Easy to follow/read. Wether or not you are a first time owner, it is a great reference and a reminder of what to do and not to do. I enjoyed reading it and definitely found it helpful with our new puppy.

A comprehensive dog owners manual! I read through this manual before getting our first dog last week and it proved to be invaluable. We have followed it's instructions to a "t" and our puppy is house trained in one week with no accidents. She sleeps through the night (and has since day 1) in her crate and is already learning simple commands. The book hits home the need to have a schedule, be consistent, and be aware of your tone of voice. Excellent purchase!

I thought that Mr. Kilcommons had a lot of great ideas. The thing is you use what works and your leave the rest. Not every trainer works for every dog. The main thing is that the person must be the alpha dog and act properly so that your dog respects you and wants to work for you.
I like the fact that Mr. Kilcommons says that the owners need to do their part, such as exercise. If a dog misbehaves, a lot of time it may be because they are not getting enough exercise. So if they still misbehave, give them more exercise. There is a lot of responsibility to being an owner. Also, I saw the results regarding using plastic bowls for my cats; I used Mr. Kilcommons' advice in using ceramic or stainless steel bowls instead and one my cats lost her black mark on her chin. So the book has a lot of good advice.

I thought that Mr. Kilcommons had a lot of great ideas. The thing is you use what works and your leave the rest. Not every trainer works for every dog. The main thing is that the person must be the alpha dog and act properly so that your dog respects you and wants to work for you.
I like the fact that Mr. Kilcommons says that the owners need to do their part, such as exercise. If a dog misbehaves, a lot of time it may be because they are not getting enough exercise. So if they still misbehave, give them more exercise. There is a lot of responsibility to being an owner. Also, I saw the results regarding using plastic bowls for my cats; I used Mr. Kilcommons' advice in using ceramic or stainless steel bowls instead and one my cats lost her black mark on her chin. So the book has a lot of good advice.

this book is amazing!! it has great tips and really helped me with my puppy triaing!

This is a good book if you need information about your dog, and things that you need to improve on! Its worth the money!

I read this book over 15 years ago before I brought my dog home. The advice was invaluable...I raised a happy, healthy, and emotionally secure Westie who lived to be almost 15 years old. I referred to the book and revisited chapters throughout Murphy's life, and ultimately found Brian's advice about the inevitable very comforting.

Recommended by out Vet for help in training our new pup. So far, so good.

Great information, sound advise. To use the words of the author, Brian Kilcommons "Instead of going out of your mind, get into his". This books is a must read for every dog owner.

This book covers a very wide range of topics. I just bought a puppy and this book has really helped me with housetraining, training, and just general puppy issues. The author's approach is to-the-point, gentle, and effective.

I'm not even done with the book yet and I have already learned a wealth of information that will help me raise my puppy into a well-behaved and loving pet. My wife and I started going to puppy classes and most of the training is almost redundant because of what we had already learned from the book.

This is a great book. It made training extremely easy and the concepts are gentle and make complete sense. We have a great dog who is perfectly trained thanks to this book. Highly recommend. Our dog is 10 and I've loaned this book out more times than I can count! I still thumb through it as reference!

I can't say enough about this book. It is not only clear and easy to follow, it serves up fabulous results. As if that weren't enough, it's actually fun to read and makes you enthusiastic about being the good owner each dog needs in order to be a great canine. FANTASTIC

Excellent book wonderful advice. Well written easy to follow. I would recommend this to anyone with a dog or looking to get a dog. He was great advice on how to pick out a well behaved and trainable puppy. He also has great advice on how to train the dog to do most of the basics. Potty training, sit, come, stay, how to walk on a leash. What are some good toys, etc.

GOOD OWNERS, GREAT DOGS: A TRAINING MANUAL FOR HUMANS AND THEIR CANINE COMPANIONS (THE KILCOMMONS WAY TO A PERFECT RELATIONSHIP)

This is the best possible book for training any dog

I bought an 8 wk old puppy (my first) and this book was recommended to me by a dog trainer. I found the advice to be very helpful and the approaches to be doable. The big plus is that Kilcommons provides specific advice for city dog owners in terms of challenges with house training, noise, confined living space and puppy quarantine periods.

I also bought Puppies for Dummies and found that book to be better organized, easier to reference and more useful overall. I tend to reference Dummies more often, but am glad that I read both. The recommendations in both books are generally consistent. I found Dummies to provide more alternative solutions to problems, whereas Good Owners tends to use one approach to fit all.

I bought this book before we got a puppy and so glad I did. It tells you who to buy from and who not to buy from. How to test the temperment of a puppy before you buy or adopt. The crate training and housebreaking info has be VERY helpful now that we have our 10 week old puppy at home! After housebreaking we will move on to the other training portions of the book.

I'm a dog behavior consultant and trainer and try to read as many dog related books as I can get my hands on. This one is probably the one book I would recommend to every single person with a dog. It covers just about everything you need to know to better understand your four-legged friend and is easy to read and well organized. Brian Kilcommons really understands dogs and how to communticate with them to help our two very different species live together in harmony.

