Kyra Sundance - 101 Ways to Do More with Your Dog: Make Your Dog a Superdog with Sports, Games, Exercises, Tricks, Mental Challenges, Crafts, and Bondi

Make Your Dog a Superdog with Sports Games Exercises Tricks Challenges Crafts Bonding

Kyra Sundance

2010 by Kyra Sundance

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and no responsibility is accepted by the producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting of the book.

First published in the United States of America by Quarry Books, a member of Quayside Publishing Group

100 Cummings Center

Suite 406-L

Beverly, Massachusetts 01915-6101

Telephone: (978) 282-9590

Fax: (978) 283-2742

www.quarrybooks.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sundance, Kyra.

101 ways to do more with your dog : make your dog a superdog with sports, games, exercises, tricks, mental challenges, crafts, and bonding/Kyra Sundance.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13: 978-1-59253-642-9 (alk. paper)

ISBN-10: 1-59253-642-5 (alk. paper)

1. Dogs--Training. I. Title. II. Title: One hundred one ways to do more with your dog. III. Title: Hundred and one ways to do more with your dog.

SF431.S863 2010

636.7--dc22

2010020249

ISBN-13: 978-1-59253-642-9

ISBN-10: 1-59253-642-5

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Design: Sundance MediaCom ( www.sundancemediacom.com )

Do More with Your Dog! is a registered trademark of Kyra Sundance ( www.kyra.com ).

Due to differing conditions, materials, and skill levels, the publisher and various manufacturers disclaim any liability for unsatisfactory results or injury due to improper use of tools, materials, or information.

Recipe on , courtesy of Quarry Books.

Cover photography by Nick Saglimbeni ( www.slickforce.com )

Back cover photography: Gonzalo Azumendi/agefotostock.com (top, left); Karen Hocker Photography (top, middle); Steven Donahue/See Spot Run Photography (top, right); Christian Arias (bottom, right)

Printed in China

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

Anonymous

Wow! Look at all these cool dog sports and activities!

Ive trained and competed in tons of dog sports and activities (everything from competitive obedience, to land mushing, to animal acting). But after writing this book, I now have a whole new list of things I want to learn and try with my dogs! I want to sign up for a dog surfing lesson, take a doga class, get out my cross-country skis and try skijoring, and teach my dog to paint!

Bonds are built through shared experiences: physical, mental, and emotional.

Inspired during the writing of this book, I took my Weimaraners (pointing breed) to a sheep herding lesson. Chalcy tried to bite the sheep, and puppy Jadie thought they were giant fleece squeak toys! Neither (not surprisingly) showed much herding instinct. Its not a sport we will ever be good enough to compete in, but it was a great outdoor romp, and we laughed, and shared an experience, and came home with good story.

Trying new things with your dog is not only good for your dogits good for you. Motivation to exercise and to get out of your comfort zone is always a struggle, but dogs have a way of making the activities we share with them more fun.

Dont be so focused on the goal that you miss the joys of the journey!

Finding which sports best suit you and your dog is a challenge. Most often it is your dog that will make the clear choice and you that follows his lead. Much of what we do with our dogs is out of the pure joy of watching them do what makes them happy and in some cases, comes naturally to them.

As you look through this book, be sure to check out the features by experts in each sport. Through the course of my dog career, Ive befriended some of the greatest dog sportsmen in the world. Many of these people are world-class competitors and at the top of their fields. As I interviewed each person, I was repeatedly amazed at the things that came out of their mouths. These people havent gotten to the top by accident. Listen to their insights.

Hes YOUR dog, and his success need only be measured in YOUR eyes.

I hope this book inspires you to Do More With Your Dog!

Youre a dog person. And as a dog person, you try to make a good life for your dog, and you like to involve your dog in your life wherever your can. You strive for not just a relationship with your dog but a great relationship with your dog.

A great relationship does not necessarily begin when you first bring home a puppy or when you first sign up for a training class.

Bonds are built through shared experiences: physical, mental, and emotional.

Great relationships are built through work, collaboration, challenge, inspiration, exhilaration in goals met, and consolation in goals missed. They are built through communication and reliably meeting one anothers needs.

Some of this books readers are pet owners, some are beginners in dog sports, some are advanced competitors and trainers, and others merely take pleasure in their dogs companionship. However he fits into your life, there are ways you can do more with your dogteach him a new sport, find an activity you can enjoy together, work with him, engage him, challenge him, strive for common goals, take him places with you, spend more time with him, and bond more deeply with him. These are the ways great relationships are built.