Books in Howell Reference Books series

George Alston has been one of the country's preeminent professional handlers for over thirty years. Now, the secrets of his success are shared with every dog fancier.The Winning Edge is the very first book to apply sports psychology to dog showing. Here, serious exhibitors, including the seasoned veteran, will have the opportunity to develop and polish the skills necessary to take a place in the winners' circle. With award-winning author Connie Vanacore, George Alston shows us all how to gain consistent success in the only sport in which amateurs compete directly with the professionals. Chapters focus on the advantages of being an amateur and underscore the necessity for the mental preparation and psychology that are essential to every exhibitor's success.The authors cover every ingredient in the recipe for show ring success, with chapters on the perfect handler, the making of a show dog, psychocybernetics, where and how to focus when in the ring and learning from the competition.The Winning Edge, an essential for every dog exhibitor's bookshelf, now makes George Alston's professional know-how available to everyone with the desire to win.A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

"Quite simply this is an excellent book. It is well-written, with snatches of dry humour. It should be mandatory reading for anybody who keeps a dog or has intentions of so doing." -R. W. F. Poole, Daily TelegraphHow do dogs perceive the world about them? How do they see, hear, learn, relate to their owners? How large are their brains, what is their emotional makeup? Why do they suffer from stress and how can it be coped with? Over the last few years a substantial body of knowledge has been built up about the psychology of dog behavior. Combining more than twenty years of practical experience as a veterinary clinician with a personal knowledge and understanding of the latest international research, Dr. Bruce Fogle has written the most inclusive and relevant book on how the canine mind works.

...purebred or mixed, with this book any dog can become a Canine Good Citizen.... The Volhards'...approach to training, which they call the Motivational Method,...is designed to do just that motivate the owner and the dog. The Motivational Method is grounded on a thorough knowledge of how people learn and dog behavior. Since 1983 they have authored or co-authored four major books on dog training and teaching dog Obedience classes, and have produced four video tapes. I am...pleased that they have written this book on the Canine Good Citizen. I cannot think of anyone else who could have done a better job. This book contains everything the reader needs to know about training any dog to become a Canine Good Citizen. Still, there is much more the book shares a wealth of insights for the beginner, as well as the experienced dog person. The book's best feature is that it gives each person the means to tailor the training to the individual dog's character and temperament. It thoroughly explains what makes dogs different and how these differences dictate the approach to training that needs to be taken. James E. Dearinger, AKC Vice President, ObedienceThe American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen program was developed to promote responsible dog ownership in a manner that would be easy for both dog and owner. Any book that promotes and encourages dog owners to participate is doing a public service, and this book does it well.""This book is aptly named. Yes, every dog, both pure-bred dogs and mixed breeds, can be a good citizen if their owners care enough to make it happen. The key is to encourage dog owners everywhere to be responsible enough to make their dogs a pleasure to be around and able to handle most situations that they might be expected to encounter in everyday life."" Robert H. McKowen AKC Vice President, Performance EventsA Howell Dog Book of Distinction

The Power of Positive Dog Training is the best book yet on explaining how and why purely positive training works. Inside, you'll find easy to read discussion of the philosophy of positive training followed by training tips and exercises. This book is geared toward the dog owner who wants to develop a relationship with their dog based on friendship and positive reinforcement, not fear and punishment. You get 30 chapters with instructive illustrations, including an easy-to-follow, step-by-step, six-week basic training program (with diary) for any dog.

This new and expanded edition of Dog Training for Kids gives youngsters the skills they need to make better citizens of their canine companions, while strengthening that all-important human/animal bond. This "home study course" is based on the ability of the child to teach a dog basic obedience as well as some captivating tricks, without having to depend on parental help or expensive equipment. There are beautifully detailed and humorously illustrated instructions on Heeling, Sit Stay, Stand Stay, Down Stay and Come When Called. Counseling is given on seven common but persistent problems; Jumping Up On People, Chewing, Biting, Excessive Barking, Stealing Food and Problem Housebreaking. On the recreational side, there are descriptions of some wonderful tricks which all youngsters can teach their dogs. For those who feel that a future career in dogs would be satisfying and rewarding, Ms. Benjamin presents an overview of eight occupations to jog the reader's interest. A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

