The story of Alex brought me right back to my childhood in the 1950s and the wonderful times I had. I really loved the description of the corner candy store. Wow, when Alex stuck his arm in the cooler to fish out a bottle of soda pop, my arm tingled with memories of doing the same thing. Boy that water was cold!

Wonderful story! If you like scary stories, then this book is a "must read". If you like a warm relationship between a father and his son, then this book is a "must read". If you want to know what it was like growing up in 1950's America, then this book is a "must read". Heck, "Alex and The Kitten Monster" is a "must read" for any reason!

This is a very informative book on soaring. A great intro to the sport and filled with amazing pictures. It's a good resource for begining sailplane pilots. It also has good information about mountain waves and other non-thermal sources of lift. Learn about a sport too good for kings. I also recommed exploring the monster a great book about mountain waves and the video"Windborn" which you can get from the ssa office.Soaring is awesome!

Training my lab,(my first), was a lot of work. The water dog book made my work a sucess. My dog constantly amazes myself and my friends. By following Mr. Wolters advice I have a great family pet who listens well and turns into a champion in the field or blind. This book is indespensable!!!

Richard Wolters understands how to train a retriever. More importantly he understands that retrievers very much want to retrieve, not be pampered friends. The key to the successes found by using his book is his focus on "fun" training after 7 weeks and the enforcement of those lessons in future weeks. Making lessons fun and practicing in repetition is everything and Richard Wolters recognized that fact. Another critical aspect of dog training is that point in a dog's life where they test their owner. Richard Wolters makes it clear, if you are not willing to spank, "stop reading the book". I have found that it is critical to develop a balance between punishment and praise. I quickly reprimand the dog and then follow-on with the lessons. If the problem persists, I stop and start again later. Richard Wolters understands that the desire is there, in the dog, to please its owner. This has resulted from the attention paid to the dog in weeks 8 through 12. But never let the dog "win" by playing the part of a "sensitive dog". As my comments focus on the first weeks of training a dog, I am convinced that Richard Wolters has written the "Bible of Retriever Training" because he understands that those weeks after a dog is taken from the breeder at 49 days are the most critical. It is where the dog gets "started" and allows the dog to *learn how to learn*. WATER DOG is a timeless reference on training a retriever.

I had a great time reading the book. The training tips and techniques have worked extremely well on my lab. There is a logical progression to the process that is well explained. I would suggest that anyone who makes the decision and commits the time to training a retriever read and reread this book. Additionally, pay attention to the comments devoted to trainer patients - - you will need it.

We recently bought a female black lab pup...and actually picked her up on the 49th day, just as it says to do in the book. We did this without knowing that was the best day, but later borrowed the book from the library and found out so. Our "Cricket" is now 9 weeks old, and will sit, stay from about 6 ft., and will come enthusiastically. We've also been playing fetch with a goose wing, and find her to be getting the hang of things real fast. Had we not picked up the book when we did, we would have waited half a year to start training her. The book is easy to follow, and his manner of training isn't abusive to the dog. We hope to have an expert hunter when her schooling is done.

My husband and I purchased this book 5 years ago when we bought our first Labrador pup. We were immediately taken by the methods used by Mr. Wolters - kindness and fun being of the utmost importance when training a retriever. Following the instructions to the letter, we had great success - first duck retrieved to hand at 12 weeks, no problems whatsoever with hardmouthing or breaking at the shot. What we now have is a bird hunting machine that sleeps on our bed; a dog that hunts quail and chukar as well as he does ducks and geese; a dog that responds equally well to voice, hand and whistle commands (all important in varying hunting conditions). While we never had any interest in hunt trials (we wanted a working dog and pet), we have received scores of complements over the years, with most people commenting that this is the best dog they've ever hunted over. We're hitting our prime in the 5th hunting season, and will use this book once again when we start a new pup this winter.

Really - buy this book (Water Dog is also a good additon to your library). You will have a great blueprint for both a great hunter and a good friend!

I am currently training my 2nd dog, (3/10/99) using the methods in this book. the first dog turned out great, number two will be great too!!

I have never trained a Dog in my life.I got a puppy and the book, Family Dog:16 weeks to well mannered Dog What a wonderful and human and simple way of training.My puppy Rambler is 5 years old now,he goes every where with me. I have had 100's of people comment on what well manered and trained dog he is and because of this he is my very- very best frend.Thank You Very Much Ricard.A.Wolter

Richard A. Wotlers has lots of great tips in all his book including this one. Recomend anyone that wants a good house pet buy or read this book and for hunters his other books are great also. I have all his books. I think there great books and his videos.

