Trainer’s Picks

Books:

Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook
Author: Barbara Handelman
A must have for anyone wanting to learn more about dog behavior through the interpretation of a dog’s body language.

How Dogs Learn
Authors: Mary R. Burch , Jon S. Bailey PhD
This book is a cornerstone of many a dog trainer’s library- it focuses on the modern day application of learning psychology in dogs.

The Dog’s Mind: Understanding Your Dog’s Behavior
Author: Bruce Fogle
Understanding how your dog’s mind works is crucial to influencing their behavior.

For the Kiddos:

The Lessons of Chief Pondy
Nearly 5 million people are bitten by dogs every year- most of them are children. This is an excellent educational series developed by fellow dog trainer Scott MacConachie to meet the very important task of educating children on how to interact with dogs.

Interactive Toys:

Star Mark
(My personal favorites include the Everlasting Fun Ball, and the Everlasting Treat Ball (safe to leave your dog alone with) and the Bob-A-Lot (feeding time only) )
Few toys hold up to the enthusiastic chewers yet provide needed mental stimulation. Out of the interactive toys I have used over the years, I still have my original star mark toys. Compared to other interactive toys on the market I found these to be truly the most “interactive”. Found in store at Petco, Petsmart, and Angel’s Pet World.

 

 

Trainer’s Picks is an advice and information column that aims to help improve the relationship between dogs and their owners through education from a fun and fresh perspective. Crystal is a professional dog trainer who specializes in clearing up the lines of communication between dogs and their owners so the two can bring out the best in each other.

This article was written by Crystal Fetting, a Certified Canine Training and Behavior Specialist. She can be reached at www.CrystalClearCanine.com.