Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:31 am Post subject: Bones would Rain from the Sky
If Carlsberg made dog books.... (sorry for the ....s! )
This might sound really geeky, but I wondered if anyone fancied a wee discussion thread about this book?
What did you think of it?
Has it made you do/view things differently? If so, what?
What were the top 3 things that stood out for you?
I'll start
Overall, I thought the book was very thought provoking. I think the author was skilled at getting her points across by hanging them on real examples or analogies. At times I thought it was a bit waffly, but on reflection, I think it might've been the examples that I already had a reasonable grasp of that I found to be so. Whereas, other parts of it weren't waffly to me at all probably because these were the parts where I personally needed more examples and explanations. I always like people and books that get me thinking and reflecting on my values and questioning whether I'm really walking the walk. This book certainly did that.
I'm prone to getting frustrated with the dogs and I know I need to work on that. This book really underlined that point for me. It was also quite enlightening to learn that when a dog is highly aroused it literally cannot hear you. Makes perfect sense, why didn't I think about that before? I learned a lot about dog 'possession' rules. No wonder Bracken was iffy about retrieving for a while, since in canine terms, I'd been being very rude to her!
What has it made me do differently? A difficult one. I think since reading it, I've just been trying really hard to look at myself and when I'm irritated that the dog isn't doing what I want it to do, ask myself what is it about me that's the problem here. I think we all bang on about knowing that it isn't the dog's fault, it's ours, but sometimes I'm not always sure what exactly it was I've done (or omitted to do) that really didn't help matters!
I'm debating about giving the book to my mum to read. I think she could learn a lot from it. Whether she wants to listen to what is said is another matter entirely though
Still reading it here, but absolutely promise to come back to this thread when I've finished it.
So far I'd agree that it's immensly thought provoking, it made me think about the way that I interact with everybody not just Dyl. But I do keep hitting bits that I find hard going so I'd also agree about some parts seeming 'waffly'.
Right! That's it! I really must finish "Bones.....".
I've started reading it 3 times now and seem to have missed the point, as what I read I didn't like/agree with, hence it ending up back on the shelf.
I've seen so many people rate it, maybe I should give it one more try. Perhaps I should put my cynical head on the shelf in it's place, while reading it.
Right! That's it! I really must finish "Bones.....".
I've started reading it 3 times now and seem to have missed the point, as what I read I didn't like/agree with, hence it ending up back on the shelf
I love a good discussion. What didn't you like Jules?
To begin with, I thought she was just a bit too hearts and flowers for my liking. All 'if your dog says no listen to him.' I thought that's all well and good for an easy-going handler and dog, but no use for me who has a dog that's every bit as stubborn and wilful as I can be, and does need clear leadership and firm boundaries. However, as I read on I realised she wasn't meaning don't correct your dog or not insist that it complies with certain rules, but rather to realise when something isn't working and to try to understand and find different ways of persuading the dog to work with you. I don't go in for her spirituality/religion side of things at all, but I could see past that.
I love a good discussion. What didn't you like Jules?
You know what Mo, I can't really put my finger on "why" I didn't like it. In fact, I'm not sure there was anything wrong with the book itself, more that I hate being told what to think.
I'm not one to over analyse what I or my dogs do. I tend to work almost purely from gut feeling and it's only when I've got something badly wrong (which happened a lot for years) that I then have a think about why it's going wrong and how I can correct this. I'm the sort of person who NEVER reads instructions, as unless I'm actually "doing", then it doesn't make sense. I learn from hands on experience not from words on a page and I think that side of me was fighting with this authors ideas, some of which to me sounded very pink and fluffy.
Maybe I should have finished the book before forming an opinion though, as no doubt things would have become clearer in the end. I'll go and dust it off now and put it by my bed.
I think its an outstanding book. Absolutely outstanding. By far the best canine related book I have ever read of any sort. I think because it isn't exactly a 'training' book and isn't exactly a 'behavioural' book and isn't altogether a biography or constant case studies its hard to pin down quite where it fits on a bookshelf. So I just never take it off my bedside table!
I came to it, and friends will tell you, very convinced about canine rights and wrongs.... do's and don'ts. Things that were totally unacceptale to me under any circumstance (such as growling or posturing to defend something). This book made me look a little deeper. My previous reaction was 'I don't give a damn WHY that dog just raised its lip, its taking a little trip across the room first, then we can discuss reasons later....' I feel less that way now. Looking a little more to understanding complex personalities and previous steps towards the negative reaction.
The PROBLEM with the book, and I hate to write this, is now it has given me so much a clearer understanding of canine learning that i cringe all the more when some of those I train amongst use heavy handed tactics when I can clearly read utter bewilderment on the dogs face and in its body language.
It has made me a better dog owner, better gundog handler and MUCH better trainer (and possibly fractionally better person - although of course I was nearly perfect to begin with..... .
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
" as unless I'm actually "doing", then it doesn't make sense. I learn from hands on experience not from words on a page and I think that side of me was fighting with this authors ideas, some of which to me sounded very pink and fluffy. "
Hi Jules, just a thought on above - or a question more. We have both had multiple dogs for years. So come at it in the 'more' experienced catagory to some I suppose. You say you learn from hands on experience... but what about when you are misreading something, or your knowledge doesn't extend to *that* sitauation or behaviour? What do you do if you've not come across such a thing before? I know I see them all the time... and so thats why i listen and read and turn pages and so on - to gain others insights... even if I then think they are completely wrong and dismiss from my mind most of it...
I am one of the least pink and fluffy people out there who sit on the pet/working gundog line. But I know that many things she said hit a cord and opened my eyes to WHY some things happen.
What I'm asking is how, if you just use your own experience to correct problems, do you learn more...? How do you move your training practices and experience forward?
Di
____________
The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
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In fact, I'm not sure there was anything wrong with the book itself, more that I hate being told what to think.
