The Loved Dog

More than fifteen years ago, Tamar Geller began hercareer as a dog trainer by observing a scientific studyof wolves in the wild. She realized that thesocialization and parenting techniques they used toraise their cubs were rooted in bonding,communication, and play—not in aggression,dominance, or punishment. If people used thesetechniques when training their dogs, she realized,there would be no need for prong collars, chokechains, or any kind of physical or verbal aggression.She realized we can make it "fun" for our dogs tolisten to us and behave as we want them to.

Tamar went on to train the dogs of many celebrities,including Oprah Winfrey, Ben Affleck, Courteney Cox-Arquette, Nicollette Sheridan, Owen Wilson, theOsbournes, and others. Her nonaggressive methodsare so revolutionary that the Humane Society of theUnited States approached her to be a consultant, andshe now teaches animal behavior at PepperdineUniversity.

In The Loved Dog, Tamar shows anyone how tochildproof a dog, teach him vocabulary, use treats theright way, play "tug of war" to build trust, make it funfor him to come when called, teach him not to jump onpeople, and much more—using only playful bondingand positive reinforcement.