The Other End of the Leash


Book Description

Learn to communicate with your dog—using their language “Good reading for dog lovers and an immensely useful manual for dog owners.”—The Washington Post An Applied Animal Behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years’ experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell reveals a revolutionary new perspective on our relationship with dogs—sharing insights on how “man’s best friend” might interpret our behavior, as well as essential advice on how to interact with our four-legged friends in ways that bring out the best in them. After all, humans and dogs are two entirely different species, each shaped by its individual evolutionary heritage. Quite simply, humans are primates and dogs are canids (as are wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Since we each speak a different native tongue, a lot gets lost in the translation. This marvelous guide demonstrates how even the slightest changes in our voices and in the ways we stand can help dogs understand what we want. Inside you will discover: • How you can get your dog to come when called by acting less like a primate and more like a dog • Why the advice to “get dominance” over your dog can cause problems • Why “rough and tumble primate play” can lead to trouble—and how to play with your dog in ways that are fun and keep him out of mischief • How dogs and humans share personality types—and why most dogs want to live with benevolent leaders rather than “alpha wanna-bes!” Fascinating, insightful, and compelling, The Other End of the Leash is a book that strives to help you connect with your dog in a completely new way—so as to enrich that most rewarding of relationships.




Australian Barkers and Biters


Book Description

Originally published in Sydney 1914 in a Limited Edition, this rare early dog book is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. A later, and still very scarce edition was enlarged and revised with the addition of many early dog breed photographs. VINTAGE DOG BOOKS have republished this edition using the original text and photographs, as part of their Classic Breed Books series. Although this book deals mainly with observations, history and research on the Kelpi, Heeler, and other Australian Sheep and Cattle Dogs, several other dog breeds peculiar to Australia are discussed in some detail. Two hundred and fifty six pages contain twenty two comprehensive chapters:- The Origin of the Dog. - Variations of the Dog Species. - Creation of Tame Dogs. - The Noble Dingo. - The Australian Cattle Dog. - The Kelpie. - The Barb. - Sheep-dog Trials. - Judging and Buying. - Kangaroo Dogs. - Bush Greyhounds. - True Greyhounds. - Beagles. - Cocker Spaniels. - Fox Terriers. - Alsatian Wolf Dog. - Laws on Dogs. - Dog Fighting. - Dog Fancying. - Australian Dog Workers. - A Premier Sheep-dog Trial Judge. - "God's Dogs". This is a fascinating read for any Sheep and Cattle Dog enthusiast or historian of the breeds, but also contains much information that is still useful and practical today. Many of the earliest dog breed books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. VINTAGE DOG BOOKS are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.




The Complete Guide to Australian Cattle Dogs


Book Description

Written by experienced ACD owner and professional dog trainer Tarah Schwartz, this book will give new owners as well as those experienced with the ACD breed all the necessary skills and insights to keep your Australian Cattle dog happy and healthy from puppyhood through his or her golden years. Within these pages you’ll learn enough about the breed to make an informed decision about whether or not the Australian Cattle Dog is the right breed for you. Not only will you learn about the breed’s history as a working cattle dog, but you’ll also gain invaluable knowledge about their ability to compete in a variety of modern dog sports. If you plan on adopting a dog from a shelter, you’ll learn what to look for in your ideal dog. If you would prefer to buy a puppy from a breeder, this book will guide you through choosing a breeder and bringing your puppy home. Find answers to questions like: Is a Australian Cattle Dog the right dog for me? I brought my ACD home. What now? How can I best train my ACD? What are some common mistakes should I avoid? Whether you are a veteran ACD owner, or new to the breed, there will be something for everyone in this book. Chapter topics include: Choosing an Australian Cattle Dog Preparing Your Home for Your New ACD Being a Great ACD Owner Housetraining Socializing with People and Animals Australian Cattle Dogs and Your Other Pets Physical and Mental Exercise Training Your Australian Cattle Dog Basic Commands Training a Working Australian Cattle Dog Unwanted Behaviors Traveling with Australian Cattle Dogs Nutrition Grooming Your Australian Cattle Dog Basic ACD Health Care Advanced ACD Health and Aging Dog Care From your first day together until your last, this book will be a vital resource that you’ll be able to consult throughout your Australian Cattle Dog’s lifetime. Whether you have questions about training or healthcare, you can rest assured that this book will have the answers you’re looking for.




Sophie


Book Description

The story that became a global sensation: Sophie, the Australian cattle dog who was lost at sea and swam six miles through shark-infested waters to a remote island where she survived in the wild for five months. It was just another day in paradise as Jan and Dave Griffith, along with their blue cattle dog, Sophie, motored out of Mackay Marina for a gorgeous weekend at sea. But when the sky suddenly darkened and the waves turned fierce, the unthinkable happened: Sophie disappeared overboard. Her heartbroken humans couldn't fathom the loss and could only hope their beloved pet didn't suffer. But this true cattle dog and devoted best friend wasn't going to give up that easily—and what followed is a remarkable tale of survival, luck, and persistence. From the first day the Griffiths set eyes on puppy Sophie through that terrible October day she was lost, to Sophie's time as a castaway and the reunion that almost didn’t happen, journalist Emma Pearse recreates the incredible journey of this canine Robinson Crusoe. An inspirational story of loyalty and the resilience of the spirit, Sophie offers undeniable proof about the unbreakable bond between humans and our pets -- and that if lost, they would do anything to come home to us.




