Training is the first concern of every new puppy owner, and this Smart Owner's Guide Puppy Training offers 176 pages of concise guidance to get every owner and puppy on the right track. As Dog Fancy Editor-at-Large states in the introduction: "Once your puppy is well trained, he'll be a joy to live with. He will be welcomed in your community and will make you proud whether you're traveling with him, entertaining guests at home or just hanging out with the family." Toward that goal, Puppy Training begins with "Part 1: House-Training," written by long-time Dog Fancy contributor Bardi McLennan. This section discusses everything the owner needs to know to start off with the puppy in the home, getting him acclimated to the new environment, and teaching him the basic principles of house-training. A detailed chapter titled "The Doggie Den" discusses how to crate-train a puppy and the best ways to use (and not use) a dog crate. The second part of the book, written by award-winning dog trainer and author Miriam Fields-Babineau, is dedicated to "Obedience Training." In this section of the book, the author discusses canine communication, good manners, and socialization.
The basic cues are explained, beginning with walking on a loose leash, and progressing to sit, down, stay, come, and stand. Each lesson is broken down into steps and illustrated by photography to assist the owner. A chapter on advanced training coaches the owner on how to work with his or her dog off leash, adding distance and distractions, and more. Critical to the success of every puppy owner is solving potential behavioral issues, and the book offers solutions to various problems, including jumping up, garbage picking, excessive barking, stealing food and other items, counter surfing, cat chasing, door darting, mouthing and chewing. Special training tips are highlighted in the "K9 Advice" sidebars. Entertaining tidbits and smart advice fill up other colorful sidebars in every chapter, which the editors call "It's a Fact," "Smart Tip," "Notable & Quotable," and "Did You Know?" The Smart Owner's Guide series is the only series that offers readers an online component in which dog owners can join a online club hosted by dogchannel.com.
At Club Pup, owners can find forums, blogs, and profiles to connect with other new puppy owners, as well as charts and checklists that can be downloaded. More than just 20,000 pages of solid information, there's a host of fun to be had at Club Pup in the form of downloadable e-cards, screensavers, games and quizzes. The Resources section of the book includes contact information for training organizations and clubs as well as books and websites that new owners will find of interest. This information-packed Smart Owner's Guide is fully indexed.