If you have ever wanted to know what makes your dog tick, why he acts the way he does, how to change the way he behaves or how to communicate and train him to a standard that you might have not dreamed possible then The Dog Vinci Code will get you back on track. The essential manual for any dog owner, John Rogerson outlines, step by step, training techniques so simple that even your dog can understand what you are trying to teach him. This book is about how to communicate with your dog on an emotional level, which will in turn give him the ability to understand everyone in your family. By understanding 'the code', you will gain more control over your dog and thereby be able to offer him more freedom and less frustration than ever before, making for a more contented family companion. This is the perfect guide for anyone who wants the best possible relationship with their dog, packed with easy-to-follow training tips, informative case studies and told with wit, humour and care.
Man’s best friend, domesticated since prehistoric times, a travelling companion for explorers and artists, thinkers and walkers, equally happy curled up by the fire and bounding through the great outdoors—dogs matter to us because we love them. But is that all there is to the canine’s good-natured voracity and affectionate dependency? Mark Alizart dispenses with the well-worn clichés concerning dogs and their masters, seeing them not as submissive pets but rather as unexpected life coaches, ready to teach us the elusive recipes for contentment and joy. Dogs have faced their fate in life with a certain detachment that is not easy to understand. Unlike other animals in a similar situation, they have not become hardened, nor have they let themselves die a little inside. On the contrary, they seem to have softened. This book is devoted to understanding this miracle, the miracle of the joy of dogs – to understanding it and, if at all possible, to learning how it’s done. Weaving elegantly and eruditely between historical myth and pop-culture anecdote, between the peculiar views of philosophers and the even more bizarre findings of science, Alizart offers us a surprising new portrait of the dog as thinker—a thinker who may perhaps know the true secret of our humanity.
The Monks of New Skete THE ART OF RAISING A PUPPY The authors of the classic guide How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend now tell you everything you need to know about the crucial first months of your puppy's life. From the decision to adopt a pup through the practical steps of choosing the right breed, preparing your home, caring for your new charge, and practicing basic obedience exercises, the Monks of New Skete offer clear, compassionate guidelines for raising a puppy. Renowned for breeding German shepherds, the Monks train their own beautiful dogs, and dogs of any breed, according to a unique program based on understanding canine behavior and enhancing the bond between dog and owner. This communion begins in puppyhood and is based on deep respect and affection. Improper care, poor training, or a lack of attention during the early months can lead to problem behaviors that become increasingly difficult to alter as your dog matures. By learning to gently assert your dominance from the start, you'll build a lasting and loving relationship with your pup. This complete guide, illustrated with more than eighty black-and-white photographs, explains the stages of puppy development, how to communicate with your pup, how to begin a complete training program, and how to deal with common problems like chewing, jumping up, and paper-training. The kind of fulfillment a solid relationship with your pup can bring is demonstrated in the stories of three dogs who have assumed special places in their owners lives. The Art of Raising a Puppy is an essential source of wisdom, information, and inspiration for anyone who loves and cares for a puppy. As a community, the Monks of New Skete have been breeding, raising, and training dogs for more than twenty years. New Skete Monastery is located in Cambridge, New York.
Terriers and terrier mixes are different from other breeds. Learn how to work with your terrier's instincts to get good behavior by getting inside his head and using management techniques to avoid problems at home and out in the world.
Help! He’s herding the neighborhood kids!! Herding breed dogs such as Border Collies, Corgis, and Australian Shepherds have incredibly strong instinctive behaviors to do the work they were bred for—controlling various kinds of livestock. These behaviors manifest themselves in modern herding breed dogs kept as companions or family pets in a number of ways. These include chasing cars and bicyclists, herding kids, nipping at vulnerable heels, barking incessantly, and acting as the “fun police” in dog parks. All behaviors that are entirely appropriate and necessary when dealing with sheep or cattle, not so great in a suburban neighborhood. Fortunately, these instincts can be redirected in a number of ways that keep these energetic dogs busy and happy as well as out of trouble. That is why so many of these dogs can be taught to excel in agility and obedience trials, love to retrieve, and make great running companions. In her latest book, author Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell offers solutions to solving and preventing problem behaviors associated with herding breeds living in the modern world. And no, even though your Border Collie or Corgi might love it, you don’t need to buy a farm!
