Below you will find what Marius believes to be wonderful books to learn from and continue your dog education with your furry friend. Some books Marius has personally read and may leave a note about some books found below, but the books that Marius has not yet read, he still listed them below due to a respect to the authors work or has personal knowledge that the books recommended below are full of great mind expanding knowledge and are also on his "Need To Read Bookshelf".

Any text following "-----" is copy/pasted book description from Amazon.com for your convenience.

Perfect Puppy in 7 Days: How to Start Your Puppy Off Right by Sophia Yin and Lili Chin (Aug 2, 2011)

I believe that this is a must read for all pet parents. This book is a great guide for all new puppy owners, and the techniques work well with newly adopted dogs even if they aren't puppys.... these techniques will work with a dog that is even 10 years old.

Note: Amazon is not selling this book directly, you will have to click on the "New from other sellers" button and Cattle Dog Publishing is actually Dr. Sophia Yin's publishing company, so you would still get a new book and be buying directly from Dr. Sophia Yin.

This book and it's author is so wonderful, you can actually download the  Free Puppy Potty Training Guide (From ch. 2 of Perfect Puppy in 7 Day) by following this link and entering in some information, believe me, it's not a scam.

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Dr. Marty Becker; "America's Veterinarian" of Good Morning America, says, "This is like no other puppy book you've seen before. It’s not just about teaching your puppy manners, it's a step-by-step recipe for bonding with your puppy, learning to communicate with him, and preparing you pup for life! With Dr. Yin's approach your puppy will learn more in a week than many dogs learn in a year!"

Victoria Stillwell from Animal Planet's "It's Me or the Dog" says, " This book is a must-have for any puppy parent or canine educator."

Dr. Johan Bradshaw, author of "Dog Sense" says, "This book is a comprehensive and humane guide to puppy behavior and training, incorporating a detailed guide on how to interpret your puppy's body language. Worth buying for the socialization advice and checklist alone."

Dr. Ellen Lindell, veterinary behaviorist, states, "This well-organized book is filled with essential information about puppy development and learning. Experts and novices alike will appreciate the illustrations and analogies that turn science into a clear and enjoyable read. Most important, Dr. Yin offers a plan that incorporates critical socialization and training into a daily routine. It will be a puppy life-saver."

Nancy Abplanalp of "Thinking Dogs" says, "I own tons of dog training books and none of them are as much fun to read as this one. It's accurate and easy to access. The puppy socialization chapters and checklist are especially well done. If you have a puppy, work with puppies, raise puppies, or just plain like puppies, get this book.

Chapters include: • How Your Puppy Developed Before You Got Her • Why Start Training So Soon? • Preparing for the Puppy • A Foolproof Potty Training Program • Dr. Sophia Yin’s Learn to Earn Program for Puppies • Socializing Your Pup to Dogs, People and Handling • A Head Start on All the Rest

How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves by Dr. Sophia Yin DVM MS (Jul 1, 2010)

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Written by one of the leading veterinary behaviorists in the country, this revised and expanded edition of the original bestseller features brand new chapters that provide the most up-to-date science of dog behavior and explains key concepts in clear, straightforward language. How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves takes a scientifically sound yet practical approach to explaining dog behavior and training theory, and then shows you how to apply these concepts so you can train your dog to be well behaved.

Although you may not be aware of it, every interaction you have with your dog is a training session--with each pat on the head, cluck of disapproval, or offer of a treat, your dog is learning something. Whether he is learning something you want him to learn is another matter. If you want a well-behaved dog, you're going to have to modify your own behavior in order to modify his. The best way to achieve this is to understand how dogs think and learn.

Dr. Sophia Yin, a respected animal behaviorist, provides an in-depth approach to not only understanding dogs, but also understanding how to effectively communicate with them. As you read about the practical aspects of learning theory, you will realize what motivates your dog, then apply Dr. Yin's scientifically-based training methods to get the results you want. Exercises for training and problem solving are broken down into short, easy-to-read sections, and friendly, instructional illustrations enhance the techniques.

