Barks from the Bookshelf

Hey There Lovely Bookshelvers Today we are thrilled to be joined by the amazing Becki Gude. Becki is a not only a full PACT Member but also a good friend of ours. Becki is affiliated with several outstanding training organisations and charities and specialises in training and assessing assistance dogs for people with various disabilities. Becki also serves on the board of Trustees for the Assistance Dog Assessment Association (ADAA). In this conversation we get an insight into the world of owner trained assistance dogs and what part the ADAA can play in setting standards and giving people the peace of mind that, not only is their dogs welfare covered, but they can perform the tasks needed to help mitigate disabilities in the real world. We also get to talk about Becki's love for day care and wonderful appearance on the telebox for Alan Titchmarsh's Underdog to Superdog. A fascinating conversation that had both Steve and Corrin riveted throughout... We know you're going to love it, feel inspired and know more about this fascinating world.  Links: The Assistance Dog Assessment Association (ADAA) [https://www.theadaa.org/] Becki's Website [https://www.surreycaninecorner.co.uk/] Becki's Daycare Page [https://www.surreycaninecorner.co.uk/doggy-daycare-reigate] (where if you scroll down to the bottom you'll find the painting party video we discussed) https://www.surreycaninecorner.co.uk/doggy-daycare-reigateBecki's blog on Daycare [https://www.surreycaninecorner.co.uk/blog]Where to watch Underdog to Superdog [https://www.channel5.com/show/alan-titchmarsh-s-underdog-to-superdog/season-1/episode-4]

Howdy there Bookshelvers.   Autumn is approaching rapidly. And whilst you’re fishing out your pullovers and slurping "pumpkin spiced" everything we've got an absolute treat for you! This week we are thrilled to welcome the amazing Kay Attwood, author of Canine Cognitive Skills! Kay’s journey is interesting and inspiring in equal measure and we marvel at her passion and dedication to her craft. Among a whole load of amazing stories we hear how persistent students led her to get creative, leading to a profound discovery about cognitive skills and their application. We talk about how a trainer’s job evolves beyond basic obedience. We discuss kay’s "lightbulb moment" when she realized that asking dogs to think could solve problems that other training techniques alone couldn't touch. We delve into the concept of canine cognitive skills and find out how having owners bursting into laughter can also lead to them accidentally becoming better trainers! It’s an infectious mix of fun and science that has created incredible longevity in her classes—from playful puppies to calm senior dogs. Steve and Corrin also talk through the areas of the book that stand out as well as discussing a recent setback for poor little Penguin ☹ So come on in, get comfy, and get some joy and creativity in those eager lug holes. Links: Buy a copy of Kays book  [https://www.kay9services.co.uk/shop/canine-cognitive-skills/] Find out all about Kays Training [https://www.kay9services.co.uk/] DOGx Tickets [https://www.pact-dogs.com/dogx2025] Link to the ATA Podcast discussed on the show [https://atamember.com/making-ripples/]

Howdy Bookshelvers   It's been a long time coming but we’re back for a full on book review show (insert fanfare here). Nat and Steve delve into the expertly written and wonderfully cathartic the book "Old Dog, New Dog" by Kathy Callahan and Helen St. Pierre. The book looks at the joys, challenges and intricacies of our older and younger dogs and goes a long way to answering that old age question: Should we get a puppy as a companion for our older dog? As well as the usual deep dive sections we get to interview Kathy & Helen and discuss the importance of fostering a harmonious relationship between the old and the young, along with discovering how to promote a peaceful coexistence, and prepare and live through the emotional journey of caring for dogs at different life stages. Whether you're a seasoned dog owner or a new puppy parent, we hope this episode offers valuable guidance and heartfelt stories that resonate with every dog lover.   On top of all that lovely stuff, Nat and Steve discuss dog centred horror movies, how to be mindful (or in Steve’s case how to be mindful about not being mindful) and Nat’s act of resistance. It’s all go gang… but all bloomin'great! Links: Buy Old Dog, New Dog [https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/old-dog-new-dog-a-guide-to-supporting-your-aging-best-friend-and-welcoming-a-new-one-kathy-callahan/7834345?ean=9781608689965]DOGx Tickets [https://www.pact-dogs.com/dogx2024] Link to our Bookstore [https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/barks-from-the-bookshelf?&new-list-page=true]

Hey, Hey, Hey Bookshelvers! This week we have another DOGx Special for you. We also have been graced with the presence of, the one and only, Jason Light as this topic is very close to his heart.    Every year we have a charity slot at DOGx and this year we’ve managed to get the wonderful Guide Dogs to do a presentation and demo for us. With that in mind we thought it would be wonderful to have Elli Cavazza, a puppy development advisor for Guide Dogs and Mandy Pike, a guide dog user with her dog, Loney on to talk all things Guide Dogs from both perspectives.    The discussion provides a fascinating peek into the world of Guide Dogs, going beyond the public-facing image to explore the detailed, dog-centred approach to training. We find out about Elli’s role, which involves training puppy-raisers and ensuring puppies are well-socialized and prepared for their future, as well as Guide Dogs passionate views on their dog-centric and human-centric approach working in unison.   We then get Mandy's perspective as a guide dog partner. She shares her journey, from her initial hesitation as a self-proclaimed "cat person" to her profound bond with her current dog, Lonnie. Mandy openly discusses the challenges and triumphs of working with a dog that is a "work in progress," highlighting the importance of trust, communication, and understanding Loney as an individual first and a guide dog second. There are also some real valuable insights from both Ellie and Mandy for the general public. Enjoy!  Links: Find out more about Guide Dogs [https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/donating/sponsor-a-puppy/?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19067850474&gbraid=0AAAAAD20XPG3lAyTdH2KQzGikrtRkZLH_&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_L_FBhDmARIsAItqgt6l2mAkCdbJKSYus2n-B7rnC3iA0AmdJPcCX0k_a8R-q6xKvkzD6-saAh0HEALw_wcB]DOGx Tickets [https://www.pact-dogs.com/dogx2024] Link to our Bookstore [https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/barks-from-the-bookshelf?&new-list-page=true]

Ahoy There Bookshevers! We hope this episode finds you well and sat next to fluffy companion. Get yourselves ready for an absolute treat, Bookshelvers! We’re thrilled to welcome back the incredible author and illustrator, Lili Chin, for a deep dive into her latest masterpiece, "Dogs of the World." It's been a whopping 5 years since we last got to chat with Lili so lot's to catch up on and this book is an absolute gem!  We get chatting about: * Unpacking the myths that hold us back from seeing dogs as individuals, exploring why breed essentialism can be a disservice to our companions. * Tackle the tough stuff, including the ethical considerations of language in dog literature and the impact of AI on art and business. * Get lost in the details of what makes Lili's art so powerful and how her unique perspective as an artist, shapes her work. * Delve into the nuances of landraces, village dogs, and how the concept of "breed" is more about human culture than canine biology. We also put Lili to the test with an impromptu game and get her book recommendations... Go on... Get involved... You know you want to! Links: * Lili Chin's Website: https://doggiedrawings.net/ [https://doggiedrawings.net/] * Lili Chin's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doggiedrawings/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/doggiedrawings/?hl=en] * Lili Chin's Books: https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/collections/author-books-by-lili-chin [https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/collections/author-books-by-lili-chin] * Ed Yong's "An Immense World": https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/immense-world-book-ed-yong-9781529112115 [https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/immense-world-book-ed-yong-9781529112115] * DOGX 2025 Tickets: https://www.pact-dogs.com/dogx2025 [https://www.pact-dogs.com/dogx2025]