I was lucky enough to receive a great dog book a few months ago. (too many months to mention - I am WAAaayyy behind on my reading!). The book, Divine Canine from the Monks of New Skete, is truly wonderful. Not just for the great advice on how to train your dog, but for the stories, the pictures, and the comforting way they help the reader understand how dogs think.
That's key, isn't it? If we but take the time to look at our dogs as sensient beings (able to think), we can usually determine why they do the things they do. Most pet owners can understand their dogs' body language quite well. I instinctively know when Carmel wants 'out' as in, "I need to visit the backyard," as opposed to 'out' as in, "When are we going for our walk?" But, there are other times I'm not at all sure why she's doing what she does...
That is, until I read the Divine Canine (this link goes to the page on Amazon where you can purchase it). The Monks explain how important it is to make sure the dog knows you're the head of the pack. They discuss "behavior conditioning, becoming the alpha-leader, communicating with your dog, common discipline problems, and obedience training."
Now, Carmel is fairly obedient - these days. She wasn't always. In her early days she would bolt out the door every chance she got, and we would chase her around the neighborhood for hours. It was fretful and frustrating. I guess in her old age she's decided she'd rather just stay home. I have actually been using some of the advice I found in this book, to keep her calm on walks (she does not do well around other dogs), and it's working.
This training comes in DVD format, as well as print. Visit the Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete site and learn more. The Monks will truly teach you how to be your dog's best friend.
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