Cheryl Smith – författare

Dog parks can be a wonderful way to give your dog exercise as well as social and mental stimulation. They are also a great place to meet dog-friendly people and pets. Dog park design, rules of etiquette, and conflict resolution all play an important role in making your visit a positive and safe experience. Find out how to make the most of these opportunities. Cheryl provides you with the information you need to know including: * The design features a well-planned park should have. * The four key behaviors your dog needs to know to thrive in a dog park. * Dog park etiquette - for both humans and dogs. * How to evaluate your dog''s temperament to determine if he is dog-park ready. * How to read canine body language to anticipate and prevent problems. Anyone who takes their dog to a dog park - especially those who may have had some negative experiences - should benefit from reading this book. For you trainers who are asked by your clients about the pros and cons of dog parks, this book should be on your recommended reading list. Click here for printable Dog Park tips adapted from Visiting the Dog Park. What reviewers are saying... DOG WORLD “As author Cheryl S. Smith states in her introduction, in a perfect world, dog parks wouldn’t be necessary. But the world is far from perfect, and the dog park can be (or at least seems to be) a great option for providing dogs exercise and social opportunities… In this easy-to-read manual, Smith provides everything you need to know to make going to the dog park fun and safe for you canine. She starts off with instructions on training your dog so you can help it succeed at the park... She also instructs you on appropriate human dog park behavior. The “Canine Observation Skills” chapter provides excellent scenarios in which the author describes many different interactions at the dog park and allows the reader to interpret them… The book also provides helpful instructions on conflict resolution… In one slender volume, Smith provides practical information on virtually every aspect of visiting the dog park. If visiting a dog park is in your future, read this book before you go.” Janine Adams ANIMALTALK.COM “Noted dog trainer, certified dog behavior consultant and award-winning author, Cheryl S. Smith, has written the ultimate book for anyone who takes their dog to a dog park or is thinking of doing so. Including everything from various canine personalities to how to train your dog and how to observe other dogs to better understand each individual situation, Smith leaves no stone (or dog biscuit) unturned! Dog park etiquette for people as well as their dogs, evaluating your dog to know if he''s ready for a dog park experience and far more is packed into this excellent paperback.” Rated 5 out of 5 paws Darlene Arden “This topic is near and dear to my heart as I go to a dog park several times a week. They are not for every dog, and there are people who bring dogs that have no business being there. But when the park is filled with appropriate dogs and people, my dogs think there is no better place under the sun. Smith’s first chapter is devoted to who should and should not use dog parks; it’s a sad statement on society that oftentimes those who have no business being there are clueless about it. (Give them this book.) Smith goes on to discuss people who aren’t suited to the park (people who can’t control their dogs, who ignore their dogs while socializing with other people, and don’t obey the rules.) She discusses the design and rules of dog parks. Dog parks can generate some level of controversy as to whether or not they are worthwhile, but Smith outlines both the pros and cons so well that if you have any questions at all about whether or not you should go with a certain dog, she can guide you to the answer.” Phyllis DeGioia OFF LEAD AND ANIMAL BEHAVIOR “This book offers pet owners valuable information. This paperback helps owners decide if their dog is ready for a dog park outing, whether the design of the park is sage for play, and also teaches owners simple things to prepare for a great dog park experience. The author instructs readers on how to read canine body language in order to avoid problems, as well as dog park etiquette for both dogs and humans.” Editor CG MAGAZINE “Cheryl S. Smith is a dog trainer who hosts her own radio show, PetSmith, and has authored 11 books on dogs. Smith’s Visiting the Dog Park: Having Fun, Staying Safe is an excellent and comprehensive introduction to dog parks. This book is not only for new dog park users. Much of the content… should be read periodically by all dog park users. This book begins with what some may consider an alarmist tone, cautioning that dogs and people are bitten and fogs have even been killed at dog parks. It is important for new users to very clearly understand that there are good reasons for dog park rules and that not all dogs are dog park dogs… Perhaps one of Ms. Smith’s most important discussions… addresses small dogs and dog parks. Many dog parks have been built with separate areas for small dogs and large dogs. However, this is not always the case, especially with older dog parks... This leads to one of the book’s most important points: Know your dog before going to a dog park. Even experience dog park users will find interest in Ms. Smith’s discussion about how dog park design can influence dog behavior. Ms. Smith emphasizes the importance of more experienced users helping newcomers understand the reason for the dog park’s rules... Ms. Smith also provides the reader with step-by-step instructions on how to teach dogs commands such as recall, touch/targeting, and settle. She advocated teaching dogs these commands before taking the dog to a dog park… If those considering taking their dogs to the dog park for the first time were to read only one chapter of Visiting the Dog Park, it should be the chapter entitled “Let’s Go to the Dog Park.” Using a step-by-step approach to describe a visit to the dog park, Ms. Smith informs readers about what to wear and what to bring to the dog park. Another valuable chapter in Visiting the Dog Park addresses canine observation skills. The hardest thing for any novice dog park user is to distinguish between play and aggression… Again, know your dog. Ms. Smith’s description of defensive, offensive, and neutral postures; greetings; and the postures of play will be very helpful to all dog park users… Ms. Smith makes good use of photos and illustrations in this chapter to help readers better understand the difference between play and aggression… Visiting the Dog Park’s chapter on conflict resolution discusses the warning signs of trouble: acting out, body language, clumping, and dog possessiveness… In addition, the book includes useful Internet references on the topics of dog socialization, canine body language, and positive dog training. Good things do come in small packages, and Visiting the Dog Park is no exception. In just 128 pages, Ms. Smith has done an excellent job of identifying and discussing the important aspects of how dog parks work, and how dogs and their people can have fun at the dog park while staying safe.” Kris White APDT CHRONICLE OF THE DOG “Many of the mistakes and mishaps that occurs at the dog park are firmly rooted in a lack of knowledge and preparation. Many dog owners tend to rely on the “expertise” of other owners at the park, and may even fall into the trap of peer pressure when they don’t have enough knowledge to know what is appropriate for off-leash play. Thanks to Cheryl S. Smith’s book, Visiting the Dog Park, dog owners can now enter the dog park, or choose not to, with confidence. This easy to read, easy to understand handbook answers all of the questions that dog owners have, while also pointing out issues that many might not have considered…What I enjoyed most about this book is its sense of balance. Readers are often reminded that they are part of the equation when it comes to dog park enjoyment and safety. Rather than an opinion-laden commentary on dog parks, Cheryl offers a common sense, straightforward, and amazingly complete description of the pros and cons, choices, considerations, and all-important preparation involved in taking one’s dog to play off leash at the park.” Cindy Bruckart

