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Plenty in Life Is Free: Reflections on Dogs, Training and Finding Grace Paperback – February 27, 2012

by Kathy Sdao (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 233 ratings
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What if the secret to great dog training is to be a frequent "feeder" rather than a strong leader? A skilled reinforcer rather than a strict enforcer?

Over the past two decades, countless dog trainers across the world have embraced the liberal use of positive reinforcement. Often accompanying this trend, however, is an underlying emphasis, inherited from more coercive models of dog training, that each human in the family must be the dog's leader. But adopting the role of leader using what is known as the "Nothing in Life is Free" training protocol can result in stifling rules that constrain a person's ability to share affection and attention with their dogs. This focus on human leadership puts puts the burden on dogs to "earn" their rewards rather than placing the primary responsibility on the humans to be generous, precise, creative "feeders" (i.e., reinforcers).

In this new book, renowned dog trainer Kathy Sdao reveals how her journey through life and her decades of experience training marine mammals and dogs led her to reject a number of sacred cows including the leadership model of dog training. She describes in narrative fashion how she has come to focus her own training philosophy which emphasizes developing partnerships in which humans and dogs exchange reinforcements and continually cede the upper hand to one another.

What animal behavior experts are saying about Plenty in Life is Free:
This extraordinary book fills the gap between contemporary training technology and ethics. With indelible wit and wisdom, Sdao exposes the naked emperor of excessive control and replaces him with the keys to healthful behavior and lasting relationships. This book will improve more than a dog's life it will be required reading for the students in all my behavior classes.
Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D., Dept. of Psychology, Utah State University, www.behaviorworks.org

Kathy Sdao is as wise, witty, warm, and adventurous on paper as she is on the lecture platform. This is a wonderful book about an issue deep and dear to all of us: how to learn to be thoughtful, kind, and generous to our dogs, to each other, and to ourselves, in a world that pressures us to be harsh, resistant, and controlling instead.
Karen Pryor, Author of Reaching the Animal Mind, founder of www.clickertraining.com
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    112 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    February 27, 2012
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.26 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1617810649
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1617810640
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Kathy Sdao is as wise, witty, warm, and adventurous on paper as she is on the lecture platform. This is a wonderful book about an issue deep and dear to all of us: how to learn to be thoughtful, kind, and generous to our dogs, to each other, and to ourselves, in a world that pressures us to be harsh, resistant, and controlling instead. -- Karen Pryor "Author of Reaching the Animal Mind, founder of www.clickertraining.com"

This extraordinary book fills the gap between contemporary training technology and ethics. With indelible wit and wisdom, Sdao exposes the naked emperor of excessive control and replaces him with the keys to healthful behavior and lasting relationships. This book will improve more than a dog's life it will be required reading for the students in al -- Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D "Dept. of Psychology, Utah State University, www.behaviorworks.org"

About the Author

Kathy Sdao is an Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist who has spent 26 years as a full-time animal trainer. She teaches about a dozen seminars annually, for trainers around the world. Kathy lives in Tacoma, Washington where she runs Bright Spot Dog Training and lives with her two dogs.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dogwise Publishing (February 27, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 112 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1617810649
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1617810640
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.26 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 233 ratings

About the author

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Kathy Sdao

Kathy Sdao

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Kathy Sdao is an Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist who has spent 26 years as a full-time animal trainer. She teaches about a dozen seminars annually, for trainers around the world. Kathy lives in Tacoma, Washington where she runs Bright Spot Dog Training and lives with her two dogs.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
233 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

mcjean1
5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable book
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2012
Verified Purchase
This is a remarkably kind and personal treatment of training protocols for behavioral issues in dogs, written by a gifted and experienced trainer. Those of us who clicker train our own dogs and teach the philosophy and methodology to others sometimes despair that our voices will never be heard above those of entrenched 'traditional' trainers and television personalities. Kathy's voice is clear and reasoned as she sets out her arguments for taking another look at 'the way it's always been done' and presents an alternative view. And as a scientist, she bases every argument in solid scientific ground.

Many positive trainers and behavioral consultants will recommend 'Nothing In Life Is Free' (NILIF) protocols in dealing with dogs' issues. The crux of NILIF is that the dog must 'earn' EVERYTHING he receives from his owner, including affection. Kathy posits that NILIF is inherently antithetical to the loving relationships we owners wish to foster with our dogs. From page 16:

"I wondered if the NILIF protocols I'd distributed to students and clients over the years in any way fostered this antiquated notion of how to control dogs and, by extension, anyone whose behavior might cause us problems. This definitely is not the message I want to convey in my work with clients, or in my mission in the larger world. The rigid, coercive relationship a prison guard has with prisoners [in which the latter must earn everything they have] is the antithesis of the joyful, affectionate, trusting relationship I want to facilitate between people and their dogs."

Kathy's writing voice is girlfriend-intimate as she explains the events that brought her to the realization that 'cultivating good behavior in dogs' is a better choice than trying to dictate their behavior through controlling access to rewards. She is concise, ordered, funny and quietly passionate about how we can best affect good behavior in our dogs while simultaneously creating love, trust and joy. From the point of view of this Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Certified Nose Work Instructor, I hope that every dog lover reads Plenty in Life is Free and takes its message to heart.
12 people found this helpful
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mmc
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a Beautiful Book
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2012
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I've attended seminars by Kathy Sdao in the past on a variety of dog training topics so I knew I'd be interested in this book because she is such a dynamic, kind, knowledgeable trainer. I expected I'd like the book when I hear the title because I've never been enthusiastic about the "tough love" trend in dog training of making dogs earn your love.

