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By Paddy
Driscoll
The Dominance
debate. With apologies for how
the article has ended up formatted.
Paddy is a better dog trainer than techie geek!
Problem
dogs...do
you think your dog is a 'problem dog'? Which do you think you
need to help you? A
behaviourist, a dog trainer or a 'dog whisperer'? What is the
difference
 Winston's story. German
Spitz Winston is an amazing little dog who survived over 3
weeks
living rough.
Thinking about breeding? Read this
first!
Paddy has
written a chapter in the APDT book 'Teach
Yourself Dog Training
Available from all good book stores and Amazon.
She is a
regular contributor to and 'Ask
the Expert' expert in the James
Wellbeloved Pet Club Magazine
Paddy also
wrote the script for Joanna Hill's
highly respected video (now a dvd) The
Motivation Movie
and featured
in it with some of her dogs.
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 Training methods
and behaviour
There
is a debate in dog training about the most effective and humane way to
train and handle dogs. This new website 'Welfare
in Dog Training' highlights
widely felt concerns about popular, if misguided, techniques based on
physical domination and punishment.
Clicker
training. Karen
Pryor's website and Clicker
Solutions
are two of the better websites
devoted to the practical use of clicker training.
Say
hi! by
Suzanne Clothier (from her website Flying
Dog Press,
where other articles can be found). Insight into why some
otherwise very nice dogs show aggression, and why some nice dogs always
seem to provoke it in other dogs.
Punishment?
Why
I don't
use shock collars... The
Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors
position.
This
interesting study by Schilder
and van den Borg
highlights some of the
potential problems in their use.
Plus...why
I don't use check
chains.
Punishment
using physical corrections, for
example so-called "alpha rolls", can have dramatically bad effects on a
dog and it is why no physical coercion, or similar techniques are used
by Teamwork Training. Now there is at least one scientific
study, here,
which supports positive training.
Planning
on
buying a puppy?
If
you want to buy a puppy, then plan carefully. There
are a lot of places to find information on how to find a good breeder.
Try these for starters...
One Labrador
breeder's FAQ (I don't know this
breeder...but what she says is
good) and bearing what she says about the Kennel Club, here
is the
KC's own
advice. If you want to see some
video to help you understand better
how to pick a puppy, look here.
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Want
to learn more? Books and articles to challenge and
get you thinking...
An
interesting site which examines a lot of the issues debated in dog
training and behaviour today... http://www.4pawsu.com/dogpsychology.htm
Raymond
and Lorna Coppinger's Dogs
Why
your
dog is smarter than a wolf By Colin Woodard
People
sometimes say of their dog 'he knows he's done something wrong!'
because he looks 'guilty'. Take a look at this
study if you are one of them!
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Competitive
training
Loads
of good information on all aspects of competing in the breed ring,
agility, obedience and working trials. Most have links to all sorts of
gems including items for sale (like dog guards), dogs wanting homes,
rules and regs, dates of shows and events
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Helping
dogs and their owners
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Deafdogs
Lost a
dog? Found one? These sites may be able to help. If its been lost in
the Lincoln area please email Paddy so we can circulate the details
locally.
DogLost
PetSearch
This
American site has lots of excellent, very pratical advice on how to
find a lost dog.
Lost
Dog Search
In case
your dog should go missing or be stolen, have him or her microchipped.
Microchipping.org is a
local microchipping service run by Hannah Wright, a member of the
Teamwork Training team.
If you
need legal help (eg noise problems) Cooper and Cooper
are widely
recognised as the best (only?) specialist dog law firm.
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Rescue
Why these?
Because I know them and/or have an interest in
them. I cannot be responsible for any dog you find through them though.
Please check very carefully that the dog you take on has been assessed
throroughly. With some rescues it can be very much a case of caveat
emptor.
German
Spitz Rescue
Four
Legged
Friends (Haddington, Lincs)
Dogs in Need
Mill Rescue
The Oldies Club
Half Way
Home Dog Rescue
(Collingham, Lincs)
Border
Collies Needing Homes
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Shopping and services
These are here because I have found
them useful and helpful. I do not endorse or recommend all the products
they might sell
Training Lines
a very good site for toys and training aids of all sorts
Amazon books
where I buy most of my dog books from.
Scent Cloths and
Cards
Karen makes gorgeous
greetings and congratulations cards, especially 'doggy' ones for your
friends when they win in competition. She competes in obedience and can
usually be found at major shows in the South. She also sells very
tasteful, but practical, scent cloths.
 Pets
Allowed - Directory of UK Pet Friendly Places
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