The positive approach to correcting and training your dog's behaviors will help you see the world from your dog's perspective and provide the necessary training tools to effect amazing behavioral changes.

Puppy Start Right: Foundation Training for the Companion Dog by Kenneth M. Martin & Debbie Martin

With almost 200 pages, corresponding photos, and step-by-step instructions, Puppy Start Right is the ideal book for fostering and enhancing a “parenting relationship” among people and their dogs! This book is a great resource for all dog parents, dog trainers, puppy socialization class instructors, shelters, and adoption agencies. Whether you are raising a new puppy, have recently adopted an adolescent dog, or are living with an adult dog, Puppy Start Right is the book for you. This book sets the foundation for a lifelong partnership between you and your dog based on a mutual understanding and trust. Puppy Start Right is more than a puppy book about socialization; it’s a positive approach to problem solving, prevention, and training, all without the use of force. Problem-solving topics address common behaviors of adolescent dogs, including mouthing/biting, jumping, chewing, digging, counter surfing, and stealing objects. Prevention topics include confinement/independence training, food bowl exercises, handling and restraint, and more. The book also includes:

• The Developmental Life Stages of Dogs

• Domestication, Social Behavior, How Dogs Perceive the World, and Canine Communication

• How Dogs Learn

• Positive Socialization and What to do if Your Dog is Frightened?

• Applying the Problem-Solving Model to Prevent Common Behavior Problems

• House Training in 5 Easy Steps

• Foundation Training Exercises

On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas (Dec 14, 2005)

A wonderful quick read with plenty of pictures and a DVD, available separate, that goes over dog body language and how we can help to calm our dogs lives and the ones we meet in the world. A definite read for all pet parents!

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Yawning, lip-licking, sneezing, even scratching are just a few of the 30-plus signals or that dogs use to communicate with one another. Now, with On Talking Terms with Dogs, you can learn to recognize these signals and use them to interact with your dog. The new second edition has color photographs throughout with detailed captions explaining the behavior. Norwegian dog trainer and behaviorist Turid Rugaas has made it her life work to study canine social interaction. She coined the phrase calming signals to describe the social skills, sometimes referred to as body language, that dogs use to avoid conflict, invite play, and communicate a wide range of information to other dogs. Learn to identify situations that are stressful to your dog so that you can resolve or avoid them. Rehabilitate a dog that has lost her ability to read or give calming signals. Become a keen observer of canine behavior at home, in the community, and among dogs to get better behavior and build a solid relationship. This new edition has outstanding photographs with captions interpreting what you observe

My Dog Pulls. What Do I Do? by Turid Rugaas (Jul 1, 2005)

Is walking your dog a tug-of-war? At last, a simple way to teach your dog to walk on a leash without pulling your arm off!

Norwegian dog trainer, Turid Rugaas, internationally known for her ground-breaking work on canine body language and author of On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, turns her attention to the common problem of dogs that pull while on a leash.

In My Dog Pulls. What Do I Do? you will learn Turid s quick and easy method to train any age, size or breed of dog to walk calmly and quietly on a loose leash. Her approach is humane and based on a solid understanding of why dogs pull and how to work with the dog s nature and the environment to overcome the problem. City, town or country walking will become more relaxed, reducing stress for dog and owner.

My Dog Pulls explains: Why dogs develop pulling problems. Simple steps to retraining even a vigorous puller. How to rehabilitate the puller with clear, helpful photographs. Correct use of leashes, collars and harnesses. What works, what doesn't. Troubleshooting problems that arise in training.

Barking: The Sound of a Language (Dogwise Training Manual) by Turid Rugaas (Feb 11, 2008)

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Barking is one of the many ways dogs communicate with each other and with humans. Think of barking as part of your dog s language. When a dog barks, he is expressing something and you can learn to understand what he is he is trying to say. In this book, author Turid Rugaas, well known for her work on identifying and utilizing canine calming signals, turns her attention to understanding and managing barking behavior. If you can identify what your dog is expressing when he barks, you can take steps to minimize the negative effects of barking in cases where you find it a problem.

