EDITOR ' S CHOICE
can lead to puppies who are unable to respond as quickly to training as other puppies , causing frustration to the trainers , owners and especially the puppies .
Dr . Spaulding points out reducing stress during development gives puppies a step up in life , beginning in the womb . If a puppy doesn ’ t have the most ideal beginning , then let the owners know the puppy may be more prone to stress so allowances can be made before stress becomes toxic to the pup . One strategy she recommends is positive reinforcement training that doesn ’ t force a puppy to learn new behaviors too quickly .
Chapter 7 is key in that Dr . Spaulding addresses how to mitigate stress in shelter dogs , such as more interaction with the dogs , training daily , exercise and access to a quiet environment . And not just shelter dogs , but therapy , working and performance dogs who also experience stress . For some dogs , just a long car ride may increase stress , but as the dog gains more experience , the stress decreases .
Dr . Spaulding wraps up the book with her thoughts on how details , gender , genetics and personality all factor into how our canine companions are able to handle stress , coupled with the learning and knowledge of their owners . The appendix is also a vital part of the book since it outlines all of the scientific research she studied to draw her conclusions . But better yet , she breaks down how to interpret such studies so the reader may better understand those studies , how those conclusions were determined , and whether those conclusions were based on sound deductions . This book is beneficial for trainers , behaviorists for most mammals , or owners who just want to understand their dogs better . — The editor
The Original Rocket Recall :
Teach Your Dog to Come
Written by Lisa Lyle Waggoner , CPDT-KA , CSAT , PMCT2 Published by Cold Nose College Publishing , Murphy , North Carolina ; released in May 20 , 2022 ; 233 pages . Where to purchase : Amazon , $ 16.99 paperback , $ 8.99 Kindle ; Dogwise , $ 16.99 Barnes and Noble , $ 8.99 ebook .
It ’ s the holy grail of training for most pet owners ( and parents for their teenagers , but that ’ s another book ): Calling your pet ’ s name and having Poppy come without fail . Opps , did I say Poppy ? Full disclosure – Poppy is a 3-year-old red field golden retriever with the energy of an Australian shepherd and almost none of the focus ( unless there is a bunny in the yard
– lots of focus then ). When I see pictures of people walking with their dogs off lead in the wilderness , I envision Poppy chasing a rabbit off a cliff , having a snoot full of porcupine quills , or reeking from a very close encounter with a skunk . Could I keep her on a path , yet allow her to have a bit of a sniff roam in front of me ? Would she come when I call … the odds are generally 65-35 in the backyard , around 75-25 at the dog park ( depending on whether she thinks I ’ m going to take the ball from her ).
So Lisa Lyle Waggoner ’ s new book , “ The Original Rocket Recall : Teach Your Dog to Come ” intrigued me . Could I imagine calling my dog and having her turn on a dime and race back to me ? The book exclaims the proven step-by-step guide will teach my dog to come running whenever I call . It ’ s a work in progress hampered mostly by my inconsistent training , but it does seem to be working . Lisa is the founder of Cold Nose College , a center of education for both dog owners and professional trainers at multiple locations . Lisa is certified as a professional dog trainer , a separation anxiety trainer , Pat Miller Certified Trainer 2 , as a dog walker , and a member of the faculty for the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training and Behavior .
If checking out just the catchy title of the book , be sure to look for the author ’ s name , since Rocket Recall has been used by at least one other author . And speaking of names , the first thing to encourage your dog to respond quickly is to have nothing but good things associated with your pooch ’ s name . Dogs quickly pick up on tone , and if the sweet sound of SUGAR is bellowed out with irritation , Sugar is likely to sit out on a speedy return . Poppy does a thoughtful stare , as if contemplating which is more interesting – sniffing longer for bunny poops or getting a treat . Not gonna lie , sometimes that second “ POPPY !” is less light than the first one . I ’ m working on that . I use Poppy ’ s name a lot when giving treats , so that helps . And she ’ ll almost always look at me when I say her name , even when a bunny is in the yard . But getting those feet to move every time is the goal .
So I ’ m going to retire my “ COME ” and “ HERE ” cues for Poppy ’ s recall . My neighbors are no doubt wondering why I am hollering “ SHAZZAM ,” a fun and happy cue Lisa recommends to reboot the verbal cue to come . And it ’ s working . While “ COME ” and “ HERE ” get Poppy ’ s attention , using “ SHAZAAM ” gets those feet moving as well . Any word that sounds fun and happy can be used , and high-value treats sweeten the pot .
Lisa ’ s book breaks down the four processes of operant conditioning , the foundation for training : positive reinforcement , negative reinforcement , positive punishment and negative punishment . What makes the book so easy to read is she often uses examples for both humans and dogs . The book also breaks down and explains the ABCs of training : Antecedent , Behavior and Consequence . Once you have a good recall from a short distance , Lisa suggestions working on the three Ds : Distance , Duration and Distraction . She
60 Building Better Trainers Through Education