Friday, May 04, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
The toolbox for remodeling your problem dog
By Terry Ryan.
I picked this particular training book hoping to learn something amazing despite not really expecting to since I've read plenty of training manuals in my time. But I can honestly say I wasn't disappointed.
This book is perfect for beginner trainers wanting to learn more about dog psychology since it's easy to follow and offers plenty of basic training solutions whilst looking at the *whys* of certain dog behaviour. If your dog has a common behaviour problem then it's likely covered in here and if it's not, then you're likely to gain a few hints and tips on what to do about the behaviour anyway.
Mostly Terry Ryan's training is positive allowing the dog to figure out for himself which behaviour wins the reward, and the majority of her lessons are very basic - easy for both owner and dog to pick up.
What I loved about this book though was that it gave several good training tips for training inside the house on rainy days. I would never in a million years have thought to teach a heel around a pulled out sofa!
Overall this is a good training text and I think even the most experienced of trainers will gain from flicking through it.
By Terry Ryan.
I picked this particular training book hoping to learn something amazing despite not really expecting to since I've read plenty of training manuals in my time. But I can honestly say I wasn't disappointed.
This book is perfect for beginner trainers wanting to learn more about dog psychology since it's easy to follow and offers plenty of basic training solutions whilst looking at the *whys* of certain dog behaviour. If your dog has a common behaviour problem then it's likely covered in here and if it's not, then you're likely to gain a few hints and tips on what to do about the behaviour anyway.
Mostly Terry Ryan's training is positive allowing the dog to figure out for himself which behaviour wins the reward, and the majority of her lessons are very basic - easy for both owner and dog to pick up.
What I loved about this book though was that it gave several good training tips for training inside the house on rainy days. I would never in a million years have thought to teach a heel around a pulled out sofa!
Overall this is a good training text and I think even the most experienced of trainers will gain from flicking through it.
Sunday, April 08, 2012
Pudsey the dancing dog
Every year Britain's got talent has a dancing dog trying their luck at winning the ultimate prize and usually, the dogs are not too impressive! This year's canine entry is Pudsey, a mixed breed who does at least an hour a day's training and is very competitive in the doggy event world.
Simon Cowell has said he's impressed with the little fella and I too think watching him will bring a smile to your lips :)
Click the link below to watch his smooth moves!
Pudsy Britain's got talent
Simon Cowell has said he's impressed with the little fella and I too think watching him will bring a smile to your lips :)
Click the link below to watch his smooth moves!
Pudsy Britain's got talent
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Companion Dogs
We believe Ralf the giant Schnauzer deserves a mention for his hard work and dedication on a children's ward in Australia.
Ralf helps doctors and nurses care for the children in various differnt ways. Sometimes he patrols the wards encouraging sick children to walk and become mobile again after treatments, and sometimes he'll sit with youngsters enduring chemotherapy, offering kisses and cuddles to keep their little spirits up.
Ralf is one of several companion dogs working at the hospital and the staff believe their canine colleagues make the world of difference to their patients. We think so too!
Source:
Ralf the companion dog
Ralf helps doctors and nurses care for the children in various differnt ways. Sometimes he patrols the wards encouraging sick children to walk and become mobile again after treatments, and sometimes he'll sit with youngsters enduring chemotherapy, offering kisses and cuddles to keep their little spirits up.
Ralf is one of several companion dogs working at the hospital and the staff believe their canine colleagues make the world of difference to their patients. We think so too!
Source:
Ralf the companion dog
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Book Review
Clever dog
By Sarah Whitehead
Sarah Whitehead brags on the blurb of this book that she is able to teach you how to 'think dog' and therefore, improve your training approach. She claims that by reading the case studies within the book and taking action with the tips she's offered, she'll be able to improve your relationship with your beloved pet because your dog will breathe a sigh of relief that you finally 'get him.'
My thoughts on the book:
Reading through the book I took in many of the interesting case studies Whitehead has written about and picked up a couple of ideas on how to make my canine family members happier (such as teaching them scent work games and working with the breed's natural instincts), but I wouldn't say my training routines or opinions have dramatically changed because of anything Whitehead has taught within her book. In fact, a lot of it I've read before in books written by other trainers. In my opinion, if you are a novice dog owner or trainer, whilst you might find this text interesting, you might also be left a little bit frustrated by the lack of step by step instruction shared.
There isn't a lot to dislike about this book however and if you're not addicted to dog training manuals like I am, this is probably a good one to start with if you want to gain an understanding of dogs and gain a different perspective on your training techniques. This book wont teach you to potty train or teach a decent recall but it will teach you how to ensure your dog is as happy and well rounded as possible and quite often when it comes to avoiding unwanted behaviour problems, this is the stuff you need to know.
