Synopses & Reviews
Your hands-on guide to having fun with your dog!Want to teach your dog the coolest tricks? This step-by-step guide uses positive reinforcement to help you easily train your four-legged friend. From simple to more complex tricks, you'll learn to think like a dog for a more positive relationship. Plus, you'll discover how to infuse the thrill of agility — for fun or competition — into your dog's life.
Teach simple tricks the positive way — from rolling over toretrieving, discover the encouraging approaches to trainingthat work best for you and your dog
Take it to the next level — teach tricks that will excite your dog such as singing on cue, balancing treats, and playing "action hero"
Leap into agility training — teach your dog to make the jumps, go through tunnels, weave around poles, and more
Open the book and find:
A review of basic commands
Hints for clicker and target training
Advanced tricks your dog will love
An introduction to agility obstacles
Ways to troubleshoot agility moves
National agility competitive groups and organizations
Breed hobbies and events such as tracking, flyball, sledding, and more
Tips for keeping your dog fit and healthy
Learn to:
Teach your dog clever tricks and tasks
Determine your dog's abilities and tailor activities accordingly
Make training fun for you and your dog
Work in tandem with your dog to master agility commands and courses
Synopsis
The fun and easy way to teach a dog new tricksDog Tricks & Agility For Dummies (previously titled Dog Tricks For Dummies) makes trick and agility training fun for both you and your dog. You will learn to teach simple tricks, like tail wagging or barking on command to more complex tricks like fetching keys, your dog's dinner bowl, or the laundry. This hands-on guide provides the lowdown on the coolest dog tricks and offers expanded coverage on infusing the thrill of agility (whether for fun or competition) into your dog's life.
- Push a cart or stroller, run an agility course, play Frisbee and fly ball, and put the toys away
- Navigate all types of agility obstacles big and small, narrow and wide
- Prepare your dog for canine good citizen certification
- Determine if your dog can get involved in pet therapy and what's involved (i.e. nursing homes, children's centers, prisons, etc.)
- Make your own agility obstacles at home and set up a course
- Officially enter agility trials
About the Author
Sarah Hodgson is a respected dog columnist as well as the author of many popular books on dogs. She has coached many other dogprofessionals and is frequently featured as a dog training specialiston network television, radio, and print media, including NBC's Today show, Animal Planet, CNBC, and CNN.
Table of Contents
Introduction.Part I: Getting Started: The Foundations of Training.
Chapter 1: Exploring the Fun that Awaits You.
Chapter 2: Prepping for Training — Mentally and Physically.
Chapter 3: Understanding Your Dog’s Natural Abilities and Limitations.
Chapter 4: Encouraging Self-Control before You Launch into Lessons.
Part II: Teaching Tricks with Positive Reinforcement.
Chapter 5: Minding Manners and Trying Out Some Tricks.
Chapter 6: Engaging Favorites.
Chapter 7: Go Fetch! Finding and Retrieving Tricks.
Part III: Tackling More Advanced Tricks.
Chapter 8: Jumping and Dancing for Joy.
Chapter 9: Barking, Counting, and Singing on Cue.
Chapter 10: Adding Drama with Clever Tricks.
Part IV: Exploring the World of Agility.
Chapter 11: Considering Agility Training.
Chapter 12: Laying the Foundations for Agility.
Chapter 13: Introducing Your Dog to Jumps, Tunnels, and Tables.
Chapter 14: Teaching the A-Frame, Dog Walk, Teeter, and Weave Poles.
Chapter 15: Sequencing and Troubleshooting Your Agility Moves.
Chapter 16: Competing in Agility: Ready, Set, Go!
Part V: Getting Hip to Hobbies, Events, and Earning Credentials.
Chapter 17: Sharing Favorite Sports and Backyard Games.
Chapter 18: Participating in More Hobbies and Breed-Specifi c Events.
Chapter 19: Harness Sports: Bringing Pulling Dogs to the Starting Line.
Part VI: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 20: Nearly Ten Agility Moves Anyone Can Try.
Chapter 21: Top Ten Sports Injuries for Dogs.
Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Ensure Fido's Fit for Tricks and Agility.
Index.