Books like Total Recall: Perfect Response Training for Puppies and Adult Dogs

A whole, not particularly slim, volume on training (or retraining) pet (rather than working) dogs to come when you call! What a good idea. It isn't an easy read if you are paying close attention as the guidelines are very detailed (and that is perhaps why it is so distinctive). Perhaps almost by definition only those with a better chance of succeeding at training their dog to do anything in the first place will have the character and determination to read it properly all the way through. I found it hard going as someone who starts at the beginning and works her way through to the back cover - the way the book is structured, you may need to jump around and I found it hard to remember what I still had left to read.This is a borrowed book and it is a pity it is relatively expensive as I could do with my own copy to follow the programme properly. There are some great principles in the book - some of which should be commonly known to most owners exposed to effective modern empathic dog training methods, others which may be new - but I sense that the promise of the book will not be as fulfilled without the detail as I was quite disappointed to realise how many of the principles I have used from day one and still have challenges with recall enough to compromise my enjoyment. There perhaps lies my one quibble with the book as I feel it makes assumptions about the sort of enclosed outdoor space you have at home for laying the groundwork - but maybe I am making excuses. I'm also not sure it really addresses the complications of using a trailing training lead or long line in all the situations dog owners may have available. I don't mind a wet or muddy lead (well, not too much anyway) but I do mind one covered in what irresponsible dog owners have allowed to remain on the ground.However, on the whole, it has a good tone compared with many dog training manuals - owners are not treated as though they are reprobate idiots, we are not regaled with anecdotes about the rich and famous, we don't hear what a wonderful way she has with animals, it sticks firmly to the business in hand. I was interested in the detail given about the use of food rewards and how to vary them. Recall training a la Pippa Mattinson is a messy and potentially expensive business - feeding wet cat food from your hand, taking out big chunks of fresh from the oven roast chicken or gammon... (I plan to try this latter although I suspect my own dog wouldn't go anywhere far enough from my leg to be recalled from if that's what I was carrying)I am sure she is correct about the harm done by using a recall command when your dog is not coming back. However, she doesn't address the cultural expectation that you should be seen to be 'doing something' - people would rather see you chasing around and bellowing ineffectually (as with the famous Fenton's hapless owner) than turning smartly on your heel and walking off in the other direction which is more likely to be effective at least long term as she says.I liked that she had lots of suggestions and reassurances about your dog's exercise and activity needs whilst you are working on improving recall.