a source of information about dog-related activities in the Bluegrass, training activities available through HarmonyDogs, and anything else dog-related that I find interesting or useful
I have been teaching dog training since 1998. My joy is helping dogs and their people to communicate clearly and live together in harmony - I teach force-free, positive reinforcement-based training methods.
I live in Lexington with my dogs Cassie (Labrador Retriever), Calvin (Golden Retriever), Justin (Rhodesian Ridgeback) and Murray (90 lbs of Murrayness), and my Fuzzy-rumbles Mira, Seth, Dawn and Selena.
Outwitting Dogs Terry Ryan Techniques for preventing and solving problem behaviors.
The Other End of the Leash Patricia McConnell A behaviorist's perspective on our relationships with dogs.
Bones Would Rain From the Sky Suzanne Clothier One of my personal favorites, but less practical than the others - meditations on training and our relationships with our dogs.
Don’t Shoot the Dog Karen Pryor This classic was instrumental in bringing force-free training into the mainstream of pet dog training. The book was written for a more general audience, however...here is the description from Dogwise: "One of our best selling teaching and training books. Not exclusively a dog training book - author is famous as an early dolphin trainer. Outlines 8 methods for putting an end to all kinds of undesirable behavior without yelling, threats, force, punishment, guilt trips - or shooting the dog; the 10 laws of shaping behavior through affection training; how to combat your own addictions to alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, overeating or whatever; how to deal with such difficult problems as a moody spouse, an impossible teen, or an aged parent; PLUS housetraining the dog, improving your tennis game, keeping the cat off the table, and much, much more! New revised edition has new chapter, "Clicker Training, A New Technique." This covers the use of clickers in dog training, why it works, and how it has caught on."
Training resources
If you'd like to train on your own, here are three very helpful sites. All are focused on positive-reward, force-free training, and the associated e-mail discussion groups are closely moderated to make sure everyone stays positive and polite. The groups are great places to receive advice and moral support, and to share your struggles and successes
I count Sue Ailsby, the host of this site, as one of my principal training mentors. Even if you think you don't want to compete in any dog sports, the training program on this site will give you an attentive, courteous dog who is fun to train and a joy to live with.
If all you want is a good read, check out the sub-page Stitch's Blog - you will be thoroughly entertained and learn a ton about dog training in the process (note that the posts start at the bottom of the page).
If you want someone to get together with for informal Levels proofing/testing sessions, contact me at the e-mail address near the top of this column (right beneath "about me"). When we get enough interested parties, I'll coordinate a get-together. 3. Dog Scouts of America
Dog Scout Camp - what a blast! Just so you know, the scouts are the dogs, and they are accompanied by their grown-up trainers. In principle, we have a local troop, but the co-leaders have been too busy to organize meetings. At the moment, you may join our related yahoogroup to be notified of hikes organized by our faithful outings coordinator. If there is anyone with the time and energy to coordinate meetings, please contact the troop co-leaders (that's Rachel and me) through the yahoogroup. Meetings are a great place to socialize your dogs, practice training, and swap dog stories with other people who are as crazy about dogs as you are.
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