Let’s Talk Books! – Books On Dog Training

Do you have a dog? Did you know that you can find some fantastic books on dogs and dog training! That’s right, there is a large portfolio of dog books in the world right now, and it is only growing. As someone who is certified in dog training and has worked with puppies for years, I love a good book on dog training. I have a collection of books on dog training, and I have used these books along with that training, putting the information to the test in the real world. So, this post is for you dog lovers out there who are looking for books to read to help you solve problems with your dog. Here are my top five dog training books that every dog owner needs to read!

Don’t Shoot the Dog: The Art of Teaching and Training by Karen Pryor

Don’t Shoot the Dog is a book written by the one and only Karen Pryor, the founder of Karen Pryer Academy, a great place to earn a certification in dog training and learn all you need to know to become an ethical dog trainer. This book was revolutionary when it first came out as it turned what most people thought of behavior on its head! At the time, people were just starting to learn that force and pain are not needed to train reliable behavior, and this book helped them through the change! While it does not offer step-by-step training instructions, it explains positive reinforcement and some important science-based behavior modification information that every dog owner needs to know. This book is a must-read for anyone looking into positive reinforcement dog training.

Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook by Barbara Handelman

For years, people were taught to look at dogs in a dominant way and translate their body language from an “alpha” mentality. But science has found that things didn’t work the way many people thought it did. This “alpha dog” type of training is now completely outdated, and people are finding out that learning to decode dog body language is a must for effective training and owner/dog relationships. Actually, our understanding of this topic has advanced even more since this book was written. However, Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook offers a great look at behaviors, what they mean, and how to observe and learn about what our dogs are telling us with their body language. It is highly important to know how to read your dog’s body language and get practice doing so before you start working with or living with a dog of any age. This book is a must-have for all dog owners!

Puppy Start Right: Foundation Training for the Companion Dog by Kenneth and Debbie Martin

Start your puppy off right with Puppy Start Right: Foundation Training for the Companion Dog! This book takes you through all the training you need to get your puppy through puppyhood and into adulthood. It not only includes instructions for training but also includes photos to help you get a better idea of what behaviors should look like. It also contains a socialization checklist and information on how to use treats properly while training your puppy. Overall, this book is a must-have for anyone getting a puppy!

The New Click to Calm: Solutions for All Dogs in a Challenging World by Emma Parsons

Click to Calm was a book originally written specifically for people who have reactive and aggressive dogs. But the techniques in the book are now used by many trainers who have non-aggressive dogs. As a matter of fact, the author of this book uses the games and techniques described in this book with all her dogs, even those who do not deal with aggression! This is what motivated the creation of The New Click to Calm. With updated information on how to help aggressive dogs and how to apply these techniques to your average pet, this book is a must read! These techniques are something I use with puppies that I train, even the ones who are already calm and collected. Whether you have a dog that struggles with fear aggression, or your dog is a perfect angle, this book is something every dog owner needs to read!

Visiting the Dog Park: Having Fun, Staying Safe by Cheryl S. Smith

While I have seen way too many horrible things happen at dog parks to recommend people take their dogs there, I will say that Visiting the Dog Park: Having Fun, Staying Safe is a book that every dog owner needs to read. Many people just don’t want to give up the dog park because it offers wide open spaces and dog interactions, and I totally get it. But if you are not going to give up the dog park, please read this book. Dog parks can be very dangerous if you don’t know how to read dogs and resolve conflicts. So, this book is not only great for helping you understand your dog, but it is a matter of safety. Please get and read this book from cover to cover if you ever plan on taking your dog to a dog park.

There are so many more great books out there for dog owners! A great place to find books on dogs is at dogwise.com! This company specializes in books about positive and science-based dog training methods, and they have a wonderful collection of books that can help you and your dog grow both in obedience skills and other areas such as dog sports and more!

Writing Fun! – My Adventures in Handmade Jewelry Ideas

Recently, I came up with one of those fun but not realistic ideas. I don’t know if you have ever done that, but it happens to me occasionally. Usually, the reason these types of ideas are not realistic is simply because of time and money. This most recent idea was to turn the symbol from The Story into earrings! I have made handmade jewelry in the past and used to make my own earrings. But it’s been a while, so I just started experimenting. Whether I make it or someone else does, I do want to have jewelry available in the future, but I will need to do some more research and practice before I can make it happen. As for this attempt, it was…well, let’s just say it wasn’t selling material.

My first attempt was easy to make but it didn't look right to me. With the little wrapped wire spots, it looked sloppy. However, I did have an idea to use different material and tie the two pieces together with something like leather and make those points more obvious and part of the art. Maybe there is something there I can work with, but for now, this version wasn’t quite there.

My second attempt was a little more of a challenge, but it looked too messy to me. The wire I used to wrap the other wire and hold the two pieces together was too thin, and I need a lot more practice in wire wrapping before I can make it look good. However, there may be a way I could do something similar to this once I have practiced. But I think I need to learn about wire wrapping techniques first.

