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B-0418-CanineMassageThis is a very comprehensive book on canine massage – and the canine body as a whole. It teaches us that, like us humans, massage can be used to help our canine companions relax, condition our canine athletes, improve health and fitness, assist them in recovery from injuries or surgery and to ease chronic pain.

B-0418 - Canine Massage. A Complete Reference Manual
By Jean Pierre Hourdebaight, L.M.T.

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 The methods described are based on human massage techniques but are adapted for our canine companions. The book is full of illustrations and photographs which help guide the reader through the techniques explained and the various systems described.

Chapters include: an overview of canine massage theory – approach and initial contact with a new canine subject, canine body language and feedback signs, positions and duration of a massage, when to massage and when to not massage; canine kinesiology – how and why a dog moves the way they do and the muscles and joints involved; canine anatomy and physiology – the nine principal systems of the dog, including detailed descriptions and diagrams of the canine skeletal and muscular systems; concepts of massage – skills, posture, sensitivity, pressure and rhythm of the hands; the movements, techniques and routines of canine massage - including relaxation, maintenance and recuperation routines, warm up and cool down massage routine, frequency of treatments, trigger & stress points and their techniques; stretching - its, benefits, types, when and how to stretch, and the stretch routines; hydrotherapy – also includes sections on ice and heat treatments; injuries and common problems; massage recommendations for particular breeds and activities. The substantial chapter on Common Stress Areas will be of particular interest to the guardians of canine athletes, as their bodies often come under more stress than average. Through multiple diagrams this chapter describes in detail the common stress points, their associated muscles, tendons and ligaments, how
they work and the treatments for each.

It is a book that would benefit anyone, professional or amateur, who is interested in their canine companion's overall anatomy, musculoskeletal system, canine massage and how it can benefit their canine companions.

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B-0915-CanineMassageInPlain

This book is written by Australia's own Natalie Winters. Natalie presents a straightforward approach to canine massage with step by step instructions. It is not a technical manual and knowledge of canine anatomy is not required! The techniques are demonstrated with clear directions and colour photos.

B-0915 - Canine Massage in Plain English. Taking the Mystery Out of Massaging Your Dog.
By Natalie Winter, CMT, JP

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You will learn that giving a massage is more than just helping your dog relax and feel good, that also it has important health benefits. Benefits such as enhancing the immune system, increasing joint mobility, improving the range of motion, decreasing recovery time from injuries, reducing post-surgery tissue adhesions and swelling, helping canine athletes to both prepare for and recover from strenuous activity and reducing the risk of injury, calming dogs with stress or behaviour problems, giving benefit to you and your dog through the power of touch.

Natalie explains how massage is a wonderful way to build, and enrich, the bond between you and your canine companion by spending quality time together. You will also learn to listen to what your dog is trying to tell you – is he constantly licking a particular spot, is his coat shiny or dull, does he favour one side over the other when lying down, does he have cold feet, does he have hot areas in particular parts of his body, does he react or move away from you? For those who own the more athletic dog, the book covers not only massage but also contains a full chapter dedicated to performance and sporting dogs (flyball, agility, tracking, hunting, obedience, rally etc). Includes information on getting and keeping your dog fit, warming up and cooling down your dog.

In her book, Natalie specifically does not use technical language, but everyday language that the companion animal handler will understand. Her's is not a book designed to teach you professional canine massage, but how do do it safely at home with your own dog. Natalie explains that although there are no right or wrong way to massage your dog that there are some specific 'no-go' zones. The book is designed to give the tools required to give your dog a nice, relaxing massage and is desgined for all dog lovers.

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B-1101-DevelopingHandlingSkills

In her book, Linda Mecklenburg explains her simple but comprehensive approach to agility handling. She describes how to communicate with your dog and how to effectively cue him to perform the challenges you will encounter together while on course.

B-1101 - Developing Handling Skills for Awesome Agility Teams.
By Linda Mecklenburg

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 Linda explains how she uses motion as the primary cue in her handling. How motion impacts on jumping, contacts and weaves. How understanding, and using, motion will help your dog's approach to obstacles and maximise their speed. According to Linda, understanding how to use motion appropriately and in a timely manner is the most important handling skill you can master.

You will learn the difference between your forward motion and lateral motion and how it relates to the dog's path. You will also learn about natural and trained cues, how to balance these cues effectively and use them on course. You will learn fundamental skills as well as body language and associated cues, front and rear crosses, relative collection, serpentines, pinwheel, leadouts, individual obstacles, etc. Techniques are explained with the help of extensive colour photos and diagrams.

Agility instructors will gain the knowledge to help their students with dogs of different breeds, sizes, stride lengths, levels of fitness and drive. It is designed to be a primary agility resource that will stand the test of time. Agility is a constantly evolving sport, but Linda believes that our dog's our dog's responses to the natural cues will not change and that motion will remain the primary cue.

The book covers concepts and skills from the most fundamental skills such as flatwork, basic turns, sends and recalls to the highly advanced handling skills of threadles and 270's. It is not a 'My Way or the Highway' book, is a guide on how to best communicate with your dog. Linda's book will suit all agility dogs and their handlers.

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B-1010-AgilityRightFromTheS

In their training program Eve and Emlie do not differentiate between agility just for fun and
competitive agility. Their program is about building good foundation skills for you and your dog, and that those basic skills are as important for the backyard trainer as for members of a world cup team.

B-1010 - Agility Right From The Start. The ultimate training guide to America's fastest growing dog sport.
By Eve Bertilsson & Emlie Johnson Vegh

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They believe there is no difference between 'having a ton of fun' and 'well-planned and thoughtfully executed training'. Their main when training is for is a happy and confident dog and a happy and confident team that can get around the agility course with flow, speed and precision.

The authors ask 'what does the behaviour look like', then describe what the behaviour should look like. They ask 'how do you train it' then explain step by step how they would train the behaviour. They ask 'what could/might go wrong' then give suggestions on how to solve or possibly avoid the situation.

The book is divided into three sections: Training Fundamentals, foundation skills and putting it all together. Lessons include learning theory, clicker training, good agility practices, and agility basics, foundation skills for you and your dog, training yourself, reward procedures, getting behaviours, noise and movement, rear end control, starts and stays, follow me, between, over, onto, under and through, flatwork, teaching the obstacles, contacts, weaves, and handling sequences. A key part of the book are exercises that are provided to describe the practical training lessons. There 80 exercises, with multiple benefits, that you can use for your own practice or in your agility classes. These exercises range from basics such as smuggling a toy from your left to your right hand, up to an advance exercise of using your threadle arm to bring your dog toward you over the middle jump!

Full of photos and diagrams of the exercises. The authors have developed a purely positive, and fun, approach to agility. Their guide will be of use to all agility handlers, from the handler new to agility, to the handler with a new agility puppy, or even to that world cup team.

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