From Fearful to Fear Free: A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears, and Phobias

Easy to read lots of photos and right to the point of lots of dog behaviors and what triggers them to be fearful

Dog psychology based on science. Even as an experienced dog sitter, I learned a lot.Its not enough just to feed, brush and a few short potty walks.Bored dog will get destructive. One of many solid problems with fixes you can actually acomplish.

Excellent Book! Lots to learn here. Excellent! I highly recommend. Seems to cover everything!

A dog that I've been caring for during the last six months has been experiencing some fear issues that I've been trying to address. This book has helped me greatly in getting some answers to those problems and has become my go-to guide for other ways to help him be a very happy dog!

I recently adopted a 5 year-old fearful dog. Although I've had dogs all my life I've never had a fearful one before. The authors of this book have developed a program to help owners, veterinarian staff and shelter employees utilize techniques designed to ease a dog's fears. The program would be most successful if everyone in the dog's life used it. (Note that it's a service marked (SM) program, so veterinarians have to actually take a course and become certified before they can use the Fear Free designation.) The book is useful and it would be wonderful if more dog professionals would take advantage of the program. But for a comprehensive book on fear based behaviors, with a wealth of information and suggestions for the owner of a fearful dog, I highly recommend "Beyond Flight or Fight" by Sunny Webber.

This book is a general summary of many canine behavior issues. It should not be used as the only reference for treating your dog as it is an overview only.The book was written almost exclusively from a veterinary behaviorist’s perspective. A veterinary behaviorist is a vet who has had additional training beyond his or her 3 years of vet school; vets receive virtually no training in vet school in behavior. Vet behaviorists are required to pass a written test to achieve this certification.Unfortunately, and irresponsibly, this book positions vet behaviorists as the only option for helping dogs with serious behavior issues. Of the more than 120,000 vets in the US, only about 70 have pursued the vet behaviorist certification. Seventy vet behaviorists to service the entire US is profoundly inadequate - there are other options. I’ve listed other canine behavioral certifications that can also help (listed below).While vet behaviorists can prescribe behavior medications, any vet can also understand and prescribe these same meds. Behavioral medication information is widely available to all vets (e.g., VIN, Plumbs, etc.) - it is not only in the domain of vet behaviorists as this book implies. Please know you have other options for help.Below are other certifications to look for in your area:>CCAB, Certified Clinical Behavior Consultant, International Association for the Study of Animal Behavior>CBCC-KA, Certified Behavior Consultant Canine, Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers> CAAB, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Animal Behavior Society

A great tool in understanding your fearful dog’s behaviorI read Dr. Becker’s book with great anticipation. The subject matter couldn’t be more on point. As a handler and tester/observer of therapy dogs, this book helped me fill in the blanks of my thinking and understanding of fearful dogs. The book ought to be required reading in vet schools and distributed at all vet conventions. The book teaches the owner the importance of “positive punishment”. When you try to understand a dog’s fear, you can help them overcome it and turn the fear into the exact opposite, confidence. All vet clinics should be as pet considerate as Dr. Becker’s. This is a great book for anyone who loves dogs.

This book is best used as a reference index to understand your dogs fear, anxieties and stress rather than a “read cover to cover” and preaches the importance of “positive” rewards to minimize those emotions.From experience, the puppy program is right on target and if properly executed can correctly eliminate most of the other issues. I’ve purchased Brittany pups from a breeder of national champions who whelps them in the living room and exposes the puppies to everything possible i.e. horses, running water, guns, television noise, kids…I’ve trained, field trialed and hunted without any issues due to their earlier exposure. Marty’s book exemplifies this program. I bought five copies and sent to friends. – Sam Kennedy

This is a nice book, lovely as a paperback and has a lot of information for dog guardians about how their dog might be feeling. If you're looking for neuroscience, this isn't the book for you but if you're looking a a beautifully presented book on helping your dog with care and kindness - it's perfect.

Brilliant

Bought this to help with a 6 year old fear reactive rescue as the description lead me to believe that was a good portion of the book. Nope...great basic info if you are starting out with a fearful puppy. And note, returns are at your expense which was almost the price of the book. Disappointing all around.

I only read the 1st bit because we ended up having to bring our dog back because he didn't like our toddler at all. However what I did read was amazing and made so much sense. I highly recommend this to anyone with a fearful dog.

Great book to helping understand dogs