I've read this book cover to cover two or three times. Kilcommons knows what he is talking about and I agree with his techniques which are illustrated throughout. Pair this with The Loved Dog and you're on your way to establishing a true connection with your dog. LOVE this book!

I recently got a new dog and am reading this book again to refresh my memory. When I got my first dog, I went to the local library and checked out all the dog-training books. I didn't know much about dogs and didn't have any preconceived notions about theories or training styles. I decided to go with this book because it seemed like the best approach--logical, not too complicated, and not unpleasant for the dog (as some reviewers here have suggested).

The authors' main concept of "correction" could really be more accurately called "distraction"--you're not punishing your dog--you're just for a split second redirecting his attention with the jingling sound of the choke chain when he does something you want him to stop doing. The authors in no way advocate choking or otherwise abusing your dog.

My dog was a 100-pound adult with no apparent training when I adopted him. Following the advice in this book, I soon had myself a well-behaved, happy dog who I was able to take anywhere (the office, beaches, hotel rooms, etc.). The authors' method for developing reliable recall in your dog was especially helpful--worked beautifully. And later my dog enjoyed learning hand-signals, with no physical aids at all. He thought training was a fun game. I did give up trying to get him to heel, because as soon as I praised him for doing it right he'd get excited and start romping ahead, and I didn't really care about heeling so I didn't pursue it. And the one behavior problem he came with that I was never able to completely eradicate was a pre-existing aggression toward male skateboarders.

So this book may not help resolve entrenched, pre-existing problems (or maybe it would have if I'd put in more effort-to be honest I didn't spend that much time trying) but it does provide a simple, humane approach to training a normal or mostly normal dog.

If you have a major dog problem I recommend the "Dog Whisperer" (Cesar Millan) books & TV show--which weren't around when I got my dog. I've heard a lot of criticism of him, too, from people who think he's cruel or wrong-headed, but as far as I can tell these opinions stem from their imaginations. Clearly they've never watched his show or read his books. I've seen 2 seasons' worth of his shows and read his first book and there's nothing remotely cruel or abusive about his approach. He also gets amazing results, even with dogs who appear to be hopeless cases.

This book is a fantastic resource! Everyone is *so* impressed at how well trained my puppy is - I owe it all to the information I read in this book. However, I am highly disappointed with the walking instruction. The book has very little information on how to teach a puppy or dog to walk well. There is some instruction ("the detailed section") on *corrections* for common walking problems, but again, there is little to no information with regards to how to really nip these problems. The author writes as though the dog's problems will disappear after 1 or 2 corrections. I walk my pup every day, and some days we get nowhere because all I do is correct, correct, correct. Some additional or supplemental information would be nice -- teaching techniques on how to start training your dog to walk right in the first place (maybe a timeline for walk-training), how many times you should be correcting, etc.

Did you ever get a dog and wish it had come with its own instruction book? THIS is the instruction book!

Brian Kilcommons is a highly experienced dog trainer who tells you everything you need to know when getting a dog. This book covers where to look for a puppy, how to select a puppy, 4 simple tests to use on puppies you are considering. The puppy's first day home, house breaking, feeding, walking, commands.

Also a great book for older dogs, it is never too late to start!

I bought this book when I bought my first dog and was desperately trying to train her. She was a perfect dog her whole life and I pulled this book out from time to time right up to when I needed the section on euthenizing my beloved friend.

Now it is required reading for my whole family because today we brought home a new puppy! I'm not worried about training her or raising her, because Brian Kilcommons is with me every step of the way!

This is the best book available. Clear, easy to understand and every training lesson is all on no more than 2 pages complete with pictures. I first got it because the San Francisco SPCA uses it in their dog training classes. I give it to all my friends when they get their first dog.

I got this because of my border collie. I now understand so much about him and I am very glad I got this book. It was hard to choose which book to get since there are so many out there. I researched many books before deciding on this one. If you want to understand your dog, buy this book! It helps to train and fix behaviors problems.

WE used this book years ago to train our Bordeaux and are now using it to train our Boston. Really has great advice. All our friends have borrowed it for their dogs as well.

I was told by my son this was a great book for a first time dog owner...... and according to my friend the giftee he was perfectly correct. She has used it constantly for reference from the first day she received it.

We have read a lot of the dog training and ownership books out there, trying to obtain enough information on how to have a well mannered pooch and this book was by far the easiest, most reliable read. It tells you like it is and really gets to the heart of the matter. We give this book as a "puppy" gift to our friends and family whenever a new dog comes into their lives. Highly recommended for new and old dog owners alike.

This book is a fantastic reference and have read and gone back to it lots of times for help..Many Thanks

When I was buying my first puppy, I bought several different dog training books, and this was one of them. This was also the book that was the most helpful, and most referenced through my dog's puppy hood. This is a great book that every single person getting a dog should read. It covers all the basics to get you through puppyhood, and provides some information about stopping unwanted behaviors in your dog. High recommended for all future dog owners.

