Out and About with Your Dog by Sue Sternberg

I have just got this book and I think it should be REQUIRED reading by all dog owners!

If it was AND owners followed the advice within, dog walking might be a more relaxing activity for some dog owners!

I coulld have written it myself!

Section One deals with:

On leash encounters
Enjoying the Great Outdfoors with your Dog
Controlling your dog during play

Section Two covers

Understanding Dog Play
What is healthy play?
What is unhealty play?
Identifying the cast of characters at the dog park
Assesing your dog's behaviour at the dog park
Identifying a safe and healthy dog park
Dog Park Tips

Yes it is American, but if you just ignore the Dog Park title and scenario, EVERYTHING else is totally relevant to ANY dog owner ANYWHERE.

I quote

The absolute hardest, most problemati,c most diffiuclt way for dogs to greet and meet is on leash. And there are really only two potential outcomes for the greeting and neither is particularly useful or desirable.

1 After the initial investigative sniffing and greeing ritual the dogs play

2 After the initial investigative sniffing and greeting ritual, the dogs fight.

Neither is actually better than the other. If the dogs sniff and then play, your dog has just gotton a jackpot sized reward for going up to a stange dog and introducing itself. The next time he sees a strange dog, he will want to pull towards that dog to greet it, to see if he can make a friend and have a little play session. Each subsequent time your do will strain harder and harder to get to the other dogs hoping to get to stop and play. If nothing else, this will lead to a harder and harder time maning your dg on walks, since he now gets so distrated around other dogs.

Can only find it as a kindle edition .:<

The quote about the leashes is one of the reasons I don't allow it. I don't want them playing on lead, nor fighting. I think this book will have to be on my wish list.

Sorry I am so addicted to my kindle that I forgot to mention this.

I have to say her description of characters is great and then she describes compatible playmates for each and risky playmates for each.

The Bully
The Chaser
The Grouch
The Humper
The Hunter Seeker
The "Kick Me" Dog
The Misfit
The Pest
The Play Police Officer
The Pummeler
The Puppy
The Small Dog
The SMoosher

(You can tell I like it by now I guess)

Pretty useless - I don't have a kindle. SB!

You can get a kindle app for the pc ..

I never knew that! Ohh but I don't need more excuses not to put my laptop down. .. I suppose this one is educational..

Unless stated elsewhere in the book, imo she has missed on lead interactions usefully used to allow a brief positive sniff, with termination of interaction while still positive and control, for a reward from the owner, which can be a highly useful stage for those dogs who rapidly escalate and who are uncontrolled off lead around other dogs.

There is an exception to almost every rule.

No she has not missed that out.