If you're training your dog for competition dog sports, then you want this book; it is radically different from anything else on the market. This book will help you understand your dog on the most fundamental level, so that you can be a more effective trainer for YOUR dog. The one you have NOW. The one in front of you!
Rather than assuming that the basis of competition dog training is specific techniques or mechanical skills that can be applied to all dogs, this book starts with the assumption that teaching specific behaviors is not the challenge at all! The challenge is meeting the dog's individual needs through a customized training plan, so that your dog can be successful in the competition ring. When this basic training plan is not created, then training will either progress painfully slowly or will fail altogether, if you're dog doesn't happen to do well with the cookie cutter approach that you've probably already tried.
This purpose of this book is to help you understand who your dog is, so that you can apply training in a way that works for your dog, so that the training will "stick."
The dimensions that will be considered to create your customized training plan include an assessment of your dog's overall level of confidence, environmental vs. handler focus, degree of flexibility, underlying drive structure, amount of power, biddability and handler softness or hardness, and impulse control. This book will also consider your individual dog's use of movement within training and the quality of the dog and handler match.
This book is practical, realistic, easy to read and....radically different from all other dog training books on the market.
If you're struggling in your training class or you're not enjoying your training time with your dog, then you need to change something.
This book will help you to do that.
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Train the Dog in Front of You
This should be recommended reading for all novice dog owners as it is not just a “how to get your dog to (insert relevant behaviour)” but about understanding, behaviour and training. More importantly it is a book which explores what may be the potential fallout of poor choices; (particularly pertinent in the current world where anonymous “experts” give their recipes for success via internet forums, pages, and groups). This book would be a great back up to lessons when neither the owner nor instructor has time to explore some of the broader issues within class. In the quest for solutions Denise warns against ignoring the emotions that may be driving behaviour as the problem may be exacerbated. (Note this book is not intended for severe behavioural issues where the relevant qualified, reputable professional is more appropriate). The possibility of pain/illness being a factor in behaviour is not overlooked and the author reminds the reader how the temperamental traits of breeds may impact on the owner’s life; something often overlooked when the purchase of a pet is made! Applied training skills is discussed at some length along with how to design a training plan. As always, Denise’s pragmatism remains at the fore with her recommendation to prioritise training decisions according to the life and needs of the owner and to put time and effort into the skills that are important to them! The second section of this publication focuses on case studies covering two very common problems; barking and recall. With seven examples of each, different solutions are highlighted as although the symptoms were the same, the causes varied. I like this part of the book because it prompts the reader to consider a variety of approaches to universal problems. The last part focuses on Evaluation and why training programmes fail, usually because owners “misdiagnosed” the issue (eg the dog may be undiagnosed deaf in the case of recall problems) or have not executed training correctly (eg not provided something the dog values as a reinforcer). I think this book bridges the gap between the “how do I get my dog to “and more serious academic tomes and could trigger the reader to undergo more in-depth study.
