Second-Hand Dog: How to Turn Yours into a First-Rate Pet (Howell Reference Books)

asked by guitarplayer on November 1, 2006 3:51 PM

Praise for Second-Hand Dog

"At long last, the book all animal shelters have been waiting for is here: Carol Lea Benjamin's Second-Hand Dog." âSue Sternberg ASPCA Report

"...goes right to the heart of what it's all about..." âBarbara Dyer, Director Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter

"Benjamin writes with love and sensitivity about caring for pets 'adopted' from a shelter." âPublishers Weekly

"...a solid training program...a great book." âJob Michael Evans, Dog Fancy

"Why a book like this has never before been written is beyond me. It is an invaluable guide to rehabilitating those myriad unfortunate dogs which have either never had a home or have been shuttled from one owner to another, losing confidence, trust and self-esteem every step of the way. It is an absolute must for every owner who wants his second-hand dog to regain the ability to become the warm, loving companion every dog should be." âKenneth A. Marden President, The American Kennel Club

"...Carol Lea Benjamin has written a witty, sound and thoroughly appropriate book on the extraordinary advantages that each of us who has second-hand pets knows first-hand. If you're thinking about sharing your life with a pet or with another pet, read this book first!" âJohn F. Kullberg President ASPCA

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Reviews

I read this book before adopting my first Weimaraner; 4 years later I volunteer as a foster for Weimaraner Rescue and I've re-read it several times. After reading many other training books over the years, I've found Carol Lea Benjamin's dog-training books to be the best in their class.

Our rescue gives Second Hand Dog to each new adopter. I also highly recommend Dog Training in 10 Minutes. Both books provide invaluable information--in an entertaining and informative format--as an easy to read, easy to implement way to acclimate & train a new dog in the household.

All of Ms. Benjamin's books give newbie & experienced dog owners insight to canine behavior as well as provide the vehicle to make your dog "the dog you've always wanted." She emphasizes consistency and humane training that's enjoyable to both owner & dog.

Carol Lea Benjamin's dog-training books should be a must-read for every new dog owner!

reviewed by bugger on November 29, 2006 2:14 AM

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Excellent tips on choosing your new best friend and making him a welcome member of the household. Very practical advice from how to select the right dog all the way through training and grooming. I recommend it as a gift to anyone thinking about adopting a dog.

reviewed by blueoasis on November 29, 2006 11:10 AM

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This book contains some good basic information for the person who is completely clueless about dogs. It is also cheap, which is nice. However, Benjamin gives some advice that can be downright dangerous, particularly with adopted dogs whose degree of socialization one is not yet sure of when she declares that a hug is a great reward for good behavior. This may be true for humans, but for in the dog world, it is an agressive move and can be misinterpreted with disasterous consequences. There are some generalizations about dogs that can be enlightening, but if you're looking for specific information about how to train your shelter dog, you won't find it here.

reviewed by soulful on November 29, 2006 1:15 PM

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I'm sorry, I was really disappointed with this book, disappointed enough to write my first amazon.com review. The intention is great and as an owner of 3 rescue dogs I support the movement entirely. However, I felt the book was a fast overview of dog ownership, touching on training, care and personal stories, but none of those areas were handled in enough detail. I think this is particularly dangerous with the training section, which seems out-dated and emphasized correcting the dog more so than creating a scenario where the dog will succeed.

This is a great topic and an easy read, but I personally wish that the author would have done a detailed compilation of rescue stories.

reviewed by caramel on November 29, 2006 2:53 PM

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add a new book!