People love their dogs. They also love their gardens. But sometimes these two passions seem to be in conflict. Dog Friendly Gardens will show you how to design your garden with your dog in mind and be your guide to dog-friendly training efforts. Every part of this book shows you how garden design and gardening tasks can blend harmoniously with dog ownership. Just like a dog can be trained to respect your indoor living space, she can also be trained to respect the garden and its many features. Garden design, pet-safe products and dog friendly training. What reviewers are saying... SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER “This terrific little book is packed with ideas and suggestions on how to design garden spaces for any yard, big or small, that will please both the resident dogs and people. It will please anybody who loves both plants and pets, and would make a fabulous holiday gift for dog owners whose darlings are not yet garden friendly”. Ann Lovejoy, author of Gardening books and columnist CORNELL PLANTATIONS MAGAZINE “If you have a dog in your garden, this book would be a great addition to your reference library. If not it still offers a useful opportunity to see and analyze your outdoor space from a new, four-legged perspective.” Mary Hirshfeld DOG FANCY “A thoughtful foray into the twin perfection of home -- woofers and flowers. Whether you want a low maintenance yard or a formal garden, consider her successes and failures before you unleash the hounds”. Terry Winkelman, THE OREGONIAN “Dog Friendly Gardens is written by a dog trainer who is also a master gardener. It’s full of practical, useable suggestions for designing a dog-safe yard and protecting plants from pooches.” Deborah Wood, dog book author and columnist “This book not only offers down-to-earth, dog-friendly (and garden-friendly!) advice, it contains lovely photos that inspire readers of every persuasion. Suggestions on garden design, plant choice, and easy maintenance planning helps readers get the most enjoyment out of both their gardens and their dogs. The book also offers great tips on teaching your dog acceptable garden etiquette--welcome advice from an author who is also a dog trainer. I give it five green-thumbs UP!“ Amy D. Shojai, author, Complete Care for Your Aging Dog

Teaching a dog to follow a “target” is the best way to train both simple and complicated behaviors. Targeting is useful for everything from training the family dog to competitive obedience and agility. The detailed instructions in this book will deliver outstanding results! Save your back, work at a distance, or get tricky parts of the dog, such as the back feet, moving the way you want them to move. You''ll learn how to train your dog to target your hand, a contact disk or a target stick, then utilize targets to build complex behaviors. Teaches you how to break down a behavior into easily trainable steps. Target training can be used for at-home manners, therapy dog work, canine sports, or to teach tricks. Targeting can help you get to your goal no matter what it is! Click here to view an excerpt. What reviewers are saying... MIDWEST BOOK REVIEWRight On Target!: Taking Dog Training To a New Level is knowledgeably co-authored by dog experts Mandy Book and Cheryl Smith. This informed and informative introduction to properly and effectively training a dog methodically takes the reader through the intricate process of training a dog for a more sports oriented form of activity. Drawing from their many years of experience with dogs, Mandy Book and Cheryl Smith deftly explore the mapping of a proper training routine with an easy-to fallow and “user-friendly” format accessible and applicable by even the most novice dog owner. Right On Target! Is very strongly recommended to all readers wishing for a more effective and thorough training manual for guidance of bringing their canine companion through all of the proper training procedures required for a great show and a lot of recreational activities. James A. Cox CANINE REVIEWThe clicker training book covers how to train your dog to target with his nose, feet and body. It moves on to gives ideas on how to use those targeting behaviors when training for such things as agility, obedience and general tricks... Overall, the book was easy to read and follow. If you''re a clicker fan and are looking for clear directions for target training, this is definitely the book for you. Marlene Parish DOGWORLDTargeting where a dog is trained to touch something with his nose, paw or body, is a training technique often used by clicker trainers to help shape behaviors. This book, written for novice dog owners and serious dog competitors alike, will teach you to use targeting to teach your dog all sorts of behaviorism from flawless agility performances to riding a skateboard... If you''ve tried shaping or targeting with your dog but given up because it didn''t seem to work, or you were afraid you weren''t doing it right, this book will help you succeed. Janine Adams CLEAN RUNIn Right on Target! Mandy Book and Cheryl Smith have written a comprehensive guide for dog owners and trainers, whether you want a well-behaved dog in your home, a dancing partner for canine freestyle, a movie or commercial "star", or the best agility dog you can train, this book will help you achieve your goal... This book provides a well-explained plan for teaching behaviors to your dog that will make your dog look like a genius. Martha Faulk