EEvery year millions of puppies enter homes, carrying their new family's expectation of a wonderful relationship. Sadly, many are re-homed or lose their lives as the result of behaviours which their owners find difficult to live with. Helping a puppy to grow into a resilient dog, capable of coping with the challenges of daily living, whilst retaining a good quality of life and exhibiting behaviours acceptable within society, is not an easy task. This book aims to simplify puppy education by presenting the skills that are required to achieve these goals within the context of everyday life. By enabling owners to incorporate teaching into each interaction they enjoy with their puppy, it not only becomes easier for them, but also enables the puppy to practice appropriate behaviour choices within day-to-day situations. By teaching skills such as self-control, respect for rules, and clear communication, owners can spend less time directing their dog, and more time enjoying their relationship with him, as he takes more control for his own good behaviour.
Beautiful, specially-taken photographs illustrate the points made, and each chapter includes a worksheet to help owners chart their puppy's progress.
Author Biography
Helen Zulch is a veterinarian who qualified in South Africa, and has since worked in a number of areas of veterinary science. She developed an interest in animal behaviour and has consulted and lectured in the field for over 10 years, moving to the University of Lincoln, UK, to continue her career. Her main interests and areas of research include the prevention of behaviour problems through appropriate early life experiences, the application of scientific principles in animal training, the interaction between health and behaviour, communication in animals, and olfaction in dogs. She has owned and trained dogs for over 21 years. Professor Daniel Mills became the UK's first specialist in veterinary behavioural medicine to be recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and is now the country's first professor of the discipline. Based at the University of Lincoln, he combines his behavioural and clinical knowledge to offer a referral clinic for animals with behaviour problems, provides consultancy to a range of organisations in the animal care and science industries, and co-ordinates independent trials of potential new products. In addition, he develops his own initiatives that focus on improving behaviour without compromising welfare. He lectures internationally in his field.
