My family and I want to add our thanks-- to all other thanks you constantly receive. You have produced a book that is SOOO easy to read, understand, follow, and with great analogies.

I have read book front to back. My concern will pertain to page 141, "Psychological Mistreatment Through Isolation."

Here it goes....

On weekdays, I will get up in morning anywhere between 0530 to 0600 (sometimes earlier, between 0500 to 0530). I will let my (now 6 months old) Jack Russell out of crate, got out for his morning business, play, a lot of petting and rubbing, and with some training. I use ball on a rope you suggested. I thought this would create aggression problems, until I read book. Feeding time, I will do down-stay command, for 30 sec or so, then ask him to go in to crate, and another stay command, for about 30 sec. Then I feed him inside his crate. After this, it's back outside for his other business. Then play some more with ball on a rope, some fetching, and more fun training. I practice stay command like you said, where I will temp him. He is getting better with my release command of "OK". [Editor's note: Don't use "OK" for a release command. Use something that isn't so easily confused with our everyday vernacular... such as, "Take A Break" or "Free!"] He will not move until I say "OK". I want to make sure I get in as much detail as possible.

At 0700 I have to crate him. Until I get home at 1700. When he is out at about 1700, it's feeding time and then some training again as above, and a lot of touching (petting and rubbing). I know that's 10 hours in crate, however, when he's out, my family and I play like crazy with him for about 2-3 hrs, by 2100 he's looking up at couch and my wife, waiting for "up" command so he can rest with her. I know, I know, I read about not going to their level. When this happens I go to chair, away from them. Then he will sleep through whole night in his crate.

[Adam replies: ] Generally speaking, at about four months of age… when you see adult teeth begin to come in.

2. What should I be teaching, obedience wise, with 8 month puppy?

[Adam replies: ] At eight months of age, there really isn’t ANYTHING you can’t teach dog, obedience-wise.

3. When you say pop, when teaching down command,do you mean I should pop prong collar? So for example if dog gets up from down/stay position and walk away, you said to say NO, pop leash, then say NO all way back to manhole, then pop leash again? Do you mean to pop prong or to guide him into down/stay position?

[Adam replies: ] When I say “pop” I mean to tug on leash. Make sure you’re starting and ending with slack. So, you say, “No!” then go to dog and give a pop on leash, then walk him back to spot and reissue “down” command… and then “pop” downward (or to side) on leash and put him back into down position.

5. What's difference between obedience training and sport training (i.e. Schutzhund)? Why do they say you shouldn't train your dog in obedience if you want him to be in Schutzhund? (I just want to know for my own knowledge)

[Adam replies: ] Schutzhund is a dog sport incorporates an obedience routine, as well as a protection and tracking routine. The obedience exercises are mostly route exercises, and are not trained in a street-smart context. As for why you supposedly shouldn't train your dog in obedience if you want him to be in Schutzhund… this is a myth. Some macho types will consistently over-correct their dog in obedience phase… and this will kill drive. But anyone with even a shred of common sense will avoid this predicament.