I have found this book to be a most excellent and time-proven method to training the best "family dogs" on the face of this earth. Beginning with picking a puppy, obtaining the puppy on the 49th day, and the day by day training methods, this book is a thorough description of how to raise the most well-mannered, well-adjusted, people oriented dogs I have ever encountered

Whether your interest in this title stems from an interest in medieval literature or Christian mysticsm, this book is a must. It is part of the flowering of thought which occurred in Europe 1250-1400 which changed the way we think about the relationship between Man and God. It is a guide to a personal search for an understanding of God.

This is a lavishly illustrated book that is just plain a treat for the eyes. It's also well written; slanted toward the working side of the breed and containing a few digs at the show breeders, it nonetheless offers up some good reading. The most controversial part of the book deals with Mr. Wolter's theory of the history of the Labrador (lost in the mists of time, so open to [wild] speculation), but the theory is interesting whether or not you buy it, and the photographs and supporting documents of interest. I like this book even though I have quibbles with parts of it and recommend it to people seriously interested in Labradors. If you're just looking for basic info on the lab, though, I would start with something else.

Like other readers, I used this book when training my first Chessie 12 years ago. It was simple and quick and I have rarely had a problem with my dog (it is a Chessie after all and Wolters even warns about them). Now a new puppy is on the way and hopefully my children can benefit from the guides in the book. In the first edition Wolters had his 10 year old son photograph it and his 5 year old daughter train the lab, so I hope this edition keeps some of that 'famliness'. Incidentally, Wolters has a lot to do with the methods used for training Seeing-eye dogs.

I am sorry that folks see this book as outdated, or feel that if Wolters says 'swat' then you must. But if you want a well behaved dog, that doesn't pull and comes when called and lets go of the retrieved item, then this book will simply aid you to getting your dog to do just that.

I used the author's "Water Dog" to train my lab 12 years ago and will use the same techniques now with my new puppy. The focus of this book is most certainly NOT to "whip the dog into shape" but rather to produce a civilized member of the family. Wolters was not Dr. Spock, but to suggest that he was a bad trainer, "lazy and undisciplined" is to do him a gross injustice. I saw the man and his dogs in action: he clearly loved them, and they loved him. Wolters urges his readers to praise their puppy at every opportunity. Only when they deliberately misbehave, and then only when they are of an age (2)to know they are misbehaving, does he suggest a swat on the bottom. In today's politically correct society, that surely amounts to beastiality, but dogs don't read The New York Times or enroll in PETA, so you're safe. As an aside, using Wolters' books as training guides I ended up with a wonderful, obedient dog whom I never had to hit, not once, in 12 years. I (and my dog) owe Wolters a debt of gratitude.

I have been extremely pleased with the results with my 20 week old Black Lab "Anna Kate" a grand daughter of Galileo (Ducks Unlimited Model T-Shirt Chocolate Lab). I purchased this book in the nick of time when Anna was 9 wks old. I began immediately in following the training principles of Mr. Wolters. I would have not have had the confidence to start disciplining my pup at 12-16wks if I hadn't read the book. Now Anna responds excellently to Sit, Down, Come, Stay, and others such as Shake, High 5, Belly Up and Get Busy. I have never had a dog Stay while I ran away. Anna will even drop down from a dead sprint at the Stay command. Now, the only negative thing I have to do is just say "NO" in a deep voice and she responds immediately.
I have impressed several of my friends and I always talk about this book!!!! Before you buy your next puppy, I strongly recommend purchasing this book!!! You will be glad you did!!!

I highly recomend this book to anyone who wants to train their dog to hunt and retrieve. I took my dog (at 17 weeks and no training) and within the week, I had it sitting, staying, coming to me. Quickly thereafter my dog was fetching and pointing pheasant wings. I took my dog out and hunted at 9 months and she took to the field readily and pointed up a couple of birds for us. I also took these principles up to NY to visit a friend and had his new 3 month old pup from the pound sitting, staying and coming within the weekend. Enjoy this book and your dog. It may seem silly to actually do some of his techniques, but they really do work.

Wolter's books always have, and most likely will always be, THE authority on hunting dog training. The book is easy to read and is no nonsense. It will help you to better understand your pup and bring more satisfaction with the training process.

Richard Wolters work was recommended to me by a fellow bird hunter. I found the book to be well written and to the point, pardon my pun. I purchased this book in preperation for my first Bird Dog. I tested Mr. Wolters technique on our family dog, a Beagle, and I was able to have her stopping on a dime to "WHOA". And after just ten minutes I was able to get her to Quarter back and forth across a baseball field. I can't wait for my hunting dog to arrive so that I can begin training him for the next hunting season. "Gun Dog" has definitley become my training bible.

Excellent history lesson for most of the retriever breeds if your in to that sort of thing. Also very good insight to the North American Hunting Retriever Association and how it came to be.