Canine aggression: Rehabilitating an aggressive dog with kindness and compassion

Description

Caring for a dog who lunges, barks at and even bites other dogs is incredibly difficult. This book follows the inspiring story of a Bull Mastiff called Calgacus, and his carer, first-time dog owner Tracey McLennan. For Tracey, the arrival of Calgacus in her life was a lifelong dream come true ... but a dream that became a nightmare when Calgacus attacked and badly injured another dog, and showed every sign of doing the same to any other dog he came into contact with. Help came from many amazing people, and enabled Tracey to understand Calgacus, and how to encourage him to direct the pace and direction of his rehabilitation. TTouch, clicker training, walks with other dogs, and trick training, all played their part in allowing Calgacus to discover joy in knowing his own kind, until he became a dog who loved to be with other dogs. He would play with those who liked to play; be gentle with nervous dogs, and would calm tense situations, encouraging other dogs to be kind to each other.

After welcoming a puppy into her home, Tracey found her life transformed. Since then she has trained as a Tellington TTouch practitioner, and is a member of the UK TTouch Guild. Tracey also has a BSc(Hons) in Canine Behaviour and training. More importantly, she has gained a group of valued and supportive friends. Tracey is a director of community interest company, Paws for Progress. She also shares her TTouch knowledge with some of the company's students, and has contributed to talks and conferences. She is a volunteer for the small charity Staffordshire Rescue Scotland, helping out however she can.

Picked up this book with interest having never had an aggressive dog but having seen some and had to deal with some at our boarding kennels! The story is about a Bull mastiff called Calgacus, and his long suffering first time dog owners. Tracey succeeded in turing Calgacus into a dog who loved to play with his own kind, he knew how to play gently with worried, nervous dogs and Tracey learned how to defuse tense situations and turn them into fun ones and therefore conquering all his issues. A sad ending to this momentous true-life tale, left me in tears, however and inspirational story and one I wouldn't have wanted to miss reading. - Dog Training Weekly. This soft back of 160 pages includes two pages of a remarkably comprehensive index and made very interesting reading for me. The author, although interested in dogs from a very early age, was brought up in a household without any. She obtained her first dog, Calgacus, a Bull Mastiff puppy when she was an adult. Unfortunately as Calgacus matured he started behaving aggressively towards other dogs. Despite her lack of experience the author decided to embark upon the task of altering her dog's temperament. Chapter by chapter the book describes her problems and experiences as she strived to eliminate Calgacus's aggressive behaves. I found this fascinating reading and am sure that anyone with a dog showing aggressive tendencies towards others will find this book a goldmine of information and will refer to it time and time gain. I am sure you will not regret your decision to purchase. - Trevor Turner. This is a lovely book to read. Unlike other training books it does not feel like a psychology book from school. It does not require hard concentration and an array of different coloured highlighters to make sense of the techniques hidden within the science. This book is set in a story form which not only makes it more engaging but thoroughly more enjoyable. Following the story of Tracey with her dog Calgacus, you are told the techniques found in so many training books used in a real world set up. Following their ups and downs is not only education but so comforting for an owner in a similar situation. This book is a lovely read and also educational. - natruallyhappydogs.com. Overall, the book offers a touching and often very personal insight into Tracey and Calgacus' journey, which prompts the reader to consider our often unrealistic expectations of dogs, the importance of treating them as individuals, and appreciate that helping a troubled animal sometimes requires a little creativity. - Grace Clarke. If you are looking for a book that you can curl up on the couch and read about a first-time dog owner's journey and experiences with her own dog with aggression and how she overcame and continued being persistent and consistent in his training and socialising in non-fiction type story reading ... then this is your book! - Association of Professional Dog Trainers. Overall, the book offers a touching and often very personal insight into Tracey and Calgacus's journey, which prompts the reader to consider our often unrealistic expectations of dogs and the importance if treating them as individuals, and appreciate that helping a troubled animal sometimes requires a little creativity. Dogs Monthly