Description

We all know that a dog with bad habits is no fun to own. Whether it is barking constantly while you are out of the house, acting aggressively towards visitors, or stealing food from the table, the badly behaved dog is a walking menace This clearly illustrated book, written by one of the world’s foremost authorities on canine behaviour, provides the despairing owner of such an animal with answers to all the common problems.

Colin Tennant gives us a fascinating insight into canine psychology and explains why dogs behave in the way that they do when part of the “family pack”. Using simple exercises, he then reveals how dogs can be retrained through a system of reward and deterrence that makes bad behaviour a thing of the past. Illustrated throughout with newly commissioned step-by-step photography, this 205 page book is essential reading for all dog owners.

Introduction – Origins of the Dog – The Early History of Dogs – Working Breeds – Companionship – Domestic Problems – Man’s Best Friend – Sniffing and Rolling – Pack Rules – Pack Behaviour – Dominance – Dog Training and Behaviour.

Chapter 1 – How Dogs Learn Forming the Dog’s Temperament – Inherited Behaviour – Voice Tone – Reward – Punishment – Getting Your Timing Right – Aim for Consistency – Guilty or Not? – Ignore – A Powerful Dominant Statement.

Chapter 2 – Training Equipment Basic Dog Training – Breaking Bad Habits – Flexible Leads – Long Lines – Dog-walking Harnesses – Car Harnesses – Face Collars – The Muzzle – Natural Diet Food and Food Rewards – The Food Toy – Deterrent Sprays – Remote Training Collar – Training Discs – How To Use the Discs – Dog-Stop Alarms – Water Pistols – Dog Beds – Dog Flaps – Indoor Cages and Pens – Car Ramps – Carrier Cages and Crates – Toys, Balls – Whistle.

Chapter 3 – The Dominant Dog Causes of Dominance – Altering Behaviour – Jumping Up for Attention – The Human Factor – Coping with Dominance – First Achieve Psychological Demotion – How to Take Charge – Obedience Training – Phase Two – The Hook Restriction Programme – People Arriving – At Your Home – How The Dogs Sees the Situation – How To Take Full Control – Equipment Required – A good Time When Tethered.

Chapter 4 – Recall – Dogs That Don’t Come on Command Prevention Advice – Breaking the Habit – Lead and Collar Recall – Sound and Food Recall – The Long Line Recall – Practice Makes Perfect – Dealing with Distractions – Sound and Toy Recall – Hide and Seek Recall – Citronella Collar Recall.

Chapter 5 – Separation Anxiety – Home Alone General Causes – Are You the Problem – Prevention Advice – Dealing with Separation Anxiety – Reducing Dependence – The Use of Food – Two’s Canine Company – Exercise the Energy – Important Tips – In Conclusion.

Chapter 6 – Excessive Barking Prevention Advice for Puppies – Barking While the Owner is Home – How to Stop or Reduce Barking – Anxiety Related Barking – Food Inducement – Helpful Distractions – Excitable Barking for Attention – Barking Mad in the Car – Using Deterrents – Redesigning the Car Space – Restraints.

Chapter 7 – Excessive Attention Seeking The Doggy Drive – Attention Trip – Tackling the Problem – What is Excessive? – How to Prevent Attention Seeking – Points to Remember – Conclusion.

Chapter 8 – Destructive Behaviour Why Are Dogs Destructive? – Prevention Advice for Puppies and Newly Acquired Dogs – Food – Cage Training – Direct Action – Bitter Experience.

Chapter 9 – Play-Biting Why Dogs Play-Bite us – Play-Biting is Painful – Toy or Prey – The Evil Eye – How to Discourage – Redirecting the Play.

Chapter 10 – Jumping Up Prevention Advice – Four Paws on the Ground – Initial Triggers That Teach Dogs to Jump – I’m Home I’m Ignoring You – Dog Training – Redirect Unwanted Greetings – Water and Sound Deterrents – Smell and Taste Deterrents – Collar, Lead and Hook – Other Methods.

