Love Is All You Need: The Revolutionary Bond-Based Approach to Educating Your Dog

If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. I've read and loved all of Jennifer Arnold's books, but this one is the most extraordinary. Jennifer encourages us to give our dogs choices and to refrain from cues and rewards. I know, sounds crazy, but it worked for our out of control 1 Year Australian Shepherd. She jumped up and nipped constantly. We tried "Off", turning away, time out, etc, but nothing worked. Love is All you Need suggests that we get down on the floor and connect with the dog,rather than ignore it, and then it will want to jump up less. It worked!!! and I am so happy for this book.A lot of what Jennifer is doing with dogs, by focusing on the bond first, and not training, seem contrary to everything we've known, even in positive training. But if you could un-educate yourself from what you know from past trainers, this is the book that your heart would write.

I very much appreciate the basic premises and focus on relationship and attachment, and it does provide some specific activities. Even so, I would have liked more substantiation for some of the definitively-stated claims in the book (mostly those that purported to know how dogs think and how her methods work to produce certain relationship outcomes). While it overall is based on science and recent thinking, it needed more references to back up the claims. I did like the examples, but it was not always clear how they are that much different from those used in positive dog training. It's a needed perspective in the field of dog training, very much so, but the specific examples still left me wondering how this is really different. I can't say I have a very clear view of what Bond-Based training really is, although better than I had before. The case made for a broader approach than behaviorism alone is very well made.

Okay, I am half way through the book and I am done with it.Be assured that I have the highest respect for Ms. Arnold for her gift of service to many people. She is highly intelligent, has an insatiable desire to keep learning, and her heart is definitely in the right place.I also agree with her basic premise that we must build relationships with our dogs, including taking the time to give them our undivided attention. This is essential.However, I interpret her as indicating that if parents are perfect, then neither child nor dog will pose a problem on their own. Dogs and children will feel so perfectly loved and safe that there will be no reason to show defiance. Discipline will be unnecessary. She supports her opposition to even gentle forms of discipline by relating how harsh discipline negatively affects both child and dog. She comes across with the idea that all discipline is abuse. After all, "All You Need is Love".The audio book has become difficult to listen to. I am feeling like the sweet southern bell cadence is hypnotizing me. I am wanting it to speed up and get to the point.The book is not focused on its intention. She spends much more time citing studies and education than she does following up the information with its related intention. The book doesn't flow well. For instance, a chapter starts with the sweet story of her male dog and his breeding bitch, whom she calls her daughter-in-law, and the puppies that are born. In excruciating detail. Then she never comes back to this or even leads into why we heard the story. She goes on about the growth cycle of puppies, in extreme detail, but then fails to connect the reason to why this helps us to have better behaved dogs. So far, she hasn't gotten to the meat and potatoes.The end for me is when she states that dogs cannot feel guilty, because they are not intelligent enough to completely understand what our human expectations are (in a very cynical voice), yet, the whole premise of the book is that dogs are much more intelligent than we realize and can relate to us. It is impossible to believe that we are to relate to our dogs and not expect them to understand us. There simply are times when dogs and children express free will and misbehave---and they know it.

Edit: I’m disappointed to hear so many people say this book doesn’t contain any practical information. There are several places where instructions are provided. The one I reference most often is at the end of the “Dog Speak” chapter, pages 83-96 in the hardcover edition. There’s also practical instructions in “Canine Coursework”, pages 99-112. The majority of “Dogs Need Role Models” is also practical instructions, particularly for “Like Me” sessions. There’s a troubleshooting guide to common behavior problems in pages 142-146. Much of the appendix also includes practical instructions.Original:I’ve seen a lot of people call this book “a lot to think about”, but then knock it. There’s really nothing in here I would criticize. The first few chapters broke my brain, but implementing this method in my home has been so enjoyable and successful that I feel I can forgive Arnold for being such a smartie.When I first read this book I was a recent crossover trainer, but I didn’t and don’t really have the timing to succeed with either approach. I later found out this is neurological and would never clear up. Sometimes it felt like my dogs were taking advantage of the fact that my brain just can’t recognize a behavior and respond in time. Fixed it! I’m so glad I found Bond-Based Choice Teaching!I’ve had many so-called trainers argue with me about methods in this book such as food sharing and Two Hands All In incentivizing bad behavior, but it’s not been a problem. I have one dog who has been through all of my training phases with me and one dog who entered my home untrained who’s really only known me as a Bond-Based Choice Teacher. I share my food, but if I tell the dog who’s mostly only known Bond-Based Choice Teaching that my good is “mine”, he gets the idea. He sort of just curls up “well, I guess not this time”. I can usually eat in bed with him napping beside me. My other dog, whom I used the withholding method with most of her life, actually has had a much more difficult time with begging.I’ve also used Two Hands All In with many dogs through my dog walking and it is absolutely the best way to get them to stop jumping on me. I can’t even demo Two Hands All In with a dog that knows me because they are literally too secure in their trust that I’ll give them the love they want that they won’t jump on me. Bond-Based Choice Teaching has not incentivized bad behavior at all. It is the other methods that incentivize bad behavior by deprivation.I think most contention about Bond-Based Choice Teaching is from people who can’t try it without throwing in their Behaviorism baggage. Implementing this takes a lot of unpacking, but it worked incredibly well for me!

THE book for people who are looking to CONNECT with their dog! I LOVE this approach

Jennifer is such a meaningful and insightful author. This book was incredibly helpful to the point I purchased her others. It was a real, and welcome eye-opener in bonding with your furry best friend. Highly recommend. This book, and her others have helped me immensely in working with my rescue dog who suffered trauma prior to coming home with me. An amazing resource. I have “dog eared” several pages and refer back to them. Not only does this book help me with how to help my dog, but it helps me personally reframe my own thoughts and expectations, which makes me better able to support her needs. Best money ive ever spent!

Very enjoyable book. I support her theories that you MUST be bonded to your dog to get the most out of the relationship. People DO NOT pay enough attention to the communications that their dogs are giving them. When you learn to trust each other, get tuned in, it gets AMAZING what dogs can understand and figure out. Even little "hard to train" breeds.. Every new dog owner should read this book and every dog owner who thinks he knows the scoop could benefit from Jennifers perspective and wisdom.Book was easy to read. Will recommend it!

This book is a really good response to the Caesar Milans of this world. It would be nice if Caesar himself read it and maybe some of the other books that are now available like "The Genius of Dogs" by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods. Jennifer Arnold gives some lovely exercises and explanations of how to bond with your dog that goes beyond training into actual communication. The 5 stars are for an idea whose time is long overdue.

I have been in dogs all my life as a professional I think there are some interesting thoughts One can always learn