Calm Down!: Step-by-Step to a Calm, Relaxed, and Brilliant Family Dog (Essential Skills for a Brilliant Family Dog Series #1)

by Beverley Courtney

Overview

You've got your new dog, you've got the bowl, the collar and the lead. Now what? This puppy doesn't seem to understand anything you say! You got your pet to be your companion - and yet all you seem to do is yell at her!

Let's change this right away: instead of focussing on what you don't want your dog to do, focus on what you do want. Instead of having unnecessary battles over trivia, build up terrific games your dog longs to play with you. Soon your unruly dog will be saying, "Yes? What would you like me to do for you?"

And so begins a wonderful partnership. Beverley takes you by the hand and leads you through the games and lessons, step-by-step. There's no strange jargon, no "Thou shalt not's", and every time you get stuck, another solution pops up. Through years of experience teaching new owners how to work with their puppies and dogs - entirely without force - Beverley knows just what you're up against.

This first book in the series shows you how to find your dog's off-switch! You'll wonder how anyone manages without this knowledge, and your dog will "get it" very fast.

"I honestly can't believe how easy your book is to follow. My 9-week-old puppy is already lying on his mat as soon as I put it out. This series makes training my pup an absolute pleasure for both of us." Dianne and Ted

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781916437609
Publisher:	Beverley Courtney
Publication date:	07/30/2018
Series:	Essential Skills for a Brilliant Family Dog Series , #1
Pages:	76
Sales rank:	897,373
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.16(d)

About the Author

Beverley Courtney has lived with dogs all her life. She qualified her first dog, a Battersea Dogs' Home rescue, as a Working Trials Champion - and has enjoyed herself hugely for many years helping new owners with their dogs and puppies. Using the latest scientific breakthroughs in dog behaviour, she is dedicated to improving communication between owner and dog. Once you ditch the idea that it's a one-way process ("I said SIT!") and start understanding how your dog learns, training becomes a breeze. Her fresh approach has helped hundreds of families to discover the joy of choice-based training. Her first four books address the four Essential Skills for a Brilliant Family Dog, and the first book in this series features one of her students' favourite skills - getting their frantic puppy to relax! Beverley's latest three books address the tricky problem many dog-owners experience - of having a dog who barks and reacts to other dogs. Or people. Or bikes ... Drawing on her own experience with her "Growly Dog" Lacy, together with extensive study, she brings the gentle and humorous approach that her readers love! There is no blame or shame here - just empathy, understanding, and masses of how-to's to get you enjoying calm walks with your dog again. Beverley's first four books address the problem so many new dog-owners experience - of wanting to love their new puppy at the same time as preventing mayhem in the home! She draws on her experience with her own pups, as well as the thousands who have learnt with her at *Good for Dogs*, together with extensive and continuing study. And this means she can bring the gentle and humorous approach to training that her readers love! There is no blame or shame here - just empathy, understanding, and masses of how-to's to get you enjoying your new dog.

Table of Contents

Calm Down!

Contents

Introduction Time for a change .............................................................. 1

Just one skill is needed ........................................................................ 5

Dogs are doers .................................................................................... 6

Chapter 1 Introducing the Mat! .............................................................. 7

What do you need? ............................................................................. 8

Your Mat ............................................................................................ 8

Treats ................................................................................................. 8

Fairly rubbish treats .......................................................................... 10

Troubleshooting ............................................................................... 10

Chapter 2 Starting with the Mat ........................................................... 11

Lesson 1 Front paws on the Mat ....................................................... 12

Troubleshooting ............................................................................... 14

Chapter 3 Mat Magic! .......................................................................... 19

Lesson 2 Down on the Mat .............................................................. 20

How do I get my dog to lie down? .................................................... 21

Troubleshooting ............................................................................... 23

Lesson 3 Learning when to get off the mat ........................................ 24

Troubleshooting ............................................................................... 26

Chapter 4 What do I do with this mat now? ......................................... 29

Coffee with a friend, or Sunday lunch at the pub .............................. 30

A peaceful evening in the living room ............................................... 31

Visiting the vet ................................................................................. 33

Family picnic .................................................................................... 35

Chapter 5 Taking it on the road ........................................................... 37

The doorbell! .................................................................................... 38

Targets ............................................................................................. 39

Preparing dinner ............................................................................... 41

Mat substitutes ................................................................................. 41

Reports from the Front Line ............................................................. 42

Chapter 6 Surprise benefits of Mat Magic! ............................................ 45

How should our day go? ................................................................... 47

Conclusion ........................................................................................... 49

This is just the beginning for you! .................................................... 49

Appreciation ......................................................................................... 51

Resources ............................................................................................. 53

About the author .................................................................................. 57

Editorial Reviews

Super book! Written by a lady who really understands the daily problems that dog owners experience. Simple, positive ideas that work. My highly-strung girl lying quietly on her mat as I type! Amazon review

Thank you for your book. I've learned so much from your books. Although I've never punished my dogs, you have shown me another way. I love it when I watch them thinking about how to solve problems. Nora Eaton

Just wanted to say that your books are brilliant - so easy to understand and motivating. I absolutely love your prose. Thank you. Jane Chambers

Thank you so much for writing this series of books. They are wonderful and such a help with our nine-month-old Lakeland Terrier, Rosie. Just wish that we had access to these when we first got her, however we are already making great progress with her thanks to your books. Lesley Williams

This book is excellent and so clearly written my 7 year old is enjoying working through the stages with us. After two short training sessions our 9-week-old pup is already lying on his mat as soon as I put it out. The author is clearly very knowledgable. Dianne Yuill

Your Calm Down Book is a gem. Elizabeth Gaywood

Your books are the first that I've come across that actually break the learning down into progressive steps so I'm confident that we can make huge improvements. Paul Desforges

Thank you so much for writing such accessible, informative, simple and brilliant books. Lisa

Three dog trainers, two behaviour specialist vets, three vets ... and a six-month-old Boston Terrier. Found your book, read it, started training - immediate success. Ute

From the Publisher