My last attempt was hilarious, and you should have seen me trying to wrap all this wire together. First, I tried two pieces, then I tried doing it all with one piece of wire. In short, it was fun! But the result was not what I was hoping. Again, I will need to look into some other techniques, learn more, and practice practice practice!

What did you think of these attempts at turning this shape into jewelry? Would you like to see some things from The Story, such as jewelry and T-shirts, available to purchase? Let me know in the comments!

Let’s Talk Books! – Books by Mood

Reading is the best! I know I have probably said that before, but I just love it, and I hope you do, too! But sometimes, as bookworms, we get into a reading slump and can’t seem to find the books we want to read. Even when our TBR list is growing, sometimes we just aren’t in the mood for the stories piling up. That is why I have decided to create a guide to books based on mood! While this is based on my own moods and what I like to read during each one, you may find inspiration to read or even create your own Moody TBR List! Enjoy!

Joyful

My favorite thing to read when I am in a good mood and want to enjoy that good mood are the books on my re-read list! These books are all the books that I just flat-out love! This includes the Vince Flynn novels about Mitch Rapp, the Thrawn novels from Star Wars, some old Louie Lamor Westerns, Mara Daughter of the Nile, and yes, some children’s books such as Encyclopedia Brown. This list is continually growing (I just added one called Echo North, a great book; you should totally check it out!), so this re-read list is always changing and growing!

Excited

When I am excited, I love searching for new Star Wars books I have not read. As you might have figured out by now, I love Star Wars books! I have never engaged much with any other sci-fi series, but a good Star Wars book gets me in the best of moods and can make a great day even better!

Absent Minded

When I am absent-minded, I love to find more introspective audiobooks that don’t require a lot of listening power but have a combination of funny moments and drama. The need for books to listen to when I am feeling absent-minded is growing, as I tend to be mentally worn out after editing a novel. So, I just want something I can listen to while I color, draw, paint, or otherwise just kind of zone out. Usually, this consists of slow-moving mysteries or mysteries I have heard a million times and still love. One collection of mysteries I listen to when I am absent-minded is the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Because I am familiar with these stories, I do not need to pay as much attention as I used to, and I can just float in and out of listening and focusing on something else. The new list I compiled for this mood is the Jane Austin books. This collection is one I know a lot about but have never read. However, I am not a romance person, so I expect these books to have many moments where I simply lose interest. This is great for when I am feeling absent-minded as I usually focus on many other things and am not really in the mood to dedicate all my brain power to following one story.

Sad/Depressed

When I am sad and depressed, I like to go for a simple book. Something fun and easy to read, sometimes a YA novel or a short book like Mara Daughter of the Nile. However, the series I go back to often is actually a collection of children’s stories called Hank the Cowdog. This may seem odd to some people, mainly because these books are definitely geared towards a younger audience. But their lighthearted vibe, simple stories, and comic storylines always put a smile on my face and remind me to enjoy the little things. However, if you don’t like songs that get stuck in your head, watch out for the musical numbers if you listen to the audiobooks. I still have one stuck in my head from sixth grade when I first listened to it.

Emotionally Drained

When I am emotionally drained, I just want a book I can check out with. For me, this is Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie! There is something about listening to someone else solve everyone’s problems that takes some weight off my shoulders. Agatha Christie’s books are sometimes a hit-and-miss for dealing with being emotionally drained. Still, for the most part, they pull me out of my tired state and give me something to focus on while I try to solve the mystery. I also like to listen to the Bible, specifically Proverbs and Psalms! The other books I love when I am just drained are The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings!

Bored

For me, when I am bored, I need an action-packed book. This is where my favorite spy thrillers usually come in. Vince Flynn is my absolute favorite, but I am always adding to my spy thriller book list, and I recently added Clive Cussler! So far, so good! Another excellent genre for being bored is Epic Fantasy! My favorite fantasy series when I am bored is Redwall! Redwall is a blast to listen to and is always fast-paced and packed with adventure! The audiobooks are often read by an entire cast, and great music as well, adding to the experience. My library does not have these books, so one day, I hope to collect them all, but for now, I am on the hunt for a great place to access the audiobooks. Do you know of a good place?

Irritated

When I am irritated, I read the Bible. It’s just chock-full of wisdom and offers a great perspective on struggles of all kinds. I also love behind-the-scenes books on movies. One of my favorites that I go back to repeatedly is the behind-the-scenes book on how the first Star Wars movie was made! I know, more Star Wars. But for me, that is one of my happy places, so it always comes up when I need a mood enhancer.

As I read more and more books, this list will probably change and get bigger. I hope to one day gather all the books I have read into one extensive list and organize them into various smaller lists based on mood and other topics (I love lists!). I also hope to find new series I can enjoy over and over again, like I do some of the series I mentioned in many of the categories above. Have you ever made a book list based on your mood? I would love to hear what is on it! Like this post and share some books in the comments!