The Canine Good Citizen: Every Dog Can Be One - Hardcover

The VOLHARDS share their home in upstate New York with six dogs and three cats. For the past twenty-five years, they have taught over 20,000 people how to communicate effectively with their pets. They conduct weekend seminars in various parts of the United States, Canada and England, as well as five-day training Camps, which have been attended by individuals from almost every state, Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Singapore, Switzerland and the West Indies. Over the years they have served different dog organizations in a variety of capacities, and they are internationally known as "trainers of trainers." Jack has authored over 100 articles for various dog publications and is the recipient of six awards from the Dog Writers' Association of America (DWAA). He is the senior author of five books?two with Wendy?and four videotapes. He has been an AKC Obedience judge (Novice through Utility) since 1973, and he is a member of the Association of Dog Obedience Clubs and Judges. Wendy is the recipient of four awards from the DWAA and developed the most widely used system for evaluating and selecting puppies. Her film, Puppy Aptitude Testing, was named Best Film on Dogs for 1980 by the DWAA. She also devised a Personality Profile for dogs to help owners gain a better understanding of their pets. Her article "Drives?A New Look at an Old Concept" was named Best Article in a Specialty Magazine for 1991 by the DWAA. She is the co-author?together with Kerry Brown, DVM?of The Holistic Guide to a Healthy Dog (Howell Book House, 1995). Wendy specializes in behavior, nutrition and alternative sources of health care, such as acupuncture and homeopathy, and she formulated a balanced, homemade diet for dogs. She is a member of the Animal Behavior Society, the Advisory Board of the North American Wildlife Foundation and the United Kingdom Registry of Behaviour Consultants, and she has lectured at the prestigious Natural History Museum in London. The Volhards have obtained over fifty Obedience titles, multiple High in Trial awards and Dog World Awards of Canine Distinction with their Landseer Newfoundlands, Yorkshire Terrier, Standard Wirehaired Dachshund, Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd Dog.

The Canine Good Citizen test, introduced by the American Kennel Club in recent years, hardly requires a special course of training-designed to certify that a dog has basic obedience skills, the CGC consists of 10 simple exercises for the dog, from sitting "politely" for petting to walking on a loose leash to a down-stay with the owner 20 feet away. But passing the CGC is as good a goal as any in dog training, and the Volhards (he is coauthor, with Bartlett, of What All Good Dogs Should Know; she has made award-winning training films) do a wonderful job of arming the reader with skills, techniques and philosophies. Their discussions are succinct and sober: a remarkably cogent section about teaching specific postures (sit, heel, etc.) and practices is preceded by a concise discussion of managing stress while training; a "Pack Leader's Bill of Rights" simplifies the often-clouded concept of pack theory; a schedule suggests the expected rate of progress. However, a "personality profile" aiming to help tell the reader which "drive" (prey, pack or defense) most motivates a given dog has pop appeal, but offers little beyond the obvious; you don't need to be Konrad Lorenz to know what motivates your own dog. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.