Book Review: Calling All Canines…And Their Owners by Sheri Venza

Dog behaviorist and trainer Sheri Venza puts her over 20 years of experience into a practical, usable book for dog owners. Calling All Canines…And Their Owners is a lightning fast read, meant to propel the would-be trainer from reading the ‘hows’ to actually ‘doing’ and getting results.

Calling All Canines…And Their Owners is not an all-inclusive volume on dog training; however I don’t think the author intends for it to be. Venza gives enough to get you started and then she wants to you actually go and get started! This is a much more relaxed way to get on the road to consistent dog training than attempting to read and apply a 200+ page hardcover! The book is nicely organized into sections and tackles such subjects as new puppies, jumping, toys, crates, aggression, socialization, and much more. There is also ample room at the end to record your dog’s information, shot records, veterinarian contacts, and additional medical conditions.

Venza’s tone is warm and straightforward throughout her book, and she’s descriptive with all of her methods. This comfortable approach makes learning a new skill less daunting, even for the most apprehensive of would-be trainers. Further, her strategies make use of absolutely no additional tools–there’s no fancy choke collars, toys, clickers, or even treats to purchase before you can get started! Instead, Venza has you off and running immediately. Her justification is simple–the alpha dog in a pack wouldn’t try and coerce its followers with treats, toys, or special training collars. Think like a dog, and you can make your dog act the way you need them to!

Calling All Canines…And Their Owners by Sheri Venza is a fantastic read for those wanting to train their dogs but don’t have a lot of time to sit around and read about it first. Perfect for on-the-go reading, its small size easily fits into bags and can be finished in only a few short sessions. The book is also great for kids who want to be involved in training. The contained methods are easy to adopt, regardless of education level or prior experience with animals. Sit, read, heel!