I finished this book last night and actually rather enjoyed it. It has what I hope to be some useful tips for training dogs in playful, non-aggressive ways. While at times, Tamar Geller's method seem a bit saccharine (repeating a dog's actions in a "sing-song" voice and "making a party"), it seems like they would work. Her entire training plan focuses on positive and negative reinforcement. You should positively reinforce behavior by praising your dog's actions and negatively reinforce behavior by turning your back and/or acting displeased. However, Geller's main thesis is that one should not scare, hit, frighten, or otherwise intimidate one's dog. Since I read the book in just a few days, I have not yet had time to try all of the methods on Sally, but I intend to.
If you intend to use Geller's methods, be sure to have plenty of treats on hand. She liberally uses treats to reward good behavior. Another time for stopping a jumping dog is to turn your back to it. If you are displeased a want to get a dog's attention, make noises "like a dolphin."
The book also has some interesting elements, such as Geller's disclosure of her own abused childhood, her stint in the Israeli army, and quite a bit of namedropping of the celebrities she has worked for. Additionally, there is an appendix to the book regarding puppy mills. However, overall the book was a quick read, easy to understand and presumeably has good tips.
The Loved Dog: The Playful, Non-Agressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior
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