Plenty in Life Is Free: Reflections on Dogs, Training and Finding Grace by Kathy Sdao (Feb 27, 2012)

This was a joy to read and if you ever have a chance to see Kathy Sdao speak, please do! Kathy is as wonderful to read as she is to listen to, you may find plenty of her seminar DVDs at Tawzerdog.com

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What if the secret to great dog training is to be a frequent feeder; rather than a strong leader? A skilled reinforcer rather than a strict enforcer?

Over the past two decades, countless dog trainers across the world have embraced the liberal use of positive reinforcement. Often accompanying this trend, however, is an underlying emphasis, inherited from more coercive models of dog training, that each human in the family must be the dog's leader. But adopting the role of leader using what is known as the Nothing in Life is Free; training protocol can result in stifling rules that constrain a person's ability to share affection and attention with their dogs. This focus on human leadership puts puts the burden on dogs to earn; their rewards rather than placing the primary responsibility on the humans to be generous, precise, creative feeders; (i.e., reinforcers).

In this new book, renowned dog trainer Kathy Sdao reveals how her journey through life and her decades of experience training marine mammals and dogs led her to reject a number of sacred cows including the leadership model of dog training. She describes in narrative fashion how she has come to focus her own training philosophy which emphasizes developing partnerships in which humans and dogs exchange reinforcements and continually cede the upper hand to one another.

Decoding Your Dog: The Ultimate Experts Explain Common Dog Behaviors and Reveal How to Prevent or Change Unwanted... by American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, Debra F. Horwitz DVM, John Ciribassi DVM and Steve Dale (Jan 7, 2014)

More than ninety percent of dog owners consider their pets to be members of their family. But often, despite our best intentions, we are letting our dogs down by not giving them the guidance and direction they need. Unwanted behavior is the number-one reason dogs are relinquished to shelters and rescue groups.

The key to training dogs effectively is first to understand why our dogs do what they do. And no one can address this more authoritatively than the diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Behavior, whose work, the culmination of years of rigorous training, takes them deep into the minds of dogs in an effort to decode how they think, how they communicate, and how they learn.

In Decoding Your Dog, these experts analyze problem behaviors, decipher the latest studies, and correct common misconceptions and outmoded theories. The book includes:

• Effective, veterinary-approved positive training methods • Expert advice on socialization, housetraining, diet, and exercise • Remedies for behavior problems such as OCD and aggression

With Decoding Your Dog the experts’ experts deliver a must-have dog behavior guide that ultimately challenge the way we think about our dogs.

Control Unleashed: The Puppy Program by Leslie McDevitt (2012)

The main difference as someone described to me about the two different Control Unleashed books is that the puppy one is preventative while the original Control Unleashed book is how to solve the same attention issues that you are actually training into your puppy with the Puppy Program book. I read the Puppy Program and I think it is an amazing read and program for your puppy to be trained in everyday life. I plan on reading Control Unleashed as well. If you have a puppy, this book is a must along with Dr. Sophia Yin's book.

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Control Unleashed®: The Puppy Program is meant as "preventive medicine" for puppy raisers. Many common behavior problems can be either prevented or minimized by starting a puppy with good foundation training from the beginning. In addition, this book provides a program that will help you create a puppy that is ready for sport-specific training at the appropriate age-a puppy with the ability to focus on whatever you want, for as long as you want, whenever you want.

Product Details

Behavior Adjustment Training: BAT for Fear, Frustration, and Aggression in Dogs by Grisha Stewart (Sep 1, 2011)

The techniques found in this book are great to have in your repertoire when training your dog through fear, anxiety, etc. This protocol focuses on using distance away from the trigger stimulant, the book does also include an optional food reward to be given, and I truly believe that pairing it with food will be a great help (if your dog enjoys food as a top reinforcer), if I was working with a more ball oriented dog, I would give the dog a ball to carry/squish in their mouth as an additional reinforcer to the distance.

