'How to Build a Puppy... Into a Healthy Adult Dog' Book
DESCRIPTION
Dogs do not demonstrate discomfort or pain in a way that can be easily translated by us humans, so we often miss that they are physically struggling. Understanding that making some very simple changes to our homes, activities, exercise regimes and how we train our puppies, will have a massive positive impact on our dogs' lives.
Using her world-renowned Galen Myotherapy knowledge and approach, Robertson suggests and explains in detail how small, profoundly important but easy to implement changes can improve the way we not only look after and develop our puppies but also how maintenance of this easy programme continues your puppy’s journey through into healthy adolescents and maturity.
Environment, exercise and activity habits have deep, ongoing effects and How to Build a Puppy explores ways in which positive change can be integrated easily into our normal lives. The book culminates into a full programme called the Galen Myotherapy Puppy Physical Development Programme©.
Including:
- A dedicated section on anatomy, explaining in a functional way how everything in the body interrelates to form a functional moving structure
- Practical advice that is made logical and easy to interpret by the use of clear comparative descriptions as well as clear diagrams and pictures showing dogs movement and biomechanics.
- Exercises and activities in a practical programme, for all situations, that can be followed to help build good foundations
- A full pictorial explanation of why so many 'traditional' exercise routines and activities are in fact incredibly damaging for our dogs.
This book will help canine professionals better advise their clients, but also empower all readers to make their own changes, as well as having a better all-round understanding to enable more pertinent questions from their vet, breeder, or puppy trainer.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction.
- Why is Giving Correct Exercise and Activity to your Puppy so Important?
- Canine Anatomy - A Working Knowledge of How a Dog is Structured.
- The Physical Constituents of a ‘Joined Up Puppy’.
- Building your Puppy using the Galen Puppy Physical Development Programme©.
- Categories Involved with the Puppy’s Development.
- Part A: Early Puppy Development. Part B: Preparing the Home Environment.
- What Not to Do! Unsuitable Activities and Why.
- Equipment. 9.Puppy Massage.
- 10. Additional Useful Information. Recommended Reading. References.
- Resources
REVIEWS
I have trained, observed and solved problems for tens of thousands of dogs during my 55 years as a dog trainer. In the beginning we did not think much about what impact training could have on the dogs’ bodies, and vice versa. Yet observing dogs and their movements, and how they felt, we understood that we had to look at that aspect as well. Since then, thanks to new technology, recent years of studies have given us more knowledge about physiology, anatomy and neurology. It has been a real awakening.
When I met Julia several years ago, I saw how important it is for us to combine the two: the trainer skills, and the skills in anatomy and physiology. Working with dogs, we need knowledge in both. I have had the great pleasure of cooperating with Julia, observing dogs for coaching. We both observed the dog, Julia using her skills in seeing the physical details, and I observing the dog’s behaviour and mentality. Summing up, we had the same opinion on what kind of problem we addressed, and what should be done for rehabilitation and treatment. It was an amazing - almost startling - experience.
Since then, I have been convinced about the importance for knowledge on several levels. It is not enough to be educated as a trainer or behaviourist. If you want to do the best job possible, you need also to have some knowledge of the physical side of the dog and be able to see when physical help and treatment is necessary. Then we can at least send the dog to the right specialist. Following this revelation, I asked Julia to write a book about her work, giving people more tools for helping dogs, and in many ways changing the way we train and handle them.
And now the book is here! It is such a pleasure for me to welcome it. It is so practical and well explained, Julia’s love for dogs shining through every page. For me it is an important book and I believe it will have a huge impact on our work with dogs in the future.
-- Turid Rugaas, International Dog Trainer and author of On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals
Fills a gap in the market for a book that advises on the physical side of developing and maintaining a healthy puppy, as well as a rehomed older dog. There's lots on behavioural training, but nothing on this essential element. Dog behaviour consultants, instructors and dog owners are crying out for this information. For instance, people frequently ask 'how much exercise should I give my puppy?' and this book not only answers that but shows that there are other better ways to exercise a dog than walking in a straight line.
Without knowledge of dog anatomy and physiology, people can exercise their dogs in ways that (and create environments that) have negative and long-lasting impacts on canine health.
Useful and applicable for professionals and owners no matter what behavioural training technique they use.
Useful for veterinarians and other people working in healthcare with dogs because it gives in-depth description of functional anatomy and the overall musculoskeletal system, as well as practical information and illustrations that can be recommended to their clients, making that part of their job easier.
Internationally applicable.
In most books, the point of focus is the human, but the focal point of this book is the puppy. What does living with humans mean to him? This is refreshing and needed.
Julia's accessible, light-hearted writing style makes the more challenging technical aspects easy to comprehend. The many colour illustrations are a great help in understanding the text and link explicitly to everyday experience.
Julia Robertson is the expert in this field: her book is based on novel theory and many years of experience.
Should be standard reading for all dog owners, dog instructors, dog behaviour consultants, dog shelters, veterinarians students, veterinarians, and all other education's and organisations that have to do with dogs in our society.-- Foyles review