Overall, this is a good read with useful information within which will help you become a responsible dog owner. I'd give this a 6/10. Some step by step basic training instruction would have upped the score!
By Sarah Whitehead
Sarah Whitehead brags on the blurb of this book that she is able to teach you how to 'think dog' and therefore, improve your training approach. She claims that by reading the case studies within the book and taking action with the tips she's offered, she'll be able to improve your relationship with your beloved pet because your dog will breathe a sigh of relief that you finally 'get him.'
My thoughts on the book:
Reading through the book I took in many of the interesting case studies Whitehead has written about and picked up a couple of ideas on how to make my canine family members happier (such as teaching them scent work games and working with the breed's natural instincts), but I wouldn't say my training routines or opinions have dramatically changed because of anything Whitehead has taught within her book. In fact, a lot of it I've read before in books written by other trainers. In my opinion, if you are a novice dog owner or trainer, whilst you might find this text interesting, you might also be left a little bit frustrated by the lack of step by step instruction shared.
There isn't a lot to dislike about this book however and if you're not addicted to dog training manuals like I am, this is probably a good one to start with if you want to gain an understanding of dogs and gain a different perspective on your training techniques. This book wont teach you to potty train or teach a decent recall but it will teach you how to ensure your dog is as happy and well rounded as possible and quite often when it comes to avoiding unwanted behaviour problems, this is the stuff you need to know.
Overall, this is a good read with useful information within which will help you become a responsible dog owner. I'd give this a 6/10. Some step by step basic training instruction would have upped the score!
Monday, February 13, 2012
TV for dogs
Next time your dog stares at the TV as though really taking in the content he might well be doing just that! Bakers have come up with a 'dog friendly' advert which will be shown on TV from this week and includes high pitched sounds only dogs can hear. This is supposed to encourage owners into thinking their dog 'likes' the product! (How clever!)
Will we now spot an influx of dogs in the pet isle of Sainsburys purchasing their weekly feeds I wonder?!
View the link and video here
2 pounts though - The frequency might be too high for your speakers so if your dog doesn't react, that's why. Also, do your research before buying dog food. Is Bakers the best kibble for your dog? ;-)
Will we now spot an influx of dogs in the pet isle of Sainsburys purchasing their weekly feeds I wonder?!
View the link and video here
2 pounts though - The frequency might be too high for your speakers so if your dog doesn't react, that's why. Also, do your research before buying dog food. Is Bakers the best kibble for your dog? ;-)
Monday, January 16, 2012
Book Review
The Trouble Free Dog
By Robert Alleyne
Robert Alleyne is one of the very controversial Dog Borstal trainers, something I didn't know when I chose this book from my local library. The TV show in which he appears has caused many arguments in the dog world because of some of the training techniques used which plenty believe to be too harsh.
The trouble free dog as a training book however really surprised me because it talks an awful lot of sense! This book in my opinion would be the perfect buy for anyone wanting an overview of training and potential behaviour problems BEFORE going out to purchase a dog. It covers all the basic dog psychology a new owner would need to understand in order to knock issues on the head before they start, and would encourage a newbie dog owner to think long and hard about what they're taking on before they take the plunge and actually home an animal.
There is NOTHING in here that I disagreed with when it comes to training techniques, and there are plenty of case studies included within the book to explain some of the issues Robert has dealt with as a trainer along with the practical steps he's taken to rectify problems.
One small complaint I have about this book is that it doesn't actually teach basic commands such as sit or down - if you want to learn that kind of thing you'll need a second book. Overall though, as a dog psychology book it talked a lot of sense in easy to understand language. Perfect for the average dog owner.
By Robert Alleyne
Robert Alleyne is one of the very controversial Dog Borstal trainers, something I didn't know when I chose this book from my local library. The TV show in which he appears has caused many arguments in the dog world because of some of the training techniques used which plenty believe to be too harsh.
The trouble free dog as a training book however really surprised me because it talks an awful lot of sense! This book in my opinion would be the perfect buy for anyone wanting an overview of training and potential behaviour problems BEFORE going out to purchase a dog. It covers all the basic dog psychology a new owner would need to understand in order to knock issues on the head before they start, and would encourage a newbie dog owner to think long and hard about what they're taking on before they take the plunge and actually home an animal.
There is NOTHING in here that I disagreed with when it comes to training techniques, and there are plenty of case studies included within the book to explain some of the issues Robert has dealt with as a trainer along with the practical steps he's taken to rectify problems.
