Sit, Stay, Good Dog

Dog training books abound. They don’t hesitate to tell you what to do, what not to do, what to say, what not to say, when to reward, what to reprove. Let’s not even get into the discussion of all the different schools of training and their individual beliefs.

Frankly, dog training books can be a bit intimidating.

“See Spot Sit” isn’t. Author Carol Lea Benjamin has put together 120 pages of simple, stress-free training tips for the new dog owner who has enough to worry about. Humorous, whimsical cartoons accompany each of the 101 down-to-earth tips, helping to keep the book’s tone light, not preachy. The book’s small size means it can be easily tucked into a purse or bag for quick reference.

Here is a sampling of some of Benjamin’s suggestions:

“Think ahead. Don’t let your dog do anything when he’s little that you won’t want him to do when he’s all grown up.”

“Dogs are smarter than most people think. No matter what size of dog you have, he needs challenges for his fabulous brain.”

“Train your dog after you exercise him and before he eats. That way, he won’t have ants in his pants, and he won’t be so full that he’ll need a nap instead of a lesson.”

“See Spot Sit: 101 Illustrated Tips for Training the Dog You Love” by Carol Lea Benjamin goes on sale this month.