However, even I was surprised by how much I loved, loved this book. Some of the passages are so beautifully written that I had to read them a few times. More than a dog training book, it's a bit of a memoir that weaves God's love together with our love back and forth with our dogs. And it's that love for our dogs that's missing in training approaches that set people against their pets.

Having a pet is something to delight in, I think, and I loved how Plenty in Life is Free gives permission to love our dogs AND to train our dogs -- these are not mutually exclusive! The training suggestions are super easy to fit into any schedule because it all starts with simply noticing what the dog is doing that you like -- I think the book says anything you find "cute or useful." In my classes, I add in, "not annoying you." If you are not annoyed with your dog at this moment, you can reinforce this and get more not-annoying behavior in the future!

As soon as I started reading my copy, I knew another friend would love it, too, so I gave it to her and had to wait for another one. It's a short book so I found myself reading it very slowly to make it last -- until I had to read it really fast because I didn't want to not know one minute longer. I still need to go back and read it again, normal speed, and take some notes. There's a lot to ponder here.
12 people found this helpful
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nom de plume
5.0 out of 5 stars Your dog(s) want you to buy this book :-)
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2017
Verified Purchase
I do in fact have this book and have read it, something I consider necessary to do a proper review. However, I do not remember if I bought it on amazon or from Dogwise. It is a great book and has helped immensely both with our family dogs and with rescue fosters. I usually take in dogs with issues, emotional and/or behavioral. I work together with the fosters and with my dogs, as a team to help the dog in need. It is hard to reward just one dog for doing something right. So, I pass out treats to everyone, at random times and for no particular reason. All that I ask is that the dogs take them politely, in turn. As I give out the treats, I pair them with words of praise and later use those words when I catch a dog doing something right.

The advice in this book continues to serve me well. The dogs like how they are treated (both as a pun and literally)
One person found this helpful
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Martie
5.0 out of 5 stars Kathy Sdado is an amazing trainer
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2014
Verified Purchase
Now that I've watched two of her dog training series, I really get what the book is about in more ways than one. She give a very personal look at her evolution as a trainer which I find interesting. Not fisnished with the book yet, but read a little every night.
If you want to learn more about training your dog, I highly recommed you check out her DVD series, "Does the name Pavolov Righ a Bell" and the I-Cue DVD too.

She explains Classical and Counter Clasical Conditioning in the Pavlov Series and Operant Conditioning in the I-Cue series.
Kathy has trained sea animals and dolphins for the Navy before using her talents to work with dogs. She is quite energetic and entertaining and really gets the points across. Good for anyone who really wants to understand how to work with your dog.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Yod
5.0 out of 5 stars Without doubt one of the best books I have read on dog training
Reviewed in Brazil on June 27, 2021
Verified Purchase
5 stars because it is all about how to train your dog without losing all the love and respect that these absolutely fantastic animals deserve .
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Deal-hunter
5.0 out of 5 stars Dog Training for Weary of Dog Training
Reviewed in Canada on December 5, 2016
Verified Purchase
A really thoughtful and doable dog training book for anyone who has already done some dog training and read a few books on it, I have 3 border collies and am a really lazy trainer except when we're working livestock, but I can do what is suggested in this book and, over time, it works. Plus, the book is well -written and heartfelt. I've read A LOT of dog training books (if only my dogs could read them too, this would all be way less work) and this book is among the most sensible. Highly recommend it to anyone who has been through various dog-training programs and finds some folks who hang out in the dog crowd kind of harsh and categorical in their approach to animals (and humans) even though the training programs are ostensibly "positive." This book is very empathic and personal. And short! Great for lazy people like me. :)
3 people found this helpful
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Bilzi
5.0 out of 5 stars Tolles Buch
Reviewed in Germany on April 16, 2016
Verified Purchase
Für alle Hundehalter, die denken sie müssen noch positive Strafe im Tiertraining nutzen. Toll geschrieben und mit guten Beispielen, weshalb gewaltfreies Hundetraining der bessere Weg ist.
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Tc
5.0 out of 5 stars A great fix if you are a dog training junkie!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2012
Verified Purchase
As a dog trainer who practices positive reinforcement, I found myself strongly agreeing with much of this book whilst also considering some of the methods I currently use. Not that I apply physical punishment but it has given me a chance to review how I apply rewards and what would be considered a reward.

Initially I failed to grasp the angle of the author's points but half way through the journey, her explanations made perfect sense.

Kathy explains things clearly such as, 'dog training is not all about withholding rewards until you get the desired behaviour'.

Written with a joy of training and a love of dogs this book will feed your soul if you are also are a current dog trainer or a dog owner.

One of my favorite dog related books. I am now recommending it to my colleagues.
4 people found this helpful
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LG
5.0 out of 5 stars Yes. Yes. Yes.
Reviewed in Canada on November 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
I had heard about this book from another dog trainer as I tried to find more ways to explore new ways of training dogs. Kathy nails it on the head with her Smart +50 program. I love how she breaks down the application of this program to a variety of client types. This book is an easy read and a must read for any dog trainer looking to add more love into their relationships with their dogs and improve their dog's behaviour at the same time. The only part of the book I didn't connect with was the spiritual side, but it certainly didn't ruin it for me.
One person found this helpful
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