Sit Happens - civilising your dog (2003),191pp, $21
Book Three in the series Aunty Kaye's Guide to Surviving Your Dog's First Year of Life. Sit Happens covers the Top Ten Topics in Positive Dog Training.
CONTENTS
In your dreams ... a scenario
Introduction: the positive way to train your dog
1. “I just want my dog to listen...”
2. “Sit Happens”
3. “The Long Down”
4. “The waiting game ...”
5. “Me First”
6. “Follow the Leader”
7. “Let’s Go”
8. “Who, me?”
9. “Hey! Hey! Hey!”
10. “Mine”
EXTRACT
Introduction
The average pet owner has a limited number of practical goals in dog training. Most of us want our dogs to do the basics with some reliability. The basics include: sitting, coming when called, lying down, walking on lead, paying attention, learning some house rules and social manners towards people, and being sociable with other dogs.
Dog owners often introduce themselves to me with the remark “I don’t want a show dog,” by which they mean a dog who will perform obedience routines in the ring.
The traditional style of obedience training was based originally on
military-style working dog training, and in more recent years on
competition “obedience”. It emphasises precision drills and formality
which the modern pet owner does not need or want. The modern style of
dog training is much gentler and more enjoyable for both dog and
handler, as well as being more practical and relevant to the modern pet
owner’s lifestyle.
Sit happens is based on my the view that basic
commands or behaviours can be used in many ways, and can go a long
way. “Sit” is very undervalued, underused and undertaught and
generally misunderstood concept - as in “she knows how to sit ... but
she’ll only do it when she wants to”.
The practical training techniques presented here allow you to train your dog in “modules” going from simple steps through to more complex ones, until you have covered the “Top Ten” concerns of dog owners wishing to achieve basic practical control of their pet.
