Don't Shoot the Dog: The Art of Teaching and Training

Karen Pryors clear and entertaining explanation of behavioral training methods made Dont Shoot the Dog a bestselling classic with revolutionary insights into animaland humanbehavior. In her groundbreaking approach to improving behavior, behavioral biologist Karen Pryor says, Whatever the task, whether keeping a four-year-old quiet in public, housebreaking a puppy, coaching a team, or memorizing a poem, it will go fast, and better, and be more fun, if you know how to use reinforcement. Now Pryor clearly explains the underlying principles of behavioral training and reveals how this art can be applied to virtually any common situation. And best of all, she tells how to do it without yelling threats, force, punishment, guilt tripsor shooting the dog. From the eight methods for putting an end to all kinds of undesirable behavior to the ten laws of shaping behavior, Pryor helps you combat your own addictions and deal with such difficult problems as a moody spouse, an impossible teen, or an aged parent. Plus, theres also incredibly helpful information on house training the dog, improving your tennis game, keeping the cat off the table, and much more! In the course of becoming a renowned dolphin trainer, Karen Pryor learned that positive reinforcementis even more potent that prior scientific work had suggestedDont Shoot the Dog looks like the very best on the subjecta full-scale mind-changer (The Coevolution Quarterly). Learn why pet owners rave, This book changed our lives! and how these pioneering techniques can work for you, too.