Total Recall: Perfect Response Training for Puppies and Adult Dogs Paperback – December 1, 2012

First, a warning: the paper book is much better than the Kindle version. I have them both and the electronic format seems a bit off while the physical book is a joy to read.Total Recall is a dog training book that helps you build just one command: the recall. A third is about the how dogs learn and some common misconceptions and how they affect the recall command which is a bit trickier because the dog is away and you can't really correct any mistakes easily. The meat of the book is about the actual structured training with step-by-step exercises and there are a couple of troubleshooting chapters. It's a very easy read and you'll even get a couple of laughs on your way to an almost perfect recall!Some of the comments mention whistle training. Pippa Mattinson has a whole subchapter about whistles. First, she recommends Acme whistles with a 210.5 or 211.5 pitch because they are inexpensive and they are guaranteed to sound the same so you can replace them easily. Second, the whistle sound carries well over distance and third, the whistle sound is neutral and the dog can't really tell if you're annoyed.Incidentally the recommended whistle has rather low reviews on Amazon but it's just because people expect that whistle to be silent. It's not and, if you blow it hard enough, it can be very loud. Acme is a British brand and a lot British-type dog trainers use those Acme whistles. However, this does not mean this is a book about whistle training. You can replace the whistle with a different sound but you might not be as successful.One last piece of advice: read the book a number of times before starting the training. There are some tiny gems that you can't really pick up initially, like splitting the daily walk into segments (5 minutes free running, 5 minutes training, 5 minutes heeling, then 5 minutes running and so on). You'll get more interactions with your dog and he'll learn to appreciate you more than the neighbor's dog.Excellent book, highly recommended.

I realized that training me had to happen before I could make progress with my soon to be delivered Labrador. I feel this has provided the background I need to proceed positively and patiently!

Lot's of practical information. Very clear on the basis of training the recall. I am following the book as my dog grows older. So far so good. I would have preferred some more info on dog whistles though, since the book is partly based on using one. Try to buy a dog whistle, without specific advice, and you will see what I mean....

Although the focus of this book is specifically for training dogs to always come when called, it is also an excellent general reference for all dog owners. The basic principles of behavior modification are clearly explained with excellent examples as they relate to dog training. The book outlines a very detailed step by step plan for teaching recall. I recommend reading the entire book first, then going back to the program, reading as you implement the training program. The program requires a whistle, a helper and an additional dog in the later stages of the program, as well as the preparation of a variety of special "treats" to use in training. The program is highly detailed and begins by training the dog to associate the sound of the whistle with a significant reward like large chunks of juicy meat. I have no doubt that if done exactly as prescribed, the program would be successful. That said, I did not have access to an additional person with a dog in order to complete that phase of the training and did not complete the training. My dog (a 15 month old energetic and distractible lab mix) continues to come consistently when called INSIDE but that's really no big deal. I haven't been successful yet with the training phases that take place OUTSIDE. Still, this is an excellent book and a good review for even seasoned dog owners.

Whether it's teaching your dog, a child or an adult - the art of teaching is not intuitive. I am a teacher by trade and read several books on dog training but find that this author really knows how to teach dogs and how to explain it to us humans in a way that makes sense. She explains in plain English how dogs learn, and the stages that you MUST take in order to have an obedient dog that you can TRUST. By reading this book you will not only teach your dog obedience, you'll also teach yourself how to be an effective dog trainer. The principles that apply to the recall command apply to ALL obedience training and beyond. Without this book I would not have had the knowledge and the confidence to unlock the key to all the other books, videos and training techniques out there. This book has opened my eyes to the techniques of dog training. Now as I navigate other more advanced training tactics I refer back to the foundations my dog and I gained in this book. If you can only afford ONE book for your dog training, get this one. Read and study it cover to cover and you'll be able to apply these training principle for the rest of your dog's life to ALL and ANY commands or training you choose. There are a lot of free videos and resources that will show you how to teach tricks and commands. But few will break it down so thoroughly that you actually understand what you are doing and why it works (or doesn't work).