Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this helpful eARC.

Positive Training for Aggressive and Reactive Dogs by Annie Phenix is a comprehensive and practical guide for owners who struggle with their dog's behavior problems. The book offers hope and encouragement, and proven techniques and exercises, to help dogs overcome fear, anxiety, and aggression. The author draws from her own experience as a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant, as well as interviews with 16 experts in the field of canine behavior. This book covers topics such as the importance of proper socialization and breeding, the reasons why punishment fails and positive reinforcement works, the five essential skills every dog needs to learn, and the best ways to change unwanted behaviors. The book also features real-life case studies and stories from dog owners who have successfully rehabilitated their dogs using the methods and advice in the book.

The book is well-written, easy to follow, and full of useful tips and illustrations. The author uses a compassionate and empathetic tone, and emphasizes the importance of building a strong and trusting relationship with your dog. The book is not only informative, but also inspiring and motivating. It shows that with patience, consistency, and positive training, any dog can become a happy and well-adjusted companion. The book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand and help their dog better.

I requested this book because I have a GSD and she is a great and loving dog but she doesn’t like other dogs and she’s not very happy with kids running around either. I unfortunately am unable to see the book on my app but I’m waiting for my local library to receive it so I can come back to edit my review. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book would have been really helpful 11 years ago when I got my German Shepherd. As a restricted dog breed, it was really hard to find places to socialise her. So while she is a gentle soul with people, shes not great with other dogs until she gets to know them. The tips and tricks in the book would have saved me so many nerves and sleepless nights.

This is a thorough training book for dogs and their owners. I think this may show the most respect toward dogs of any book of its ilk. Don’t get me wrong, the author does not gush over dogs. Instead, the author respectfully explains differences in dogs and why they may do/respond the way that they do.

As comprehensive as it is, there are still questions I have. Perhaps I missed the answer in this ebook, but the book did not quite offer a remedy for my particular situation. Still, someone considering a dog or a new owner - I would buy this in a heartbeat.

Nonfiction | Adult
Positive Training for Aggressive and Reactive Dogs: Proven Techniques to Help Your Dog Overcome Fear and Anxiety, by Annie Phenix (2023)

Everyone who knows me knows that our dog is one of the greatest joys of our life. She is loving, energetic, and healthy, and smart too (of course!). But at 30 kilos (about 70 pounds) unwanted behaviours are important to manage. From the start we’ve used positive training approaches, so when this book appeared in my list of new titles I was eager to take a look. Though the book’s range includes far more difficult challenges, the emphasis on building trust and a calm, safe environment as a starting point means you can use these techniques for everything from jumping to excessive barking as well as more serious issues of aggression and severe anxiety. The author discusses problem behaviours and their root causes, then clearly explains the steps owners can take to address them, including ruling out physical health causes, as well as when to turn to an expert. I also really liked her clarification on what is normal, what might vary by dog or owner, and what should not be ignored. I was away from home when I read this book and kept bombarding my spouse with texts on what we could do to address an ignored recall, lunging at cats, and even a recently developed fear of loud bangs. Case studies, interviews with experts and pictures break up the text and give readers lots of entry points. There’s a good list of resources, for the UK as well as Canada and the US, plus a decent index. My thanks to Fox Chapel Publishing for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
More discussion and reviews of this title: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60199874

An informative guide for dog training. While there are some recommendations I have used before, there were useful nuggets of new concepts I plan to use.

My dog is more timid than aggressive but this did give a few useful tips in correcting her barking problems.

A book where you will learn why nowadays dogs seem to be more troubled than in times past, how to help them have agency and choice; we will learn about different types of canine agression and some ideas about fixing it and other behavioural problems.

Licensed trainer Annie Phenix espouses a positive approach to dog training that eschews negative techniques. Throughout this book she educates on possible reasons for unwanted behavior, differentiating between what is “normal” for a dog and what is not, and what impacts behavior. Many full-length articles interviewing dog behaviorists are included, as well as hyperlinks to referenced scientific studies and other articles.

Phenix educates the dog owner on how to create a home environment that is calming to their dog and that helps meet their natural behavioral needs. The different types of aggression and reactive responses are defined and analyzed, along with helpful insights on how to modify them through environmental control, exercise, and training methods.

Four stars is my rating. This book will be very helpful to both the new dog owner and those who have unwanted behaviors to deal with. My thanks to Fox Chapel Publishing/CompanionHouse Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are strictly my own and offered without recompense.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC to read and review. Pub date: 20 Sept 2023

This seems quite well-researched; the resources section at the end is substantial. There are many interviews included with dog specialists which added to the knowledge available when added with the author's own teachings & information. This starts with history & psychology of dogs which was a good base knowledge to have. Personally I liked the behavior "issues" discussed each in their own section. There are a plethora of items addressed my personal favorites were jumping, pulling on leash, excessive barking. These sections each have step-by-step actionable items. Further, I loved the section on "Must-Have Skills for Your Dog" which again: is broken out into particular skills each with their own list of recommended steps to reach those goals with one's own doggo. Some of these skills seem impossible to me at first glance: the "check in" and complete recall. However, when broken down into steps seems much easier to work on with the dog. There are info/ tips on working with puppies as well as rescue animals.


Admittedly I didn't read the chapter about behavioral euthanasia as I know I couldn't handle it. It is, I'm sure, a great resource for those that need to explore that option.

I'm not a dog owner but I grew up with hunting dogs, some family members own purebred German Shepherds, and a friend is a dog trainer - so that's what drew me to this book. With clear instructions and insightful case studies from experts, it equips new dog owners with valuable tools to address a wide range of issues (not just aggression) while fostering trainer confidence and a positive relationship with your furry friend. It would be a good resource for any dog owner seeking guidance with dog behavior.

This is a great, comprehensive book with specific, practical advice for a broad range of dog-related issues. It goes far beyond training for aggressive and reactive dogs as suggested in the title. I plan to buy a print copy when it is published. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.