Chapter 11 – Dealing With Aggression Towards People Dominant and Fear aggression – Prevention Advice: Reducing the Dominant Dog’s Attitude – Circumstances: The Crucial Factor – Types of Aggression to People – Inherited Dominance -Dominance Aggression Towards People – Specific Triggers – Dominance Aggression in Public Places – Fear Aggression to People – Keeping a Safe Distance – Do Not Impose on Aggressive Dogs – How to Remedy the Situation – Redefining Who’s Leader – Psychological Demotion – How To Take Charge – House Obedience Training – Controlling the Dog In Your Home – The Food Toy Reward – On the Hook – Aggression to Visitors – Training Discs – Changing Canine Attitudes.

Chapter 11 (cont) – Aggression Towards Other Dogs Fear Aggression – The Dominantly Aggressive Dog – Lack of Socialisation – Traumatic Experience – Cyclical Aggression – The Rehabilitation Plan – Getting to Know Other Dogs – The Leader Speaks – Dogs Visiting You – What to Do if Your Dog is Attacked in Public – Practical Attack Avoidance Techniques – Passive Defence – Object Defence – Umbrella Rescue.

Chapter 11 (cont) – Aggression Towards Other Dogs in the Family Hidden Currents – A New Dog in the House – Wolves in the Wild – Restoring Peace and Order – Removing Friction – What to do if a Fight takes Place – Canine Divorce.

Chapter 11 (cont) – Possessive Aggression Possessiveness With Toys – Using Spray Deterrents – Do’s and Don’ts.

Chapter 11 (cont) – Aggression Over Food Restraining Programme – Obedience Training – Spray Distraction – Food Exchange – In Conclusion.

Chapter 11 (cont) – Aggression When Grooming Why Dogs Show Aggression – Breed Problems – Using Muzzles on Aggressive Dogs.

Chapter 12 – Stealing Food and Scavenging Taste Buds – In the Home – Following their Noses – Obedience Training – Deterrents – Prevention Advice – Direct Action – Setting Up Your Dog – Using Muzzles.

Chapter 13 – Sexual Problems Marking Territory – Prevention Advice – Water Pistol and Training Discs – Redirect the Energy – Scent and Taste Deterrents – Obedience Training – Should I Neuter My Dogs? – Castration – Prevention of Dominant Aggression – Hyper-sexuality.

Chapter 14 – House Toilet Training The New Puppy – Stage 1 Training – Stage 2 Training – Stage 3 Training – Indoor Cages – The Cage Solution – If Separation Anxiety is the Cause – Territory Marking by Male Dogs.

Chapter 15 Stopping Your Dog From Pulling The Language of Command – Collar and Lead – Puppies and Less Determined Pullers – Walking to Heel – Stay in Control – Using Face Collars With Determined Pullers – How to Fit a Face Collar Onto a Dog -Using a Body Harness.

Chapter 16 Introducing a New Dog Into The Family A New Puppy – Maintain Pack Position – Do’s and Don’ts With a New Puppy – Introducing Adults of the Opposite Sex – Getting Acquainted – Introducing Adults of the Same Sex – In Conclusion.

Chapter 17 Phobias and Fears What Causes Phobias – Prevention by Socialisation – The Wild Animal in a Dog – Surviving the Bangs – Household Noises – Taping the Trouble – Fear of Objects.

Chapter 18 Car Sickness Causes – Prevention Advice – Week 1 – Week 2 – Week 3 – Further Tips.

Chapter 19 Digging Up The Garden Prevention Advice – Tethering – Training Discs – Scent Deterrents.

Chapter 20 Eating Animal Faeces Prevention Advice – Dogs Which Eat Their Own Faeces – Dogs Eating Faeces of Other Animals – Line Training – Redirect Your Dog’s Attention – Deterrent Methods.

Chapter 21 Chasing People and Animals Sizing Up the Problem – Obedience Training – Reverse Chase – Redirecting the Chase – Electric Collars.