cover image Everyday Dog: Training Your Dog to Be the Companion You Want

Everyday Dog: Training Your Dog to Be the Companion You Want

Nancy E. Johnson. Howell Books, $20 (168pp) ISBN 978-0-87605-544-1

A trainer with 35 years' experience, Johnson offers tips on many facets of canine education, all but guaranteeing to turn pets into models of poise and obedience. She outlines, thoroughly and sensibly, strategies for housebreaking and for curing puppies of their beastly habits--barking, begging for scraps, lounging on forbidden furniture. To promote bonding, she suggests a panoply of tricks, games and sports ranging from the garden-variety ``shake'' of the paw to soccer to tracking scents. A number of useful jobs, Johnson promises, can also be foisted on the ``everyday'' dog, from switching lights on and off to hanging up a phone receiver. Those willing to devote an awful lot of time to prepping and pleasing Fido are urged to build ``puppy agility courses'' replete with high jump, A-frame, open and closed tunnels. The needs of the adopted adult dog are considered separately and at length. Other helpful sections cover the care and training of show dogs, along with ideas for handling them in the ring; and, for ``stage owners,'' training methods applicable to film or television work. (Oct.)