Training book?

[Karen]

Can anyone recommend a good book with really good dog training in? I went to classes with Blue so I am familiar with the bascs, but with 3 dogs now I really want to get them to do what I want when I want - especially out in public with the experiences i've had recently. There's no way I can take all 3 to a class and I would like something that I can read and re-read in my own time and train at home. I found what sounded brill on the internet - but turned out to be for usa market only. Have both of Dog Whisperer books but they don't really go into training techniques etc. Any ideas welcome !                    

[PennyB]

Is it basic training you are looking for for each or other sorts of training, and what ages are they. I've now got 2 dogs (one 4 months, and the other 18 months) and find I still have to train each of them separately. At present I take the youngest to puppy class and then Ruby the oldest is going to intermediate classes once he's finished his sessions. Even at home I have to train separately. Am sure it'll get easier once Wilf has the basics, but neither will concentrate if I try to train them together.                    

[Jane S]

It depends on what sort of training you had in mind Karen There are all sorts of dog training books available, most of them can be found at http://crosskeysbooks.com/index.html If you fancy having a go at clicker training, then Karen Pryor's books are recommended. For general puppy training, you can't beat Gwen Bailey's "The Perfect Puppy". She has also written "Good Dog Behaviour" on training dogs generally. Other authors to look out for are Ian Dunbar, John Rogerson & David Appleby.

I still think classes are a good idea, specially for young Ollie as being so young he needs to be trained separately from your other 2, plus classes will be good for getting him socialised with all sorts of other dogs in a safe environment.                    

[LindaW]

I would recommend any book by the late John Fisher who was brilliant.  He writes in a very light hearted way and gives a lot of very good advice.  Titles include "Why Does My Dog" "Think Dog"  and they will help you to understand how a dog's mind actually works which in the long run will help you with training.                    

[Karen]

thanks guys - I'll have a look around - looked on Saturday in the local bookshops but they only had real basic teach your dog to sit books. My dogs know all basic commands and are quite good - I'd just like to focus them a bit more and give their brains something to think about! I could maybe build a 'training course' in the garden with things to climb go through etc? does anybody else do this sort of thing? (or am i just mad?!!!)                    

[PennyB]

Someone on another board (champdogs)suggested 'tracking' as a good way of stretching their minds.

Don't know how old your dogs are but they can't really start much agility type work until they are about 18 months old. I know some agility clubs do puppy agility but not sure how much they let them do until they're 18 months old.

Might be worth venturing over to agility net for some tips:

http://www.agilitynet.com                    

[Mike]

Thanks for that link, Penny.

Lots of people at our cocker meet yesterday said that I ought to do Agility with my springer, and I've always meant to give it a try as I think she's clever and athletic enough (not like my cocker Daisy  )... well now I've just emailed my local club to find out if there's a waiting list (booo), or whether we can go to the elementary classes on Wednesday                      

[Karen]

Jazz would be in her element Mike! She's got so much energy! I think she made most of the cockers look lazy and they were running around non stop!!                    

[PennyB]

Mike I've been told there's a waiting list at my local club (Caerphilly Dog Agility Club) but I could just go to the training if I want, so you never know you might be able to do something.

I went to an agility comp in May (to say hello to a border collie that I'd fostered over the Christmas/New Year period) and saw a few cockers in action. The cockers would probably be in different classes to the springers anyway (size-wise), but the little I know about agility is that its not just about speed—more about getting them to concentrate (I can see we'd fall at the first hurdle then as Ruby would get bored halfway round and want to go and do something else in another ring).                    

[Mike]

Apparently we've just mised the start of this year's last beginners class, so Jazz and I are going to be starting agility training in January Gives me something to look forward to   So pleased I've finally gotten round to doing this with her   Will probably give it a go with my cocker Daisy too... now THAT will be fun!!  

ps sorry Karen for hijacking your thread