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Recommended Books
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 Debbie Jacobs has been living with and training her fearful dog, Sunny, since she discovered him in a hurricane rescue camp in 2005. In this book, Debbie shares what she's learned, in order to help the owners of other scared/fearful/shy dogs.
"A Guide to Living With & Training a Fearful Dog" covers the basics of everything you need to know to help your fearful dog learn to cope better with the world around him.
Debbie writes about how Sunny came into her life, and what living with an extremely fearful dog is like. (Sunny came from an animal hoarding situation, where he missed out on crucial socialization with people as a puppy, and was further traumatized by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.) This sets the stage for the rest of the book, where she walks readers through what they'll need to know to help their own dogs
The advice Debbie gives can help any dog with fearful tendencies, whether they're "just a little shy" or cowering in a corner. Using a combination of training, counterconditioning (pairing good things with the dog's triggers to change how the dog feels about those scary things), and desensitization (keeping the dog "sub-threshold" rather than overwhelming him in fearful situations), Debbie has brought Sunny a long way since she first met him. She outlines these techniques in clearly understandable language.
Topics include "Training Jargon and Techniques," "Treats and Rewards," "Triggers and Thresholds: The Basics," and "Equipment and Supplies." Other chapters address specific situations and how to help your dog through them, such as "My Dog is Scared of Me" and "Getting a Dog to Play." (Play can be liberating and relaxing, but some fearful dogs never learned how to play.)
Each chapter in this book is short and to the point. Although packed with useful information, the book is a quick read. The book ends with a section on "Recommended Books" for those who want to learn more, from the authors Debbie turned to in her own journey with Sunny. (You'll find several of the same books reviewed here on this website: they're generally recognized as the "best of class" by dog-friendly trainers.)
If you have a fearful dog, or know someone who does, this book will get you started on the right path.
Buy "Guide to Living With and Training a Fearful Dog" from Dogwise.com |
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 "I'll Be Home Soon" is another great, informative, and helpful booklet from Dr. Patricia McConnell. The topic is separation anxiety, which can make the life of dog and owners downright miserable.
First, it's important to understand the difference between true "separation anxiety" (a disorder that may require the use of anti-anxiety medicine) and behavioral problems that can mimic separation anxiety.
For example, urination or defecation in the house while left alone may be due to improper housetraining or to a medical cause, rather than being a symptom of "separation anxiety." Likewise, destructive behavior while left alone may simply due to boredom or (with puppies) teething.
Dr. McConnell fully explains what separation anxiety is – as well as what it isn't. She gives tips for dealing with problems that are "just" bad habits, so this is a good booklet even if your dog turns out not to have true separation anxiety.
Just as importantly, Dr McConnell explains how to prevent separation anxiety in dogs who haven't developed it yet. This includes "quiet but loving comings and goings," teaching your dog how to be comfortable in a crate, and making sure your dog is getting sufficient exercise.
If your dog does have separation anxiety, the "Treating Separation Anxiety" section spells out the things you need to do – and not do! – to help your dog overcome her anxiety. There's no "quick fix" - a typical behavior modification program will take several weeks (at a minimum) before you'll get to the point where you can consider the dog "cured."
But you and your dog will both heave sighs of relief once the agonizing symptoms of true separation anxiety are conquered.
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 Norwegian trainers, authors, and Karen Pryor Clicker Expo Faculty members Morten Egtvedt and Cecilie Koeste are among the top clicker trainers in the world. Their Canis Clickertraining Academy offers clicker training classes in 18 cities in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
"Clickertraining: The 4 Secrets of Becoming a Supertrainer" is one of the best introductions to clicker training I've seen available. It starts with a brief introduction to the history of clicker training and then explains just what clicker training is. At the heart of their approach are four foundation principles of clicker training:
- Focus is on rewarding the correct behavior
- The dog offers the behavior voluntarily
- Systematic use of a conditioned reinforcer (the clicker)
- Focus on what you can see
The authors explain not just what clicker training is (and is not!), but also how it works and why it's important to adopt the foundation principles whole-heartedly. ("Corrections" and punishments have no place in clicker training, and this book explains why.)
