At the risk of being self-serving, I wanted to let you know that the Second Edition of Feisty Fido is now available. Little did Karen London and I know, when we took a look at the first version before reprinting it, how much time we’d end up spending revising it. True confession: when a few months ago I re-read the first version, written in 2001, I thought, “Oh my, it is truly time to revise this!.” (Karen had the same response that I did, and, as usual, we were “on the same page” about it, so to speak.) I do think that the booklet has helped a lot of people and a lot of dogs, and that makes me happy, but I am even happier to have an updated, revised, updated and lovingly, tweaked new version available.
For those of you who know the book, here are the primary differences:
1) There is a new section on equipment, that includes front-attachment harnesses and our experiences with harnesses versus head halters.
2) We dropped the release word from the end of the Watch cue. We found that owners and dogs quickly learned that Watch means “turn your head and look at me” but struggled with the “look at me until I release you” aspect of the cue. It seems that letting a dog look at you and then turn back and look at the other dog again isn’t a problem with many dogs, indeed it gives you another chance to say Watch again. We do discuss the exceptions: for example, dogs who are so aroused when they look at another dog that they are unable to contain themselves, even at a distance. Some of these dogs do seem to improve the most if they are asked to maintain the Watch until they are released. But they are by far the exceptions, not the rule and I really like dropping the release aspect of the cue for the sake of expediency. (Note that several readers concurred when I brought this up in an earlier post.)
3) We revised and expanded the section on “Where’s the Dog?,” agreeing with Leslie McDevitt (Control Unleashed) that teaching a dog to look at another dog on cue can be just as useful as teaching them to turn away. Which cue is best, as usual, depends on the dog, and we discuss that in more depth in the new version. By the way, if I haven’t mentioned this before, I used Watch on Willie when he was at his worst with unfamiliar dogs (and “worst” was pretty bad, believe me), then switched to “Where’s the Dog” (which is what I use now, and he goes all gooey and waggy as soon as I say it.) Not surprisingly, I like having both cues in your pocket, but I don’t think that’s necessary for all dogs. I am interested in the fact that both Watch and Where’s the Dog result in the same operant behavior (look at dog, look at owner) and the same classically conditioned response (look at dog, feel good).
4) We include brief discussions of alternatives like Abandonment Training and C.A.P. and the situations in which we find them most useful.
5) We revised the resource section at the end.
6) We both thought the writing in the first version needing some tweaking, so we wrote, like, sorta better throughout the booklet.
We, as always, would love feedback, so let us know, through the blog or emails, what you think. Before we know it, it’ll be time to reprint it again! You can also reach Karen, by the way, through her own blog at Bark Magazine’s Blog Site.
Meanwhile, back at the farm: Will and I worked on picking sheep off a fence when another group was beside the fence on the other side. It went well, but it was clear that Will found it stressful. I stopped and let him do an easy, open outrun to end on a relaxing note, and then played lots of tug later that night. Good boy Willie, good boy. (Uh, have I said that before?)
Kelly Ladouceur says
I can’t wait to order my new, updated copy of Feisty Fido! I have recommended that book to so many people, so many times. In fact, I pretty much recommend everything you’ve written.
My only beef is that you don’t ship to Canada. It really isn’t that hard, is it? I always end up having to get your books through other sources.
Anyhow, thanks for the note that the updated version is available . . . happy shopping folks!
Alessandro Rosa says
I realize that this is somewhat off topic and an extreme oversimplification, but I have a question regarding Seperation Anxiety.
Has any research ever been done to see if environmental factors effect the stress level of the dog and contribute to the panic that the dog feels?
My question stems from the first item in the list of how to determine if you have a rodent problem in your home on the Ortho website:
“Are your pets upset?
They can get stirred up when they hear and smell rodents in the house.”
Is it possible that a contributing factor could be rodents freaking out your already nervous dog while you, the noisy, rodent scaring human are out of the house?
Living in an apartment building, we go in cycles with being rodent free to having a problem. I am wondering if Darwin is getting all worked up by my leaving this week because there is a mouse in the house. I have seen other evidence in the last day or two to convince me that Darwin isn’t the only furry, four-legged inhabitant of our apartment (granted he is the only invited one), so I am wondering if a mouse could be harassing him with a game of grab kibble while I’m at work. Or am I barking up the wrong mouse trap.
kate says
I can’t wait either! Bonus is that it’s affordable, as I normally end up putting it into a new adoption care basket for their new families (unless they buy it themselves).
