Well I have just finished reading the fourth book in Dog Sports Skills series by Denise Fenzi and Deborah Jones. I cannot recommend them highly enough, they are very easy to read and although science-based are written from a point of view where the authors understand that you are training your pet dog in amongst busy everyday lives and that as humans we make mistakes.
The whole series of books although aimed at competing with your dog in dog sports doesn't actually cover any dog sports exercises, it totally focuses on relationships, play and building a strong attachment between dog and handler.
I know both Ann and myself have seen huge improvements in Grace and Nancy's focus and level of engagement by following the various exercises in the books, rewarding those moments when the dogs ask to work with us and accepting that they have the option to call time on a training session too. It has also helped us to understand better each dogs personality and know what situations the dogs will struggle to train in.
In the closing paragraphs of the book it sums up so nicely what we keep saying to you all about keeping your dog happy and enjoying agility and the wins will take care of themselves. The book explains when you have a good relationship with your dog and he/she feels "happy" working with you, the dog will work hard for you even when you might be doing a less than spectacular job as a handler ;-) and that the joy "lies in the process of training and the relationship which is developed as a result, not in the end goal".
The whole series of books although aimed at competing with your dog in dog sports doesn't actually cover any dog sports exercises, it totally focuses on relationships, play and building a strong attachment between dog and handler.
I know both Ann and myself have seen huge improvements in Grace and Nancy's focus and level of engagement by following the various exercises in the books, rewarding those moments when the dogs ask to work with us and accepting that they have the option to call time on a training session too. It has also helped us to understand better each dogs personality and know what situations the dogs will struggle to train in.
In the closing paragraphs of the book it sums up so nicely what we keep saying to you all about keeping your dog happy and enjoying agility and the wins will take care of themselves. The book explains when you have a good relationship with your dog and he/she feels "happy" working with you, the dog will work hard for you even when you might be doing a less than spectacular job as a handler ;-) and that the joy "lies in the process of training and the relationship which is developed as a result, not in the end goal".