And then they get into the nuts and bolts of clicker training, from planning criteria and delivering timely clicks and treats to through training techniques to stimulus control (the dog does what you ask when you ask it) and generalization (the dog can do the behavior in any setting regardless of distractions). Along the way they point out many "secrets" of clicker training (information that's not obvious just watching someone clicker train an animal). Best of all, they provide step-by-step instructions to clicker train a variety of useful and fun behavior.
Buy "Clickertraining: The 4 Secrets of Becoming a Supertrainer" from the authors
Note: Please don't be put off by the sales & marketing page the authors use to sell their book. This is an excellent e-book well worth the cost, not one of those all-too-common "secrets of dog training" e-books that promises the moon and then doesn't deliver on that promise.... |
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 The Association of Pet Dog Trainers collected "top tips" from their members and assembled them into this neat little book.
Here's an excerpt:
Good communication is the best way to get good behavior. Learn to read your dog's postures, expressions, movements, and vocalizations. Observe ear and tail positions, general body posture (especially "fluid" and "curved" versus "stiff" and "angular"), and facial expressions. Be precise. (Write down "mouth open, panting slightly, tongue hanging out, eyes bright, facial muscles relaxed" rather than "looks happy.") Study videos, books, photographs, and other people's dogs. Notice your own body language and how it affects your dog. Your body says a lot and your dog notices! --Ann Dupuis, CPDT-KA, Your Dream Dog, Randolph, MA
Oh, yeah, did I mention I have several "top tips" in this book?
I'm in good company, including locally-known trainers Donna Savoie (a student of Emma Parsons and also of mine, and a really good trainer in her own right) and Jessica Janowski and nationally and even internationally known trainers such as Nicole Wilde, Nina Bondarenko, and Sue Sternberg.
Buy "Top Tips from Top Trainers" from Dogwise
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 "Help for Your Fearful Dog: A Step-by-Step Guide for Helping Your Dog Conquer His Fears" is exactly what the title implies.
In Part I, Nicole Wilde explains the difference between fear and aggression (many "aggressive" dogs are actually reacting out of fear) and how to recognize each. She discusses various causes of fear, and some tips for prevention. There's a chapter on "the face of fear" (how to recognize the specific body language and vocalizations that indicate a fearful dog) and another chapter on human body language and how to use your own body language to help your fearful dog. Part II sets the "Foundation for a Calm Dog." This section presents Nicole's "Firm Foundation System" which focuses on management, physical well-being, leadership, and training to help your fearful dog. This information is completely compatible with similar foundation-building chapters in "Click to Calm" by Emma Parsons. ("Click to Calm" is a must-have book if your dog is also reactive -- barking and lunging etc. -- in fearful situations.) "Help for Your Fearful Dog" also explains the roles of nutrition, excercise, and mental stimulation in reducing stress and anxiety. Part III has step-by-step instructions for teaching "Skills" that will help you and your dog cope with scary situations. These include exercises in relaxation, attention, and targeting (teaching your dog to touch things on cue). There's also helpful advice on skills you can use to help teach your dog the skills he'll need. Part IV provides a complete behavior modification program that builds on all the previous chapters. Topics covered include equipment, handling skills (how to control and direct your dog's behavior without adding to his fears), techniques (including classical conditioning, counterconditioning, desensitization, operant conditioning, and other scientifically based approaches to modifying behavior), all clearly explained. The vital topics of troubleshooting and measuring progress are also discussed here. Part V covers specific fears and how best to help dogs learn appropriate behavior in these situations. The list of specific fears she covers is extensive, and includes fear and reactivity towards guests in the home, fear of family members, veterinary visits, fear of the car, crate, or stairs, thunderstorm phobia and sensitivity to sound, touch, and motion, and many more. In Part VI, Nicole discusses complementary therapies. These include massage, TTouch, acupuncture and acupressure, homeopathy, flower essences, drug therapy, and aides such as body wraps calming caps, and DAP (Dog Appeasement Pheremones). In sum, this is a comprehensive, well-written, well-founded in science and experience, and vital resource for anyone dealing with a fearful dog. Buy "Help for Your Fearful Dog" from Dogwise.com |
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