The Observation Deck

I'm a fan of McConnell and have learned much from reading her.

Last time I checked - and it's been years - materials that Ed mentioned weren't available at the library.

I'm not sure where to make suggestions for the collection, but more resources for dog owners would be great.

dl meckes wrote:I'm a fan of McConnell and have learned much from reading her.

Last time I checked - and it's been years - materials that Ed mentioned weren't available at the library.

I'm not sure where to make suggestions for the collection, but more resources for dog owners would be great.

DL - McConnell has her own website: http://www.patriciamcconnell.com

Beajay, thanks for the link.

The last time we had a puppy (she's seven now), I was looking for resources from the library.

At that time, the best book I saw was a Karen Pryor book on clicker training.

For what it is worth the two best dog books and puppy/training books are both by "The New Skete Monks."

Both are available at the library and well worth owning.

The New Skete Monks are known for their highly trained German Shepards.


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Jim,

Sorry, I have to seriously disagree with you. The main author of that book actually has come out and said he wished he had never written it. The material that I listed is so much more current. We've come a long way since the techniques used in that particular book.

I actually wish the library would pull those books off the shelves and replace them with current training books.

Ed

Thanks for posting the recommendations.

I have requested orders for all the titles you suggested and included B. Aloff's Aggression in Dogs and Positive Reinforcement book titles and her "Brenda Aloff's Fundamentals: Foundation Training for Every Dog" DVD.

Like in so much in the record of human experience, there are diverse methods, narratives, reports, techniques, etc. Lakewood Public Library contains some of the mix.

Currently, Lakewood Public Library owns over 70 titles on dog training including the newest Monks of Skete title, Divine Canine. Other popular titles by Bruce Fogle D.V.M., Cesar Millan aka the "Dog Whisperer", Mordecai Siegal, and Barbara Woodhouse - these are the big name authors on the subject.

LPL owns videos and DVDs on this subject, too, some of which were produced by the American Kennel Club.

Favorite pictorial dog books owned by LPL are The Legacy of the Dog by Toyoharu Kojima and The New Encyclopedia of the Dog by Bruce Fogle.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

I think it's important to remind people, amidst all this wonderful discussion and useful information, that only a small percentage of the dogs we're likely to encounter in our city will show any aggressive signs. Alert does not necessarily mean aggressive, and I would hate any non-dog-lovers out there to become worried or skittish just because a passing dog takes notice of them.

Of course, it's wise to use caution with all dogs (and breed is irrelevant, as we all know). But the truth is, any given dog you come across will likely not be inclined to harm or want to harm you.

Ken,

Thanks. I was hoping you were reading on would get some of those titles. I could recommend a whole bunch more if you would like! I also realize it's unrealistic to think that the older books could be pulled but in my little dream world.........

Brad also makes a very relevant point. Almost every aggresive display by a dog is an attempt at conflict resolution and not actual conflict. I would have to really search my memory banks to come up with a dog that I thought was just flat out looking for trouble. I can think of one off the top of my head. Dogs are naturally drawn to avoid conflict unless given no choice. That's why it's so upsetting when someone like Cesar Milan almost seems proud of the fact that he gets bit. Any dog trainer or behaviorist worth anything is going to recognize when a dog is appoaching that state and will do things to avoid it. I have been bit in my time but very rarely and when it has happened I have taken the time to think back to the mistake I made that elicited the bite.

I have to say I am really happy at the interest it seems this topic has drawn. It's something that is fascinating to me and I could talk about for hours with people. Keep up the good conversation![/i]

Ed:

The "long tail" strength of LPL's collection comes, in part, from our responsive engagement with interested readers and our capacity to purchase the recommendations of local experts. There is a richness to collections that emerges over time with the cultivation of input from the demand side on subject matter and expertise. So please let me know twenty core books and five core DVDs on the subject that you believe would improve the collection.
And then we can get to work on the order.

Thanks.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

Ed Dickson wrote:Ken,

Thanks. I was hoping you were reading on would get some of those titles. I could recommend a whole bunch more if you would like! I also realize it's unrealistic to think that the older books could be pulled but in my little dream world.........

