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What our dogs need to live a good life, and why we must come through for them Over the two decades she has spent raising and training service dogs for people with disabilities, Jennifer Arnold has come to a unique and profound understanding of the human-dog bond. Though it may seem simple and instinctive, the friendship and devotion we share with our pets is a wondrous evolutionary development. Our two species have come to rely on each other for protection, companionship, comfort, and happiness - needs and benefits that go both ways. Yet when we step outside our designated roles and take on practices that require us to display dominance over our canine charges, we misread cues and misinterpret behavior, sometimes with disastrous results. Conversely, when communication between dog and keeper is clear and based on kindness and a willingness to see things through a dog's eyes, the payoff for both dog and owner is tremendous. When respect and care are brought together, we come to know the inalienable goodness in a dog's soul.As the founder of Canine Assistants, Arnold has implemented and advanced a methodology - Choice Teaching - that pairs scientific and behavioral knowledge about dogs with gentle incentive and encouragement to extraordinary effect. But she does not consider herself a dog trainer; rather, she sees herself as a relationship expert who improves the connection between humans and dogs and in the process betters the quality of life for both. In a Dog's Heart offers Arnold's offers her best practices and useful tips that range over a dog's whole life, including: * how to choose the puppy that's destined for you from a bustling litter and what you need to have on hand before you bring that puppy home; * what to stock in your doggie first-aid kit;* how to keep your pet safe from dangers at home and in the outside world;* the challenges and rewards of adopting an older dog;* how to help your dog overcome anxious behavior, from separation anxiety to thunderstorm phobia;* when to recognize that it's time to let go. As in her bestselling first book, Through a Dog's Eyes, Arnold illustrates what she's learned through captivating and moving stories drawn from her experience. We learn about Grace, a black Lab who was rescued after she was thrown from a truck and delivered to Canine Assistants emaciated, dehydrated, and with a broken pelvis. As Grace recovered she displayed an usual gift for scent detection and now spends her days sniffing out bombs on the Israeli border. We meet Casper, a Lab-golden mix who works full-time at Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Atlanta, a best friend to kids undergoing cancer treatment, and a buddy ready to offer comfort as needed to the doctors on staff. We also discover the myriad ways in which dogs improve our lives - and what they need and deserve from us in return.
About the Author
For the past twenty plus years, it has been my privilege to work with dogs. I am the Executive Director of Canine Assistants, a school where dogs are taught to help children and adults who have physical disabilities, epilepsy, and other special needs.
I have come to believe that dogs are among God's greatest creations! I also believe that we have a responsibility to treat them with respect and kindness. Force and intimidation have no place in working with dogs.
I wrote Through a Dog's Eyes in an effort to give my fellow dog lovers more information about these fascinating creatures. And, in so doing, I hope to correct some of the more damaging myths being put forth by some popular dog trainers. Dog lovers have been badly mislead by some and it isn't fair to dog or owner.
I cannot bear seeing dogs treated unfairly and I believe with all my heart that I owe them my very best efforts to correct the situation. My 8 year old son summed up my feelings beautifully when he awakened me at 5 am the day the book was released shouting "Mom, Mom! Wake up! Today is the day we start fighting of the dogs!" I would add only "and the people who love them!"
