Norma Eckroate - The Dog Whisperer Presents - Good Habits for Great Dogs: A Positive Approach to Solving Problems for Puppies and Dogs

PRESENTS

A Positive Approach to Solving
Problems for Puppies and Dogs

Bestselling author of The Dog Whisperer and The Puppy Whisperer
with Norma Eckroate

Avon, Massachusetts

Copyright 2009 by Paul Owens and Norma Eckroate

All rights reserved.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.

57 Littlefield Street

Avon, MA 02322

www.adamsmedia.com

ISBN 10: 1-4405-0321-4

ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-0321-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
is available from the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America.
J I H G F E D C B A

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their product are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

Photos on pages 39; 99; 100; 123; 124; 125; 129; 177; 178; 180; 181; 183; 191; 192; 206; 207; 208; and look and down photos on page 79 by Brain Stemmler of Stemmler Photography

Photos on pages viii; 41; 42; 53; 54; 86; 90; 91; 92; 94; 95; 104; 106; 121; 126; 127; 128; 170; 201; 202; and bed, toy, and sit photos on page 79 by Erin Tomanek of Paw Prints Pet Portraiture

Illustrations on pages 25; 79; 155; and 159 by Francis Sporer

Illustration of Betty on pages 9; 57; 117; and 157 by Jacci Stincic

Photos on pages 188 and 189 by Marianne Goebel

Photos on pages 38; 75; 76; and look and down photos on page 79 by Harvey Branman of Photography As An Art

Illustration of Gentle Leader head collar on page 39 used with permission of Premier Pet Products

This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases. For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.

There are many people who assisted greatly in the process of creating this book. We're grateful to everyone at Adams Media, especially our editor, Meredith O'Hayre; copyeditor, Carol Goff; the Adams graphics team; and also to our wonderful agent, Lisa Hagan.

We're grateful to our photographers, whose professionalism and patience are incomparable: Erin Tomanek at Paw Prints Pet Portraiture, Brian Stemmler at Stemmler Photography, and Harvey Branman at Photography as an Art. And thanks to Bob Tomanek for his help at the photo shoot.

Special thanks to our terrific graphic designer, Francis Sporer, who has a unique ability to put form to concepts and beautifully conveyed our message in the four illustrations he created specifically for this book.

For their generous gifts of time and valuable input on the manuscript, our special thanks to Andrea Sholer, Arita Trahan, and Dorna Sakurai.

Some people always step up to the plate and say yes. For their longtime support and generosity of spirit, Barbara Holiday and Dave Reintz, and dog trainer extraordinaire, Nicole Wilde, will always be among the saints in our world.

Annette Leahy is a webmaster extraordinaire with her talents of both technological wizardry and expert writing. Thanks for the peace of mind that you bring, knowing that you are on the job for us.

Special thanks to those friends whose furry sidekicks came out to strut their stuff for the photographs in this book and demonstrate how it is done: Joan and Lauren Asarnow with sweet Layla; Barbara Holiday and Dave Reintz with the amazing Bozley the Beagle; Bill Marquardt and his wonderful dog, Ike; and Carol Cupp with the fabulous Rocket; the Newcombe Family and the awesome Jack; and Jane Wiedlin and Orbit, the queen of the universe.

In addition, Paul would especially like to thank the Owens clan: Pam, Peg, Pat and Tom, Jennifer Mielziner, Jenina Schutter, Jim and Keelin O'Neill, and the blessed Molly and Grady. Your support and faith made it all possible.

And blessings to my awesome coauthor and friend Norma Eckroate whose incomparable writing skills and otherworldly insight and talent transforms even the most tangled, bird's-nest of a phrase into profound prose. Sincere gratitude and appreciation as it was truly an honor and a great ride.

Lastly, special thanks to Terry Cranendonk, dog trainer extraordinaire, for his friendship, consideration, support, and contributions, especially to the chapter on play. Great stuff and greatly honored and appreciated.

Imagine.

Whatever we can imagine we can make real.

So imagine a smile on your face, a hitch in your giddy-up, and a little peace in your heart.

Look into those eyes and say,

We're in this together, pal. Whatever the problem, no matter how long it takes, we'll work it out. And we'll have fun doing it.

And then you do.

This is the world's only self-help book for both you and your puppy or dog. Dogs learn to get what they want by their own actions, just as we humans learn how to get what we want by our own actions.

In this book, you'll learn how you can easily create good new habits that will lead to your dog forming good habits and more reliable behavior. No matter where you are on the training continuumwhether you just brought your first puppy or dog home or have a dog who already does some basic behaviorsthis new habit training method will fine-tune and empower your training and dogspeak skills.

Habit training fast-tracks dog training because it focuses on making education a natural, everyday process. Training becomes fun rather than a chore. And by using this method, problems like jumping, begging at the table, pulling on walks, etc. are easily resolved. With the step-by-step instructions offered in this book, you'll find that habit training is the quickest way to reach any goal and get ourselves and our dogs to do what we want them to do. Habits rule!

This book also addresses the three major issues every problem-ridden, dog-human family deals with: not knowing what to do, not being motivated to do it, and not having the willpower to follow through. By applying the suggestions presented in this book, you will quickly and easily:

Learn how to teach yourself and your dog what to do and how to do it;

Learn how to motivate both you and your dog so both of you get greater enjoyment in working together and become one big happy family;

Learn how to develop the willpower to continue the process until you've reached your goals.