Brad also makes a very relevant point. Almost every aggresive display by a dog is an attempt at conflict resolution and not actual conflict. I would have to really search my memory banks to come up with a dog that I thought was just flat out looking for trouble. I can think of one off the top of my head. Dogs are naturally drawn to avoid conflict unless given no choice. That's why it's so upsetting when someone like Cesar Milan almost seems proud of the fact that he gets bit. Any dog trainer or behaviorist worth anything is going to recognize when a dog is appoaching that state and will do things to avoid it. I have been bit in my time but very rarely and when it has happened I have taken the time to think back to the mistake I made that elicited the bite.

I have to say I am really happy at the interest it seems this topic has drawn. It's something that is fascinating to me and I could talk about for hours with people. Keep up the good conversation![/i]

Thanks for the resources Ed !
I would like to read some of those.
I have done quite a bit of research over the last couple of years ....
so the more the merrier!

Ed you have to forgive my ignorance as to the training there...
I have read up on the CGC program and will be bringing that pup of mine in ....what do you think about the NILIF program, what type do you all do incorperate? Is it a specific type or combo?
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/nothingfree.htm

Just curious...

Here's a partial list:

How Dogs Learn - Burch & Bailey

Excel-erated Learning - Pamela Reid

Before and After Getting Your Puppy - Ian Dunbar (also, any of his pamphlets on socialization, barking, chewing, etc.)

How to teach a new dog old tricks - Ian Dunbar

Control Unleashed - Leslie McDevitt

Child Proofing Your Dog - Kilcommons and Wilson

Cautious Canine and Feisty Fido, The Other End of the Leash - Patricia McConnell

Aggression in Dogs: Practical Management, Prevention and Behavior
Modification - Brenda Aloff (also Canine Body Language)

Dogs are from Neptune, Culture Clash, and Mine! A guide to resource guarding in dogs - Jean Donaldson

Dogs: A new understanding of canine origin, behavior and evolution - Raymond and Lorna Coppinger

I also really enjoyed a "Dummies" book on teaching dogs tricks by Jack and Wendy Volhard...

Most of these books have been suggested by a group of people who are involved in professional training and who are avidly involved in obedience, field trials, search and rescue, mushing, agility, etc.

Kenneth Warren wrote:
And then we can get to work on the order.

Thanks.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

Ken,

Kudos to you for you reaction time and assertive response/resolution to get ahold of these books of interest. Keep it up.

Corey

I second what Corey said! Another pleasant result of this conversation.

Hope,
NILIF (Nothing in Life is Free) is the basis for all good positive training. The idea being you have to have resources to use as rewards in order to get a dog to continue to make the best choices for you. The extent, inmy opinion, is really up to the owner of the dog and the specific goals they have. The more precise you need your behavior to be, the more you have to make sure you are asking for behavior. A typical family pet with no performance goals can get away with a lot of inconsistincies in a training program. A top of the line agility competitor doesn't get nearly as much leeway. I tell people all the time that I'll give you the tools and knowledge needed but it's up to you to decide what behaviors you like or don't like. Little dog owners don't care so much about jumping so it's not a priority. The 130 pound Newfoundland owner has a different view of jumping.
Hope that makes sense!

Ken,
DL has supplied a great list already. I would add a few more.

"Don't Shoot the Dog" by Karen Pryor
Many well known dog trainers call this the bible for training.

"Lads Before the Wind" by Karen Pryor
Karen Pryor's book about her first experience training dolphins. Same techniques apply to dogs. A fascinating read for the behavior nerd!

"Living With Kids and Dogs Without Losing Your Mind" by Colleen Pelar

"The Dog Whisperer" by Paul Owens
There was a man called this before the current wannabe.

"The Puppy Whisperer" by Paul Owens

"The Power of Positive Dog Training" by Pat Miller

"Positive Perspectives" by Pat Miller

"The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson

I may add more later but that list combined with DL's is a great collection.

I have to get back to you on the videos.

Ed

Thank you - both dl and Ed for the recommendations. We will order the titles not owned.

By the way, we do have three copies of The Dog Whisperer - two are checked-out.

I appreciate your kindness, Corey.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

Ken-

Thanks, as always for your openness to suggestions.

We dog people need lots of resources!