As the owner of two obsessive but outstanding herding dogs, I found myself nodding along in agreement with this book from start to finish. Dawn offers tips to allow a handler to work with, rather than against a dog’s herding instincts and her easy-to-read writing style and the depth of information she shares makes this book a must read for anyone who works or lives with herding dogs. Nicole Larocco-Skeehan, CPDT-KA and member of the Board of Directors, CCPDT
A super resource that explains how instinctive behaviors impact dogs in their every day activities. I especially like the training tips—very clear and helpful explanations to manage problems often brought out by a variety of herding instincts. Lynn Leach, owner of Downriver Stock Dog Training and creator of the popular All Breed Herding DVD series
A wonderful mix of training information, management suggestions, psychology, and commonsense advice for herding dog owners. Easy to read and filled with gems of information for all dog owners—like eliminating annoying barking! I highly recommend this book for trainers and owners of any breed of dog. Gail Tamases Fisher, CDBC and author of The Thinking Dog
If you have chosen to bring a herding breed in to your life and home this is the book for you! Dawn takes the reader through the history of herding breeds in order to help you understand the why behind some of the obsessive-compulsive behaviors your herding breed may be exhibiting. Better yet, Dawn then offers up specific exercises and training techniques to help herding breed owners become as valuable as livestock in the eyes of their herding dog. You owe it to your herding breed to read this book! Gerianne Darnell, author of Canine Crosstraining: Achieving Excellence in Multiple Dog Sports
Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell is the author of Terrier-Centric Training, and From Birdbrained to Brilliant. She is the owner of BonaFide Dog Academy in Omaha, Nebraska.
In her latest book, Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell turns to the subject of managing and training what she labels “Power Dogs.” This grouping includes dozens of breeds who were originally bred to hunt game or to protect people and their property, many of whom were also employed as fighting dogs. These are physically strong dogs relative to their size, usually with a mix of ancient Mastiff and Bulldog ancestry, and some have more recently been bred to Terriers as well. These dogs tend to be protective, tenacious, and often exhibit aggression toward other dogs, but at the same time are playful, energetic and smart.
He can retrieve—but can he sit, lie down and stay? Sporting dog breeds can be relatively easy to train to do what they have been bred to do be it retrieve, point, flush—even act as a decoy to attract game! In addition, most sporting breeds have a gregarious personality and love people and other dogs. These attributes make these dogs very popular pets, but at the same time present all sorts of problems when they are not working in the field. Have you ever tried to ask your Lab to sit and stay near a pond with the ducks? Why is it that Goldens are notorious for jumping up on people (not to mention other dogs) when greeting them? Does your sporting dog eat every smelly item he encounters before you can stop him? In this new book, author Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell offers answers to solving and preventing the often surprising set of problems that owners of sporting dogs encounter at home and in their local communities.
You will learn • Many of the overly friendly traits associated with sporting dogs can cause problems with other people and other dogs if you cannot control your dog’s enthusiastic (and sometimes obnoxious) greeting behaviors. • How to make yourself more interesting than birds, as impossible as that might seem, to make walks and outings more pleasant for all involved. • How to train a strong “leave it” behavior to keep your dog from eating things that might be dangerous.
Praise for From Birdbrained to Brilliant Having bred and trained sporting dogs for almost forty years, Dawn’s ideas are spot on for understanding that the mindset and work ethics of sporting dogs is based around them being “people dogs.” As a tracking judge, trainer and exhibitor I can attest that Dawn is correct when she says training sporting dogs is “an investment worth making.” Just like making an investment in this book! Ed Presnall, noted trainer and judge, author of Component Training for TDX and four other books on the subject of tracking
From Birdbrained to Brilliant gave me more insight into my beloved retrievers than anything I’ve read in my 25+ years of working with assistance dogs. Ms. Antoniak-Mitchell provides a treasure trove of information for those of us who love sporting dogs. As entertaining as it is illuminating, this book has earned a center spot in my library! Jennifer Arnold, author Through a Dog’s Eyes and In a Dog’s Heart
Hunt, point and/or retrieve yourself a copy of this book. Working with your sporting breed dog’s natural traits instead of against them is what From Birdbrained to Brilliant is all about. I’m so excited to see a down to earth and practical book that gives clear training and management exercises for field bred dogs. Inga From, CPDT-KSA, owner Positive Gun Dogs of Minnesota
FIRST OF ALL who could resist this title? I work with all breeds and each group brings something a little different to the table. Dawn’s knowledge of sporting dogs is going to be invaluable to you because her insights into their instincts will improve your training and your dogs will live better lives because you will have learned how to understand and communicate better with them. Brenda Aloff, author of Puppy Problems? No Problem and several other best selling books and dvds
“The Canine population of the United States is about 25 million. Out of this, about 25 million can be classified as neurotic—a conservative estimate. “For the millions of dog-owners seeking a solution to this distressing problem—” Faced with the complications and contradictions of modern society, today’s dog becomes a neurotic. At every turn, his prime life forces—the need to eat and sleep—are thwarted. Instinct pushes him towards satisfying this hunger; sleep is necessary to infuse him with sufficient strength to get up and eat several times a day. (The average dog may require about 24 hours rest a day.) But environmental factors prevent him from satisfying these desires. Stephen Baker, in this entertaining and delightfully fresh book, offers new help for the perplexed pooch owner. There are chapters on training, feeding and—most important—dressing a neurotic dog. You’ll read about traveling with your pet...and what you can do to eliminate sibling rivalry between dog and your baby. There is a chapter on how to psychoanalyze your dog at home, complete with charts and test batteries. You may not learn a thing, but you’ll be vastly amused. Sly and witty drawings, skillfully done by Eric Gurney, serve to complement and clarify the text that will provide every reader (dog lover or not) with a great deal of dog food for thought.
