Paul Loeb

This article is about the animal trainer and author. For the American author and social change activist, see Paul Rogat Loeb.
Paul Loeb
Born(1935-08-26)August 26, 1935
NationalityAmerican
OccupationAnimal Trainer / Author

Paul Loeb (born 1935) is an American animal trainer and author of animal behavior and training books.

Early career

Loeb's first practice, Paul Loeb's Animal Analysis (1958–1962), was an at-home problem-solving program. This was followed by The Loeb Animal Institute (1962-1984), an international animal behavior clinic.[1]

For several years, Loeb was funded by a private grant. He lived on a 400-acre (160 ha) working farm in Amenia, New York, and later in Piermont on the Hudson River. Loeb studied the behavior of both wild and domestic animals, focusing on how they either avoided or pursued contact with human beings to their advantage. This eventually led to the formulation of his "Magic Touch" theory of animal training, which is described in Paul Loeb's Complete Book of Dog Training.[2] Early on, Loeb realized the need for a holistic approach when working with animals, including diet and nutrition. Because of his working knowledge of this, Gaines, a division of General Foods, hired Loeb as a consultant in the early development of their Cycle dog food.[citation needed]

Recognition

The Wall Street Journal compared Paul Loeb's work with animals to the works of psychologist B. F. Skinner: "Loeb illustrates practical approaches to physical needs as a means to psychological (read "behavioral") cures. He is to the canine world what B.F. Skinner, the noted Harvard psychologist who devoted himself to the techniques of shaping behavior, was to the study of man."[3]

In 1975, the Chicago Tribune wrote: "His credits include more than 600 TV commercials, ranging from pet foods to men's underwear. He also cured 8,000 family pets of such bad habits as biting, drooling, wetting, chewing, wandering, and intimidation."[4]

His work regarding diet, nutrition, and exercise has also been covered by the Reading Eagle,[5] The Christian Science Monitor,[6] The Charleston News and Courier,[7] New York Daily News,[8][9] and the Chicago Tribune.[4]

Writing and media appearances

Loeb's first book Paul Loeb's Complete Book of Dog Training, was selected as the best book of 1974 by the Dog Writer's Association of America.[4][citation needed]

Loeb's book You can train your cat (1977) was translated into many languages. This was followed by Cathletics: Ways to amuse and exercise your cat (1981).

Loeb also wrote a column for Parents magazine during the early eighties, dealing with topics concerning pet behavior and having pets in a household with children. He appeared on his first national talk show, The Mike Douglas Show, in 1973,[10] was also a guest on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show in 1975, ABC's Good Morning America in 1979, Dateline NBC in 1998, and WNEW Midday in 1977.[11][clarification needed]

Books

  • Loeb, Paul (1974), Paul Loeb's Complete Book of Dog Training, Prentice-Hall, ISBN 978-0136545330
  • Loeb, Paul; Loeb, Jo (1977), You can train your cat, Simon and Schuster, ISBN 978-0-671-25147-5
  • Loeb, Paul (1980), Supertraining your dog, Prentice Hall, ISBN 978-0-13-876730-3
  • Banks, Josephine; Loeb, Paul (1981), Cathletics: Ways to amuse and exercise your cat, Castle, ISBN 978-0-13-121004-2
  • Loeb, Paul (1984), Nutrition and your dog, Pocket Books, ASIN B003WZQ5M2
  • Loeb, Paul; Hlavacek, Suzanne (1997), Smarter Than You Think: A Revolutionary Approach to Teaching and Understanding Your Dog in Just a Few Hours, Pocket Books Div. of Simon & Schuster, ISBN 978-0-671-00172-8
  • Loeb, Paul; Hlavacek, Suzanne (1999), The Heart of the Matter: Breaking Codes and Making Connections Between You and Your Dog or Your Cat, Pocket Books Div. of Simon & Schuster, ISBN 978-0-671-02790-2

References

  1. ^ "Cat jumps over the moon with a little bit of training", Palm Beach Post, August 30, 1979
  2. ^ 'Paul Loeb's Complete Book of Dog Training'
  3. ^ Coston, John (17 Jan 1985). "Food for Forming Fine and Faithful Fidos". Wall Street Journal. New York. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Gorner, Peter (4 Jun 1975). "Pet psychiatrist solves doggongedest dilemmas". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 169353712. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  5. ^ Wire Services (28 Oct 1984). "Some Sound Advice offered on how to keep your dog fit". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  6. ^ Andreae, Christopher (28 Sep 1977). "The cat and the plum tree". Christian Science Monitor. New York. ProQuest 511975449. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  7. ^ Lawson, Deborah (8 Oct 1984). "Canine Trainer's Book for the dogs". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  8. ^ Bashinsky, Ruth (7 Feb 1999). "DOGGIE DO'S & DON'TS SUNDAY EXTRA READERS GO BY THE BOOK IN TRYING TO CORRECT THEIR POOCHES' BAD HABITS". NY Daily News. New York. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  9. ^ Bashinsky, Ruth (8 Apr 2000). "WHEN FIDO'S A BAD DOG Getting pooch to change takes time, money". NY Daily News. New York. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  10. ^ "TV-listings". Sarasota Herald Tribune. 9 May 1973.
  11. ^ "TV-listings" (PDF). NYTimes. 29 Jun 1977.(subscription required)