Funny you mentioned Control Unleashed as I flip flop between the first edition of Feisty Fido that one depending on foster dogs needs (I’ve learnt that you’ve got to be nimble and have as much as many resources as you can in your training tickle trunk! ).
Now I’ll have more ammo for the next Feisty fido foster 🙂
nan says
count me in the group celebrating the update, I’ll be purchasing a new supply. I say supply because in my training classes we generally have a few dogs each time that have the sort of issues your booklet handles so beautifully. Typically I equip the student with your booklet and then coach them on their progress with it on the side ahead of or after class. Can’t tell you how many of these pups went from probably being returned to the shelter to definitely loved and staying with their family because of your well thought out and nicely expressed advice.
Keli says
Alessandro Rosa:
My dogs do react to the noise of mice in my ceiling (at night when things are quiet). They react the same way they do to thunder – nervous, panting, pacing. Turning the TV on usually solves that problem, since mice aren’t real loud. I need to hire someones cat!
Keli
Shelly says
Yes, I have ordered my copy! I’m so excited to see the updates and start applying them with clients!
Cynthia says
Any list of Madison area stores who will be selling the new editions? I’d like to pick it up locally if I can. The first Feisty Fido was a huge help to my dog! Today we passed a dog across the street and Dottie didn’t go into total hysterics. There’s nothing like that first “autowatch” to make it all seem worthwhile. Love the idea of “Where’s the dog.” We’ve been practicing at the dog park while working on Dottie’s discomfort with unfamiliar dogs. A clicker is a huge help to capture the briefest glance towards another dog.
Susan Mann says
Any chance you could do a blog post on in-home aggression (dog on dog) ? This came up recently onlist, and there were quite a few people for whom this had been an issue, and in quite a few situations, the aggression was against an older (geriatric) dog. It is extremely emotionally difficult to deal with, as well as requiring good management and training skills. And I’m sure there are some myths to bust!
Trisha says
Susan, I put your suggestion about a post re in-home aggression on my list of blog topics, great idea! And Cynthia, Mounds and Bad Dog Frieda carry our books and some DVDs, we’ll ask them to carry the new Play DVD. But then, we’re just a few minutes west of Madison, you could always drive out and pick one up here at McConnell Publishing in Black Earth! And Kelly, sorry about the Canada connection. It turns out to be more complicated than you’d think (it’s one thing to send a book to a friend, another to sell a book across the border!) But we hear you, and will see what we can do. Meanwhile, Alessandro: there’s a mouse enjoying my kitchen counter every night now, but I’m pretty sure I’m the only one upset about it! (I know that’s not always true, I have seen several dogs fixated at walls, pretty sure they were focused on rodents or insects…)
Keli says
Found this link the other day – great info – all positive and all about counter conditioning and info on Dominance Hierarchies. Pretty much the same thinking as Patricia.
http://www.drsophiayin.com/dominance.php
Keli
Pat Dey Olson says
Help! Does feisty Dog deal with an out of control dog at home. My recently rescued Morkie will out of the blue turn into a crazy, biting, barking, running, jumping dog. I’m sure he’s trying to play but he is so out of control that he bites me and hurts me, throws himself 4 feet into the air onto my body, and is truly uncatchable. Twice last nite we tried giving him a time out in an old crate we don’t use, as a last resort. After going berserk in the crate for 5 minutes each time, he calmed down, I told him good boy and let him out. But the behavior quickly started again. He couldn’t be picked up or held down and wouldn’t listen or respond to any commands. This happens about every other day. He is at least 3 and was a stray. He is extremely energetic, never sitting down or laying down to rest. I am physically handicapped and can only walk him a couple times a day for several blocks at a time. We do put him outside to play on his own but he just sits and waits to come in. I’m ready to take him back to the pound, but I don’t want to.
Thanks for any help you can give me. I just purchased 3 of your books but none seems to address this type of behavior.
LisaintheUK says
Having bought a copy of “Feisty Fido” at Crufts in March 2011, I would just like to send a MASSIVE thank you to Patricia and Karen for this wonderful book. We have a 3 year old rescue Border Collie called Skye who spent 8 months in a rescue centre. She was displaying fear with other dogs and sometimes men on walks. She was biting our legs in frustration when she was prevented from lunging at dogs. The distraction techniques in the booklet have worked wonderfully for Skye and myself because we have something else to do on our walks rather than panic. Works well with bits of cooked liver. Thank you so much. I am just waiting for Amazon to deliver a copy of your “the Cautious Canine” booklet.