One small complaint I have about this book is that it doesn't actually teach basic commands such as sit or down - if you want to learn that kind of thing you'll need a second book. Overall though, as a dog psychology book it talked a lot of sense in easy to understand language. Perfect for the average dog owner.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Book Review
THINK DOG
By John Fisher
I chose this book as my next read because I wanted a dog training text that would provide me with a bit of decent dog psychology. I wanted to read something that might help me soothe my often stressed Corgi mix and I have to say that with Think Dog, I wasn't disappointed by the teachings offered.
'Think dog' addresses how dogs think, how they learn, and how our actions are often interpreted by dogs that tend to think in black and white. It covers the basic principles of positive reinforcement training and offers suggestions of how to put positive lessons into use to cure almost any dog behaviour problem. The book concludes with an a-z of problem behaviour cures, and offers suggestions of both natural remedies and behaviour modifications to correct any issues you might have with your own pet. Whilst I didn't agree with a couple of the training cures, what I did like about this book is that the author dared to make suggestions in terms of how he would train - often authors are wishy-washy when it comes to dishing out advice incase they're criticised for it later.
The training advice offered was actually worth reading in my opinion. This is the sort of book a novice trainer or owner might learn something from that could actually change their attitude towards their dog and help aid a household live in harmony. If you have problems with aggression or anxiety in particular, then this training manual is definitely worth purchasing.
Overall, this is one of the best dog training books I've ever read.
By John Fisher
I chose this book as my next read because I wanted a dog training text that would provide me with a bit of decent dog psychology. I wanted to read something that might help me soothe my often stressed Corgi mix and I have to say that with Think Dog, I wasn't disappointed by the teachings offered.
'Think dog' addresses how dogs think, how they learn, and how our actions are often interpreted by dogs that tend to think in black and white. It covers the basic principles of positive reinforcement training and offers suggestions of how to put positive lessons into use to cure almost any dog behaviour problem. The book concludes with an a-z of problem behaviour cures, and offers suggestions of both natural remedies and behaviour modifications to correct any issues you might have with your own pet. Whilst I didn't agree with a couple of the training cures, what I did like about this book is that the author dared to make suggestions in terms of how he would train - often authors are wishy-washy when it comes to dishing out advice incase they're criticised for it later.
The training advice offered was actually worth reading in my opinion. This is the sort of book a novice trainer or owner might learn something from that could actually change their attitude towards their dog and help aid a household live in harmony. If you have problems with aggression or anxiety in particular, then this training manual is definitely worth purchasing.
Overall, this is one of the best dog training books I've ever read.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Knit your own dog!
Want a dog but don't want the hassle of walking. grooming and vets visits? Then This free Corgi knitting pattern might help you create the perfect dog for you!
How cute?!
How cute?!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
So if the sheepdog doesn't want the job...
Last week we mentioned a Collie who couldn't work as a sheepdog because he was scared of the sheep.
Well now he can safely retire because a plucky Chihuahua has stepped up to claim the job!
Some Chihuahua's are used as fashion accessories for z list celebrities but Nancy wanted a real career, and trained to become a working dog due to her natural talent for herding sheep.
At only 2lbs of canine, Nancy is clearly a true pro at her job!
Nancy the Chihuahua
Well now he can safely retire because a plucky Chihuahua has stepped up to claim the job!
Some Chihuahua's are used as fashion accessories for z list celebrities but Nancy wanted a real career, and trained to become a working dog due to her natural talent for herding sheep.
At only 2lbs of canine, Nancy is clearly a true pro at her job!
Nancy the Chihuahua
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
A sheepdog that isn't a sheepdog
There is a saying that states you mustn't judge a book by a cover. Well here is proof that you shouldn't judge a dog by his breed either.
Poor Ci might be a sheepdog collie born to help on the farm, but he's so scared of sheep and his fear is so apparent that the sheep have now turned tales on him and chase scaredy Ci whenever he tries to herd! He's okay as long as they're running away from him, but if the sheep turn towards him he panics and does a runner!
Whilst on the Isle of wight last month five sheep ran towards us on a walk one morning. We sympathise with Ci's nerves - we took off in the other direction pretty quickly too!
The sheepdog that doesn't like sheep
Poor Ci might be a sheepdog collie born to help on the farm, but he's so scared of sheep and his fear is so apparent that the sheep have now turned tales on him and chase scaredy Ci whenever he tries to herd! He's okay as long as they're running away from him, but if the sheep turn towards him he panics and does a runner!
Whilst on the Isle of wight last month five sheep ran towards us on a walk one morning. We sympathise with Ci's nerves - we took off in the other direction pretty quickly too!
The sheepdog that doesn't like sheep
