Subtitle: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog
Author: Leslie McDevitt, MLA, CDBC, CPDT
Format: Paperback
Length: 226 pages
Release Date: 2007
Learn how to turn stress to confidence and distraction to focus using methods that are 110% positive. Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed® program is designed to help "dogs with issues" learn how to relax, focus, and work off-leash reliably in either stimulating or stressful situations. Whether you're training a challenging dog on your own or an instructor trying to figure out how to help dogs in your classes, this book is for you.
Who needs Control Unleashed®?
- Future performance dogs that need to learn self-control as part of their foundation training
- Dogs that are uncomfortable or unable to work off lead around other dogs
- Dog that are easily distracted and have difficulty concentrating
- Dogs that are reactive or easily aroused
- Dogs that are anxious or stressed and shut down
- Dog that are unable to control their impulses when excited
Lesson plans for a seven-week class are included for instructors who want to run their own Control Unleashed® classes. Rather than using traditional attention and control techniques that often fail in highly charged performance situations, Control Unleashed® uses a creative and sensible series of training games that can be customized to the needs of each particular dog. The Control Unleashed® program also stresses the importance of balancing attention and control work with letting your dog "be a dog."
About the Author
Leslie McDevitt, MLA, CDBC, CPDT is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. In 1998, Leslie rescued Gordie, an American Pit Bull/GSD cross that had been badly abused, and in trying desperately to help him through his crushing anxieties and fears, met her inspiration and mentor, world-renowned veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Overall. Through Gordie, Leslie found her calling and devoted herself completely to becoming a dog trainer, and later, a behavior consultant. Leslie was volunteering at urban shelters and studying behavior and clicker training when she caught the dog sports bug and started agility and flyball training with her terrier mix Maggie. Her work with anxious, reactive, impulsive, and aggressive dogs gave her a unique perspective when she became a student of dog sports training.