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Think functional to solve your dog s reactivity issues

Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) was developed by author Grisha Stewart to rehabilitate and prevent dog reactivity. BAT looks at the function of growling, lunging, or fleeing and helps dogs learn socially acceptable behaviors that serve that same function. In a nutshell, BAT builds confidence by giving dogs a chance to learn to control their environment through peaceful means. That makes BAT very empowering to your dog or puppy, in a good way. It s also empowering for you, as you learn how to understand your dog and help him learn to safely get along with people, dogs, and other triggers.

You will learn:

How to encourage or shape a replacement behavior that provides your dog the same functional reward as reactivity. Why it is important to keep your dog calm in the presence of a trigger while teaching him to make good choices. Step-by-step instructions needed to stage BAT set-ups to work with your dog in a controlled environment. Practical ways to keep your dog from being pushed into a reactive state in and around your home and on walks. How to use BAT preventively for puppy socialization.

Click to Calm: Healing the Aggressive Dog (Karen Pryor Clicker Book) by Emma Parsons (Dec 15, 2004)

Positive Answers for the Aggressive Dog. The dog that bites. The dog that attacks other dogs. The dog who may not survive his own aggressive behavior. What can be done to help these dogs? When Emma Parsons, canine behavior consultant, discovered that her own dog was aggressive, she developed innovative and effective strategies to calm, alter, and re-shape his reactive displays, and those of her clients' dogs.

* desensitize your dog to approaching strange dogs * grab your dog's collar without getting bitten * teach dogs to perform canine calming signals on cue * use your own body language when under stress as a cue for your dog to remain calm

Reaching the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About All Animals by Karen Pryor (Jun 8, 2010)

This is the book that got me into Clicker Training and I can not recommend it enough. It's a wonderful read with many great anecdotes and stories.

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From the founder of “clicker” training, the widely praised humane approach to shaping animal behavior, comes a fascinating book—part memoir, part insight into how animals and people think and behave.

A celebrated pioneer in the field of no-punishment animal training,Karen Pryor is responsible for developing clicker training—an all-positive, safe, effective way to modify and shape animal behavior—and she has changed the lives of millions of animals. Practical, engrossing, and full of fascinating stories about Pryor’s interactions with animals of all sorts, Reaching the Animal Mind presents the sum total of her life’s work. She explains the science behind clicker training, how and why it works, and offers step-by-step instructions on how you can clicker-train any animal in your life.

For bonus video clips, slide shows, articles, downloadable exercises, and links expanding on the contents of the book, go to ReachingtheAnimalMind.com

Don't Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training by Karen Pryor (Aug 3, 1999)

Don't let the title fool you as it may have many before, you will not find this covers a lot of dog training, but does encompass training, teaching, learning theory and the like. Also a great book to have on your book shelf.

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A Better Way to Better Behavior

Karen Pryor's clear and entertaining explanation of behavioral training methods made Don't Shoot the Dog! a bestselling classic. Now this revised edition presents more of her insights into animal—and human—behavior.

A groundbreaking behavioral scientist and dynamic animal trainer, Karen Pryor is a powerful proponent of the principles and practical uses of positive reinforcement in teaching new behaviors. Here are the secrets of changing behavior in pets, kids—even yourself—without yelling, threats, force, punishment, guilt trips...or shooting the dog:

•The principles of the revolutionary "clicker training" method, which owes its phenomenal success to its immediacy of response—so there is no question what action you are rewarding •8 methods of ending undesirable habits—from furniture-clawing cats to sloppy roommates •The 10 laws of "shaping" behavior–for results without strain or pain through "affection training" •Tips for house-training the dog, improving your tennis game, or dealing with an impossible teen •Explorations of exciting new uses for reinforcement training

Learn why pet owners rave, "This book changed our lives!" and how these pioneering techniques can work for you too.

The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller (Apr 1, 2008)

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A renowned dog trainer gives you the positive training tools you need to share a lifetime of fun, companionship, and respect with your dog. Plus, you'll get: information on the importance of observing, understanding, and reacting appropriately to your dog's body language; instructions on how to phase out the use of a clicker and treats to introduce more advanced training concepts; a diary to track progress; suggestions for treats your dog will respond to; and a glossary of training terms.

