jon S. Phd.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Category: Book
New (26) Used (8) from £5.63
Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 18187
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9
ISBN: 0876053711
Dewey Decimal Number: 636.70835
UPC: 021898053718
EAN: 9780876053713
ASIN: 0876053711
Publication Date: April 20, 1999
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 An excellent starter for the would-be dog behaviourist September 11, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have read many books which claim to teach you about dogs and their ways of thinking. This is the first such book which actually keeps its promise.
Another reviewer here said it was boring, but with respect I think that is unfair and probably says more about the attention span of the reader than the quality of the book.
Unlike other books in this category it doesn't waffle on about the authors' personal and/or professional lives. It does exactly what it says on the cover. It explains the theory of how dogs learn (much like the rest of us in many ways), what they respond to, their understanding of reward and punishment, and how these concepts can be used in the pursuit of real-world dog training and behaviour objectives. It also gives some (but not so many as to waste space by waffling) real-life examples from the author's own experiences to back-up the theory.
I read it from cover to cover within a few days. There were some points I didn't fully digest the first time, so I then re-read the more involved parts again more slowly. Having done so, I can honestly tell you hand on heart that my personal understanding of my dogs' minds and the effects that what I do has upon them, has dramatically improved. Before I read this book I used to just follow the steps listed in other more practical books without really understanding why I was doing it (and they often didn't work, because real life does not pan out the same as it does in books!).
But now, because I understand more about why the things I do have the effect they do, my training methods have improved significantly from what they used to by 'blind faith', and I have even begun to design my own training scenarios with at least a basic expectation of how different situations will benefit my dogs' training in different ways.
As long as your own mind is in itself capable of learning (and hasn't been dumbed down by today's trash culture), and you want to learn serious facts, rather than just be entertained, I feel sure you will find this a very worthwhile and useful book on this subject.
I can thoroughly recommend this book (and no I don't have any shares in it's sales, I promise!)
 Easy reference book January 29, 2006
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I thought this book was presented in an easily readable style, and explained principles well. I would recommend it for people who are interested in learning about behaviour though rather than to a dog owner who wants to find a solution for a problem with their pet.
It gives examples and human comparisons to help get your head around the phrasiology, which is an important part of diagnosing behaviour problems, clients find you more credible if you know the jargon!
an interesting read August 11, 2004
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
An excellent book for anyone with a keen interest in dog behavior and training.It is not a training manual but rather an explaination of the scuientific principles behind behaviors and as such some may find it heavy going, but I felt it was well written and presented.
It explains some of the terminology that you may hear in other dog training books e.g positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, extinction, respondant conditioning etc.
Good book October 12, 2003
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
I really enjoyed this book and found it very helpful. Everything is very clearly explained, unlike many books on this subject in which the authors themselves are hazy on the differences between negitive and positive reinforcement, etc, etc.I would reccommend it for anyone who wishes to have a academic look at the way dogs (or any animal) learns.
A theory-based explanation of how animals learn December 22, 1999
18 out of 18 found this review helpful
This is an easy to read book based on learning theory. Although the examples predominantly apply to dog-training scenarios, the fundamental principals apply to all organisms. There is a lot of psudo-science out there. This book cuts through all the garbage and gives you the definitive answers. Fasinating reading.
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