I ordered this book 8 months ago, and it still hasn't shipped. So the 4-6 week delivery estimate is fiction. It looks like a great book, and I'll reserve judgment on it until/if I receive it.

This book is very informative. Has pictures which shows you exactly how to do the movements to train the dog. Using it right now on a 5 month old puppy and making good progress. A must have!

This is a book that every dog owner should get. It is well written, has plenty of photos so that you can see what the Authors are talking about. It takes you from getting a puupy all the way though traing your adult dog...

Well written, easy read, great information. Good all around reference book for novice and experienced dog owners.

Well written, easy read, great information. Good all around reference book for novice and experienced dog owners.

Theis book provides step by step instructions on the how-to of puppy raising. Answers all my questions! A Must to own!

While the general philosophy of "Fun, Firm, and Fair" still holds, most of the techniques described in this book are considered outdated, even by the authors. Instead of this book, you might want to check out Kilcommons and Wilson latest work: My Smart Puppy.

Boui\ght this book 6 years with first Scottish terrier puppy. Great results. Recently bought second terrier and had loaned teh book out. Ordered second copy and am grateful for teh "puppy wisdom" if offers. I highly recomend the book for anyone with the desire andpatience to train a dog and teach it "manners."

What a great book. I bought a couple of others that were highly recommended and they didn't even touch the value of this one. This one I initially borrowed but now know it is the one to OWN because I will be referring to it a great deal. Not just broad strokes, but the nitty gritty is here. It is humane but firm.

some of hte content is surprising and some we just needed reminding of.

This book was extremely helpful to our family. It helped us understand our puppies needs, which in turn, made it much easier to get him acclimated into our household. When we give him what he needs, he gives us what we need from him. He was potty trained in 2 weeks and was doing tricks 2 weeks later. It really, really helped.

I like this book and have purchased it as a gift. It offers a lot of common sense insights into dog behavior and tips for corrections. It was recommended to me by a top notch breeder and is a good addition to a well rounded doggie library. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I'd personally prefer more in-depth reading on dog behavior. It does, however, cover a great breadth, which makes it entirely worthwhile.

I thought I knew a lot about dogs, but this book highlighted some things that I did not know. I recommend it to seasoned pet owners as well as first-timers.

Brian Kilcommons certainly has a grip on dog psychology, and I believe if one follows his advice to the T, many dogs will be well adjusted and well behaved. However there is the reality factor: most modern day yuppies, strained for time and patience will not be able to carry out the tips to 100% capability. For example, he advises, "only spend 10 minutes per hour paying attention to your dog." Probably commendable, but do we have to carry around an egg timer? However, his advice to make a dog "work" for their comforts is an excellent one, and has reaped good behavior in my shepherd collie mix.

One of the best by an author I respect. I also have his book on choosing a dog. This man is knowledgable and for the most part, his hints on dog behavior and how to correct it, is reliable and helpful.

Enjoyed the guidance and insight into the psychology of learning from the dogs point of view. It immediately had positive effect upon my training and my dog's retention.

Wish there had been more emphasis and detail on training techniques as the author seemed to generalize alot.

I bought this book 13 years ago when I adopted my golden retriever and I used the information in this book to build a healthy, loving and harmonious relationship with my dog.

This book gave me solutions during the tough stage when my sweet-eyed puppy developed the infuriating habit of chewing up artwork and sentimental keepsakes in my home and it gave me the tools I needed to understand and train my dog.

My golden was known for being "mannerly" and well trained and I give a lot of credit to "Good Owners, Great Dogs."

I said goodbye to my golden earlier this year and will be adopting a new dog from the Humane Society this week. I had to find a new copy of this book, too, because someone forgot to return it after borrowing it (tsk, tsk)! I am so happy to see it is still in print!!!

What I love about this book is the step by step instructions on how to train a dog. Kilcommons tells you exactly what you are supposed to do and then shows you with pictures (sadly black and white). He also offers several different methods of training one command. Because of this, Good Owners Great Dogs is a valuable resource to have. He also takes a no nonsense approach for establishing control of your dog.

The only drawback to this book is the training methods are very physcial (but not cruel). For most dogs, training that uses treats to guide dogs into position (which he does cover a little bit for some commands) results in the dog learning much quicker. However, it is very helpful to see the different options available.

Kilcommons also uses the Woodhouse training collar (not a choke collar) and quick "corrections" to enforce commands. While this is still a humane method, I believe there are better tools now that can be used instead. One great invention is the Haltee or Gentle Leader which allows you to have control over the dogs head movements and allows much much easier control of boistorous large dogs without a lot of effort.

Overall, I reccomend this book but to be used along side a positive reinforcement approach of which there are many many books.

Easy to understand, practical advice for owners or prospective owners of puppies. Ranks right up there with the books written by the Monks of New Skete.

Great book, written by great trainers. Very informative and easy to understand methods. I can't wait to get their new My Smart Puppy video.

Really useful for a first time dog owner. Full of great tips and product recommendations. Also, it's very humane, unlike some other books that suggest you don't give your puppy water at certain times, etc. Overall, I really recommend it.