Author: Kay Attwood
Format: Paperback, 7-3/8" x 10"
Length: 96 pages
Release Date: 2024
It's fun teaching your dog to perform tricks, but did you know there are games you can play that have a far greater value?
In Canine Cognitive Skills, author Kay Attwood, a leading trainer and behaviorist, has devised a series of games that not only develop your dog's cognitive ability, but also help him to live in the world as a well-rounded individual. Whether you want to add enrichment to your dog's life, take on new training challenges, or change your dog's behavior, this book will show you how to turn your dog into a thinking machine. Kay will also introduce you to a whole new way of seeing your dog: how he thinks and how his brain works.
Playing these games has many applications from enhancing the performance of sports dogs to helping dogs overcome behavioral issues, providing activity for dogs on a restricted exercise regime, and giving companion dogs a mental workout!
Focusing on the key areas of attention, memory, visual and auditory processing, logic and reasoning, and cognitive flexibility, each game has step-by-step instructions, and photo sequences so you can see exactly what to do. The games start with foundation skills, progress to a variety of fun games that test a range of skills, and finish with a master class that offers new challenges for both dogs and handlers.
WHAT DO THE GAMES TEACH?
- Focus – vital for any form of learning
- The ability to process information
- Tolerance to frustration
- Problem solving skills
- Flexible learning
- Logic and reasoning
- Self-control
- Decision-making
- Using memory to make informed choices
WHAT SKILLS ARE INVOLVED?
- Directional cues
- Visual discrimination
- Searching and scent discrimination
- Precision placement
- Retrieve
- Identifying colors
- Matching items
WHO CAN PLAY?
- Dogs of all ages: the games are tailor-made for progression
- Dogs recovering from injury: all of the games are low impact
- Reactive dogs: the games offer behavior-changing opportunities in relation to impulse control and tolerance to frustration. They also develop patience and the ability to learn from mistakes.
- Performance dogs: the games develop cognitive skills such as visual discrimination, decision-making, self-control and flexible learning, which will enhance the dog's ability to process information and understand new concepts.
Illustrated with over 80 color photographs, Canine Cognitive Skills, will, quite simply, change your dog’s life for the better!
About the Author
Kay Attwood is one of the UK's leading trainers, specialising in positive reinforcement to help dogs achieve their potential and to create behavior-changing opportunities that will enhance their quality of life. A lifelong dog lover, Kay founded her own training school – Kay9 Services – in 2005. Since that time, she has built up a worldwide following, extending her repertoire to include platform training, focus, recall, loose lead walking, anticipatory behavior, and cognitive skills. She runs workshops on all these topics and is currently the only trainer in the UK to present platform and cognition workshops. She is a regular guest speaker at global conferences.
In 2019, Kay received one of the Kennel Club's most prestigious awards – KCAI Dog Trainer of the Year – for her outstanding achievements and dedication to promoting the health and welfare of all dogs. In addition to running Kay9 Services, Kay is an approved trainer for the charity Veterans With Dogs, helping to train assistance dogs for ex-service personnel. She is a member of the Pet Professional Guild and is a regular PPG webinar presenter. In addition, she is a trainer and behaviorist for the Companion Animal Network and for INTODogs, a gold member and assessor for the Academy of Dog Trainers, and an approved trainer and behaviorist with the Dog Welfare Alliance.
Kay lives in Surrey with her five dogs, all rescues, who have found their way into her home and her heart.