Positive Perspectives: Love Your Dog, Train Your Dog by Pat Miller (Sep 21, 2004)

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A complete dog training, puppy raising, problem solving, and basic health guide. Written as a series of columns in Whole Dog Journal , Positive Perspectives gives you information on day-to-day living with dogs in small easily understood bites . Find out how to prevent problems before they occur, train without force with fun and treats, learn about the newest vaccination schedules and much more to live happily with your dog. For puppy as well as adult dog owners.

Postive Perspectives will show you:

* How management works * One thing that prevents 75% of all problem behavior before it happens * Which leashes and collars to use... and not to * Which clicker training is so popular and effective * One toy no doggie household should be without

Do over Dogs: Give Your Dog a Second Chance for a First Class Life (Dogwise Training Manual) by Pat Miller (Jun 25, 2010)

I believe this is a wonderful book for potential adopters as well as people who have adopted a young or adult dog from a shelter or rescue. This will put many things into perspective and can be a big help when choosing the right dog for you and your lifestyle.

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What exactly is a Do-Over Dog? It might be a shelter dog you re working with to help her become more adoptable. Perhaps it s the dog you ve adopted, rescued, or even found running stray who is now yours to live with and love...forever. Or it could be the dog you ve lived with for years but you realize he still has issues that make him a challenging canine companion. A Do-Over Dog is any dog that you think needs make that deserves a second chance in life. Noted author and trainer Pat Miller has spent her life working with both people and shelter dogs, family dogs, and dogs with behavior problems. In her newest book she shares the wisdom of her years in the field of force-free, positive dog training to help give people and pets a first class life together. It s not too late to begin again Learn how to assess any dog in order to anticipate his behavior and training needs. Find out how to make the best use of the Honeymoon Period when it s important to teach new behaviors and establish good habits. Discover the best way to deal with problem behaviors that are common in Do-Over Dogs including fear, resource guarding, and separation anxiety. Educate yourself about using a combination of positive training and common sense management techniques to bring out the best in your new dog.

How to Foster Dogs: From Homeless to Homeward Bound by Pat Miller (Nov 21, 2013)

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You Can Build a Bridge to a Better Life for Dogs Pat Miller s How to Foster Dogs is the first book on the market to deal specifically with the care and training needs of foster dogs and how the fostering process works when done through a formal arrangement with an organization like a shelter or breed rescue group. Fostering dogs involves caring on a temporary basis for puppies and dogs who for whatever reason cannot be housed with their owners, shelters or breed rescue organizations. Many shelters now have formal fostering programs for dogs who are too young, unhealthy or have behavioral issues and therefore have to be housed with a foster family or face euthanasia. The book also covers informal fostering situations when families move or have some disruption and a friend or relative agrees to care for the dog temporarily. You will learn About the various organizations that seek the services of foster families for dogs. What a typical formal arrangement between a shelter and a foster parent involves including expectations of care and training, and the support you can expect from the shelter including covering expenses and other legal issues. About the most common behavioral issues facing foster dogs and puppies including fear and separation anxiety, a likely undeserved reputation for what may have been perceived as dominance, and irritating but usually solvable problems such as house soiling, chewing and barking. How to successfully integrate a foster dog into your home if you own other dogs. While it is possible that you will end up adopting the dog yourself, learn how to prepare to say goodbye to your foster best friend knowing that you have done your best to build a bridge to a better future for him or her.

Every Dog Every Day Book & DVD Set by Kay Laurence (Jan 1, 2012)

A wonderful book and will change some of your perspectives on training and how you connect with your dog. A wonderful read and great techniques in this gem!

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Many training strategies and behavioral modification programs focus on changing dogs' behavior. The latest book and DVD set by popular British dog trainer and ClickerExpo faculty member Kay Laurence introduces another mindset. In Every Dog Every Day, Kay describes a different view of your dog's innate behaviors, and explains how trying to suppress these innate responses can be met with resistance and conflict. Kay's suggestion is to think about working with the grain, not against it, to move closer to an enjoyable connection and relationship with your dog.

