It’s fun teaching your dog to perform tricks – but did you know there are games you can play that have a far greater value?
In Canine Cognitive Skills, author Kay Attwood, a leading trainer and behaviourist, has devised series of games that not only develop your dog’s brain power, but also help him to live in the world as a well-rounded individual.
WHAT DO THEY TEACH?
• Focus – vital for any form of learning.
• The ability to process information.
• Tolerance to frustration.
• Problem solving skills.
• Flexible learning.
• Logic and reasoning.
• Self-control.
• Decision-making.
• Utilising memory to make informed choices.
WHAT SKILLS ARE INVOLVED?
• Directional cues.
• Visual discrimination.
• Searching and scent discrimination.
• Precision placement.
• Retrieve.
• Identifying colours.
• Matching items.
WHO CAN PLAY?
• Suitable for dogs of all ages: The games are tailormade for progression.
• Dogs recovering from injury; all the games are low impact.
• Reactive dogs: The games offer behaviour changing opportunities in relation to impulse control and tolerance to frustration. They also develop patience and the ability to learn from mistakes.
• Performance dogs: Developing cognitive skills, such as visual discrimination, decision-making, self-control and flexible learning, will enhance the ability to process information and understand new concepts.
Canine Cognitive Skills provides insights into how the brain works as well as giving step-by step instructions for all the games, starting with foundations skills, progressing to a variety of fun games that test a range of skills and finishing with a master class that offers new
challenges for both dogs and handlers.
Illustrated with over 80 colour photographs, Canine Cognitive Skills, will, quite simply, change your dog’s life for the better!
Kay Attwood is one of the UK’s leading trainers, specialising in positive reinforcement to help dogs achieve their potential and to create behaviour changing opportunities that will enhance their quality of life. A lifelong dog lover, Kay founded her own training school – Kay9 Services – in 2005 and since that time she has built up a worldwide following, extending her repertoire to include platform training, focus, recall, loose lead walking anticipatory behaviour and cognitive skills. She runs workshops on all these topics – she is currently the only trainer in the UK to present platform and cognition workshops – and is a regular guest speaker at global conferences. In 2019, Kay received one of the Kennel Club’s most prestigious awards – KCAI Dog Trainer of the Year – for her outstanding achievements and dedication to promoting the health and welfare of all dogs. In addition to running Kay9 Services, Kay is an approved trainer for the charity Veterans With Dogs, helping to train assistance dogs for ex-service personnel. She is a member of the Pet Professional Guild and is a regular PPG webinar presenter. In addition, she is a trainer and behaviourist for the Companion Animal Network and for INTODogs, a gold member and assessor for the Academy of Dog Trainers, and an approved trainer and behaviourist with the Dog Welfare Alliance.
Kay lives in Surrey with her five dogs, all rescues, who have found their way into her home and her heart.
