100 Ways to Train the Perfect Dog

Description

Suitable for owners looking for a positive approach to dog training, this book includes touch bodywork and exercises; practical step-by-step instructions, clear photographs and helpful tips that demonstrate effectively how to create a happy, safe family pet.|Discover 100 ways to train a well-mannered, calm, confident and happy family pet by following expert advice from experienced dog trainers Sarah Fisher and Marie Miller. Practical step-by-step instructions and clear photographs demonstrate essential techniques, and progressive exercises, and bronze, silver and gold certificates provide structure and achievable goals, enabling you to teach your dog key skills. Fun games reinforce the training, giving your dog appropriate mental and physical stimulation. 100 Ways to Train the Perfect Dog includes: Why train your dog? this chapter shows the benefits of owning a well-trained dog, how important it is to have a happy, appropriately stimulated, well-fed and looked after dog who does not display aggressive behavior. There is a brief outline of learning theory: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, negative punishment, classical conditioning, operant conditioning. You will be taught how dogs learn, how dogs communicate, how to approach a dog, and the basics such as a dog's environment, exercise, equipment, toys and appropriate play. This section also covers special cases where you might need to take a slightly different approach, such as with puppies or deaf or blind dogs. How to train your dog? in this chapter you will learn about clicker training, Tellington TTouches and how to establish the basics. In the Bronze certificate section you will follow exercises to teach your dog simple foundation exercises such as sit, come, off and down. The exercises in the Silver certificate section introduce stay, fetch and retrieve, they show you how to integrate other people into your dog's life in a way that is fun, safe and rewarding for all concerned. Finally, the Gold certificate section shows you how to further your skills and provide ways to keep your dog mentally satisfied with more fun games, handy tips and training exercises, including the sit and down out of sight, chase recall, searching for hidden toys and treats and leg weaves. Whether you are training a puppy or solving specific problems with an older dog, this positive guide is the perfect companion and will help to deepen the understanding and trust between you and your dog.

Sarah Fisher is the premier trainer of the Tellington touch method in the UK and runs the UK office for TTEAM & TTouch International. She lives near Bath, Somerset. Marie Miller founded Paws 'n' Learn Training and has been a rehabilitation trainer and behavioural advisor for 17 years. She is also a founder member of APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and a TTouch practitioner (level 3). Cover Photography by Beth Mallon, visit www.bethmallonphotography.com