Kay has lived with many dogs over many years, observing their daily interactions and their puppy-rearing and sharing in their activities. With skill, dogs teach us the art of living as a harmonious group, and the art of developing connection. This understanding is shared through the book and DVD set, with advice based on consistent, high-quality results with a range of dogs and people.

This DVD is formatted in the PAL format and can only be viewed on a computer or select DVD players that support PAL.

Clicker Revolution by Kay Laurence (Sep, 2013)

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We can teach with exquisite precision and achieve error-less results when we fully understand every component that affects our learners' learning experience. Quality teaching begins with awareness of our interaction with the learner, and continues with taking responsibility for improving our own competencies, not just those of the learner.

  • Examining 1% of the learning cycle that can make 100% difference to the result.
  • Does it matter how the learner acquires the behaviour?
  • Can the reinforcing process strain the behaviour?

Are we teaching the way that learner chooses to learn or just teaching the way we like to teach?

As revolutionists we can filter our choices with deep respect for our learners that comes from our heart, not just from a scientific view point.

The way a behaviour is carried out is more important than the behaviour itself.

Clicker revolution began with talented behavioural scientists and evolved through hundreds of practioners to where we are today.

We are presented with a wealth of principles, theories, strategies and techniques. These are often flavoured with tradition and superstition.

Clicker revolution continues with a critical eye and evolving ethical values, which help us bring to light shadowy areas of protocols that were once accepted as "good enough". This clarity of understanding, combined with good practice, sets up both learner and teacher for success.

Our clicker is the gateway to reinforcement.

Clicker Training - The Perfect Foundation(Book and DVD set) by Kay Laurence (Jan 1, 2010)

This book and DVD set: Clicker Training: The Perfect Foundation is perfect! Combined from the very successful Foundation and Novice books of the Clicker Trainer's course, it becomes the essential route to teach yourself clicker training. Learn the skills of using and managing rewards, how and why the clicker works, adding names of behaviours, basic shaping and targeting techniques. Enjoy the challenge of planning your dog's learning, breaking the behaviours into small achievable chunks and develop your shaping skills. Finally taking this creative and careful learning through to ultra reliable behaviors and at the same time having great fun with your dog.

Learning Games by Kay Laurence (Jan 1, 2008)

Play is a natural form of learning. It varies from frivolous to intensely serious. It resolves conflict, strengthens bonds and provides physical workouts. Participants learn to play by rules and develop cunning strategies and solutions. During games players are not focussing on specific skills and their bodies and minds can learn effectively. They will be stretched physically and mentally. This book covers a range of over 50 Games and variations selected from the rich background of Kay's teaching practice. You can build a specific curriculum for your dog or simply enjoy the teaching learning process.

Clicker Foundation Training: Level 1 by Kay Laurence (Sep 18, 2006)

Levels 1-3 are wonderful manuals to put your dog through some amazing training with simple steps to follow. See these volume sets as training manuals like sheets of music.

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The Level 1 Foundation Course teaches the key skills of using and managing rewards, how and why the clicker works, adding names to behaviors, basic shaping and targeting techniques.

Clicker Novice Training: Level 2 by Kay Laurence (Sep 18, 2006)

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The Level 2 Novice Course builds on the key skills acquired in the Foundation Course. Learning how to break down the behaviors into small achievable chunks and to develop shaping with built in platforms. How the rewards can affect behaviors and using shaping to get the precise results you are looking for. Finally taking this creative and careful development process through to ultra reliable and strong behaviors and at the same time having great fun with the dog.

Clicker Intermediate Training (Learning about Dogs) by Kay Laurence (Jun 30, 2006)

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This Clicker Trainers Course is for people wanting to learn how to become a clicker trainer and follow a clear pathway to develop great skills, knowledge and understanding. The Intermediate Course builds on the key skills acquired in the Novice and Foundation Courses. The book look at: 1.balancing your dog's learning 2.measuring behaviors to be able to assess progress with easy to use data collections forms weaning off the clicker and rewards which leads onto 3.complex behavior chains, sequences and merged behaviors with advanced cues

Teaching with Reinforcement (Learning about Dogs) by Kay Laurence (Sep 15, 2010)

This book covers many types of positive reinforcement training as used in clicker training, first learning, instinctive behaviours and lifestyle management. It will question your concept of rewards and bring you closer to exceptional effectiveness and a greater understanding of your dog's behaviour.