Praise for Second-Hand Dog""At long last, the book all animal shelters have been waiting for is here: Carol Lea Benjamin's Second-Hand Dog."" --Sue Sternberg ASPCA Report""...goes right to the heart of what it's all about..."" --Barbara Dyer, Director Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter""Benjamin writes with love and sensitivity about caring for pets 'adopted' from a shelter."" --Publishers Weekly""...a solid training program...a great book."" --Job Michael Evans, Dog Fancy""Why a book like this has never before been written is beyond me. It is an invaluable guide to rehabilitating those myriad unfortunate dogs which have either never had a home or have been shuttled from one owner to another, losing confidence, trust and self-esteem every step of the way. It is an absolute must for every owner who wants his second-hand dog to regain the ability to become the warm, loving companion every dog should be."" --Kenneth A. Marden President, The American Kennel Club""...Carol Lea Benjamin has written a witty, sound and thoroughly appropriate book on the extraordinary advantages that each of us who has second-hand pets knows first-hand. If you're thinking about sharing your life with a pet or with another pet, read this book first!"" --John F. Kullberg President ASPCA

How to Keep Love—And Romance—In the Human/Animal Kingdom of Your Home When you're fighting about the dog, is it really about your in-laws? When your boyfriend says, It's either me or the cat," isn't there a way you can keep both? And what can you do when your girlfriend's Chihuahua can't get along with your Boxer, but you want to move in together? Dr. Gold to the rescue, with a practical guide for couples who just want a peaceable kingdom. Sometimes animals take the place of people in relationships, so when we argue about the hamster, we may really be arguing about the children or an old boyfriend. Feelings of jealousy, anger, control, guilt, and fear can all play themselves out through our pets. Dr. Gold explains how conflicts over pets are often signs of deeper conflicts between couples, and shows how you can get at the root of these conflicts, bring them into the open and resolve them."

The fact that many birds learn to talk (and know what they're saying!) is proof that birds are not just a pretty addition to the living room. Bird owners know that their pets have unique personalities and that they demonstrate their thoughts and feelings. This book explains why birds behave the way that they do, how to recognize behaviors that indicate boredom, stress or poor health and how to work with a pet bird to modify undesirable conduct.

To train your dog effectively, you must establish more than authority and obedience. You must train the dog to want to please you. You must establish rapport. It is upon this basis that the excellent training regimen given in ""Dog Logic: Companion Obedience"" is developed. Understanding your dog's natural behavior and responses to the world he lives in is the key to achieving the training results you want. That key is provided in this book and will result for you in a responsive, obedient dog that accepts your leadership and happily lives by your rules. This is mutual respect that works! The exercises in ""Dog Logic"" are for the companion dog and, if you like, the obedience trial dog. They guide you gradually and expertly through the whole series of training objectives, and your ultimate reward is a dog you can always be proud of. Week by week and level by level, you will see your dog gaining poise, polish and the admiration of all who meet him. You and your dog will become a living example of what it means to be a smoothly functioning dog/human partnership. These training methods are tested, proven and reliable and can make a world of important difference for you and your dog. A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

Praise for Second-Hand Dog"At long last, the book all animal shelters have been waiting for is here: Carol Lea Benjamin's Second-Hand Dog." --Sue Sternberg ASPCA Report"...goes right to the heart of what it's all about..." --Barbara Dyer, Director Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter"Benjamin writes with love and sensitivity about caring for pets 'adopted' from a shelter." --Publishers Weekly"...a solid training program...a great book." --Job Michael Evans, Dog Fancy"Why a book like this has never before been written is beyond me. It is an invaluable guide to rehabilitating those myriad unfortunate dogs which have either never had a home or have been shuttled from one owner to another, losing confidence, trust and self-esteem every step of the way. It is an absolute must for every owner who wants his second-hand dog to regain the ability to become the warm, loving companion every dog should be." --Kenneth A. Marden President, The American Kennel Club"...Carol Lea Benjamin has written a witty, sound and thoroughly appropriate book on the extraordinary advantages that each of us who has second-hand pets knows first-hand. If you're thinking about sharing your life with a pet or with another pet, read this book first!" --John F. Kullberg President ASPCA

"Quite simply this is an excellent book. It is well-written, with snatches of dry humour. It should be mandatory reading for anybody who keeps a dog or has intentions of so doing." —R. W. F. Poole, Daily TelegraphHow do dogs perceive the world about them? How do they see, hear, learn, relate to their owners? How large are their brains, what is their emotional makeup? Why do they suffer from stress and how can it be coped with? Over the last few years a substantial body of knowledge has been built up about the psychology of dog behavior. Combining more than twenty years of practical experience as a veterinary clinician with a personal knowledge and understanding of the latest international research, Dr. Bruce Fogle has written the most inclusive and relevant book on how the canine mind works.