Free to Rescue Groups and Individuals!

If you're interested in promoting responsible pet ownership, or if you want to learn more about adopting a dog from a rescue organization, this booklet can help!

No password required -- these booklets are completely free of charge.  Rescue groups can use them on their websites, or link to the one you'd like to use here, on my website.  Individuals can download from my website, if they'd like to learn about anything contained in a specific booklet.

The articles contained come straight from Homeward Bound: Life with Dogs, and are full-blown articles.  These are the ones included:

• My Commitment to Non-Force Training (3 pp)

• Looking for Help
• Owners Beware -- What to Look for, and What to AVOID! (8 pp)
• Getting Help with Non-Profound Problems
• Getting My Help with Profound Problems (4 pp)
• My Rates
• My Contract
• Feed Me!! Nutrition for Dogs
• But, I Want a Puppy! Most of the people who call me about getting a rescued dog start out by specifying that they'd prefer a puppy... (3 pp)
• Sample Schedule for Owners of Young Puppies This table represents a good sample schedule for an average day in owning a puppy.
• Everything You'll Need to Know Before Getting a Dog! (Strategies designed to help you keep your dogs AND your insurance) (8 pp)
• Can I Afford to Adopt?
This comparison is presented in an effort to inform prospective owners of the costs involved in owning a St. Bernard as a pet. (7 pp)
• Discussion of the Necessity for Altering In addition to health concerns, reproductive status affects animals on a behavioral level. (3 pp)
• No Outside Dogs! Does your dog REALLY prefer to be out there? (4 pp)
• To Clarence's Former Owners Clarence (Geezer) was a typical dog, rescued from an entire lifetime of neglect on the end of a chain.  His time in my home touched me as no other has. (3 pp)
• Bringing the Outside Dog Inside Many people are overwhelmed at the thought of making their outside-only dogs into house dogs... but this is something that rescue people face continually.  Learn how to make this an easier process, for everyone concerned! (3 pp)
• Where to Find Your New Best Friend There are lots of sources from which to purchase or adopt a dog.  This table will help you to decide which one will provide the most rewarding experience for both you and the dog. (2 pp)
• So... Where DO Puppies Come From?  There are 3 types of breeders: backyard breeder (BYB), puppymill, and the responsible breeder.
(5 pp)
• Did You Find a Saint? I get calls all the time... about stray dogs, left-in-the-yard dogs, "they gave him to me" dogs... now, WHAT do I DO with him??
• Adopting a Rescued Dog You can't just walk into a shelter, and walk out with a dog (not if you're looking for a dog that will fit into your lifestyle and family).  This article will help you to determine if the dog you're considering is a responsible, practical choice. (3 pp)
• Adoption Guidelines Understand a reputable group's policies in making placements. (3 pp)
• Why do Rescue Groups Charge Adoption Fees?  All reputable rescue groups and shelters require adoption fees... and there are many reasons for this.
• Dominance Theory Revisited   I have problems (issues, really {grin}) with the use of dominance theory... in large part because it's so often MIS-used to describe dog behavior. (4 pp)
  • The Dominance Theory Fairy Tale  It's important to understand that many trainers don't understand this paradigm any better than the average owner does!
  • The Mis-Use of Dominance Theory  I don't use dominance theory AT ALL, in explaining dog/human interactions.  And, I use it very sparingly, in explaining dog/dog interactions.
  • Dominance Theory & the "More is Better" Philosophy  In using the "scruff-shake", for example, reaching to pet the dog may have come to predict (for the dog) that he's going to get shaken -- so he goes on the offensive!
  • Dominance Theory Vs. Learning Theory  It’s safer and far more productive to use learning theory to explain behavior… and learning theory is what you’ll learn from me.
• Management Techniques Management techniques are simply ways of coping with situations until a change in behavior can be affected. (3 pp)
• Confining Your Dog
  • Underground Fencing Underground fencing is typically marketed as a safe, cheap alternative to physical barrier fencing.  My personal feeling is that it's safer NOT to fence the yard at all, than to use underground fencing.
  • Teaching the Dog to Stay in His Yard WITHOUT a Boundary  You can't teach a dog (or any other organism) NOT to seek out reinforcement.
  • Building Doggie Doors (for under $20!)  Includes instructions and drawing!
  • Proper Kenneling My dogs aren't allowed access to the yard, when they're not supervised... but this can be a pretty inconvenient concept, if the whole purpose of fencing your yard is to allow the dog to go to the bathroom while you're away from home.

  Download the St. Bernard Version Now!

  Download the Non-Breed-Specific Version Now!

  More Breeds available soon!

  Don't see your breed here?  Let me know if there's something you would like to see: Breed: Your Name: (optional) Email (optional) Contact for breed information: Email:   If you are a rescue group or responsible breeder, and would be interested in partnering with me to provide these booklets in your breed, please use this form to contact me.  I ask that you provide breed-specific articles to help promote responsible ownership of your breed, and that these fall within the confines of my teaching philosophy (no use of dominance theory, aversives, etc.)