How Stella Learned to Talk


Book Description

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER An incredible, revolutionary true story and surprisingly simple guide to teaching your dog to talk from speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger, who has taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using simple paw-sized buttons associated with different words. When speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger first came home with her puppy, Stella, it didn’t take long for her to start drawing connections between her job and her new pet. During the day, she worked with toddlers with significant delays in language development and used Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices to help them communicate. At night, she wondered: If dogs can understand words we say to them, shouldn’t they be able to say words to us? Can dogs use AAC to communicate with humans? Christina decided to put her theory to the test with Stella and started using a paw-sized button programmed with her voice to say the word “outside” when clicked, whenever she took Stella out of the house. A few years later, Stella now has a bank of more than thirty word buttons, and uses them daily either individually or together to create near-complete sentences. How Stella Learned to Talk is part memoir and part how-to guide. It chronicles the journey Christina and Stella have taken together, from the day they met, to the day Stella “spoke” her first word, and the other breakthroughs they’ve had since. It also reveals the techniques Christina used to teach Stella, broken down into simple stages and actionable steps any dog owner can use to start communicating with their pets. Filled with conversations that Stella and Christina have had, as well as the attention to developmental detail that only a speech-language pathologist could know, How Stella Learned to Talk will be the indispensable dog book for the new decade.




The Adventures of Dog Man 1: Dog Man


Book Description

New from the creators of Captain Underpants, it's Dog Man, the crime-biting canine who is part dog, part man, and ALL COP! George and Harold have created a new hero who digs into deception, claws after crooks, and rolls over robbers. When Greg the police dog and his cop companion are injured on the job, a life-saving surgery changes the course of history, and Dog Man is born. With the head of a dog and the body of a human, this heroic hound has a real nose for justice. But can he resist the call of the wild to answer the call of duty? This new series from Dav Pilkey may use conventional spelling but it is still full of all the same humour and fun of George and Harold's previous graphic novels!




Sophie


Book Description

The story that became a global sensation: Sophie, the Australian cattle dog who was lost at sea and swam six miles through shark-infested waters to a remote island where she survived in the wild for five months. It was just another day in paradise as Jan and Dave Griffith, along with their blue cattle dog, Sophie, motored out of Mackay Marina for a gorgeous weekend at sea. But when the sky suddenly darkened and the waves turned fierce, the unthinkable happened: Sophie disappeared overboard. Her heartbroken humans couldn't fathom the loss and could only hope their beloved pet didn't suffer. But this true cattle dog and devoted best friend wasn't going to give up that easily—and what followed is a remarkable tale of survival, luck, and persistence. From the first day the Griffiths set eyes on puppy Sophie through that terrible October day she was lost, to Sophie's time as a castaway and the reunion that almost didn’t happen, journalist Emma Pearse recreates the incredible journey of this canine Robinson Crusoe. An inspirational story of loyalty and the resilience of the spirit, Sophie offers undeniable proof about the unbreakable bond between humans and our pets -- and that if lost, they would do anything to come home to us.




The Tale of Rescue


Book Description

When a blizzard traps a family outside in a whiteout, a cattle dog devises a stunning rescue in a moving, suspenseful, and gorgeously illustrated story. A family—a mother, a father, and their ten-year-old son—have come all the way from Florida to the Appalachian foothills to experience the wonder of a snowy weekend. At a nearby farm, a cattle dog is working, as she does every day, driving her forty head of cattle from pasture to corral and back again. And then, suddenly, a blizzard descends. The family is trapped outside, disoriented in the whiteout. They are panicked, exhausted, freezing, and stranded in waist-deep drifts. From off in the distance, the cattle dog has heard their faint, snow-drowned cries. Her inexhaustible attention turns to saving them. This stirring tale is both a compelling story of survival and a meditation on the tremendous will of man's best friend.




The Worst Five Months Ever


Book Description

Fifth grader Travis is constantly bullied by his twin cousins, Howie and Homer Hall. When their parents separate and move out of their current school district, Traviss parents invite the boys to stay with them until the end of the school year. As the months pass, Travis anger and frustration grows. He is not only constantly on the defensive with his cousins, but eventually he feels that they have taken his place in his own family. Throughout the five months Travis is given lots of advice by his irascible grandfather, erudite college professor dad and suspicious mom. Despite Howies constant griping, there are events in which the three boys participate. At the school Talent Night theyre in a skit: Whos On First? with a live parrot, they help build a double-decker tree house, and they go to the coast for Spring Break. For Traviss birthday, Grandpa takes him to a Spurs game, where Traviss hero, Tim Duncan, at Grandpas request, wishes Travis a happy birthday, fist-bumping him and the most awesome thinggives him an autographed basketball. Travis swears he will keep it forever. When a horrible incident occurs, it tests the courage and character of each boy. This story takes place when Tim Duncan still played for the San Antonio Spurs.




A Dog Called Blue


Book Description