Clicker Dances with Dogs (Learning about Dogs) by Kay Laurence (Nov 10, 2006)

This book I believe would have techniques for Free Style dancing with your dogs.

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The recipes are based on clicker training skills achieved in the Clicker Trainers Course books, level 1 & 2, Foundation and Novice training.

For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend by Patricia McConnell (Aug 28, 2007)

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Yes, humans and canines are different species, but current research provides fascinating, irrefutable evidence that what we share with our dogs is greater than how we vary. As behaviorist and zoologist Dr. Patricia McConnell tells us in this remarkable new book about emotions in dogs and in people, more and more scientists accept the premise that dogs have rich emotional lives, exhibiting a wide range of feelings including fear, anger, surprise, sadness, and love.

In For the Love of a Dog, McConnell suggests that one of the reasons we love dogs so much is that they express emotions in ways similar to humans. After all, who can communicate joy better than a puppy? But not all emotional expressions are obvious, and McConnell teaches both beginning dog owners and experienced dog lovers how to read the more subtle expressions hidden behind fuzzy faces and floppy ears.

For those of us who deeply cherish our dogs but are sometimes baffled by their behavior, For the Love of a Dog will come as a revelation–a treasure trove of useful facts, informed speculation, and intriguing accounts of man’s best friend at his worst and at his very best. Readers will discover how fear, anger, and happiness underlie the lives of both people and dogs and, most important, how understanding emotion in both species can improve the relationship between them. Thus McConnell introduces us to the possibility of a richer, more rewarding relationship with our dogs.

While we may never be absolutely certain what our dogs are feeling, with the help of this riveting book we can understand more than we ever thought possible. Those who consider their dogs part of the family will find For the Love of a Dog engaging, enlightening, and utterly engrossing.

The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs by Patricia B. McConnell (Apr 29, 2003)

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The Other End of the Leash shares a revolutionary, new perspective on our relationship with dogs, focusing on our behavior in comparison with that of dogs. An applied animal behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell looks at humans as just another interesting species, and muses about why we behave the way we do around our dogs, how dogs might interpret our behavior, and how to interact with our dogs in ways that bring out the best in our four-legged friends.

After all, although humans and dogs share a remarkable relationship that is unique in the animal world, we are still two entirely different species, each shaped by our individual evolutionary heritage. Quite simply, humans are primates and dogs are canids (like wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Since we each speak a different native tongue, a lot gets lost in the translation.

The Other End of the Leash demonstrates how even the slightest changes in your voice and the way you stand can help your dog understand what you want. Once you start to think about your own behavior from the perspective of your dog, you’ll understand why much of what appears to be doggy-disobedience is simply a case of miscommunication. Inside you will learn • How to use your voice so that your dog is more likely to do what you ask. • Why “getting dominance” over your dog is a bad idea. • Why “rough and tumble primate play” can lead to trouble–and how to play with your dog in ways that are fun and keep him out of trouble. • How dogs and humans share personality types–and why most dogs want to live with benevolent leaders rather than “alphawannabees!”

In her own insightful, compelling style, Patricia McConnell combines wonderful true stories about people and dogs with a new, accessible scientific perspective on how they should behave around each other. This is a book that strives to help you make the most of life with your dog, and to prevent problems that might arise in that most rewarding of relationships.

Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson (Dec 7, 2012)

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Generations of dogs have been labeled training-lemons for requiring actual motivation when all along they were perfectly normal. Numerous other completely and utterly normal dogs have been branded as canine misfits simply because they grew up to act like dogs. Barking, chewing, sniffing, licking, jumping up and occasionally, (just like people), having arguments, is as normal and natural for dogs as wagging tails and burying bones. However, all dogs need to be taught how to modify their normal and natural behaviors to adjust to human culture. Sadly, all to often, when the dog's way of life conflicts with human rules and standards, many dogs are discarded and summarily put to death. That's quite the Culture Clash.