Training RALPH - the Rambunctious Adolescent Lunging Posturing Hound (2007), 72pp (A4 format), $20 or $30 for the set of Training RALPH and Training RALPH part2.
RALPH is the typical unruly adolescent. Here you will find the chapter headings, and extract from the introduction to the book and a couple of reviews.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION – Who is Ralph?
CHAPTER 1. Ralph "has muddy paws"
CHAPTER 2. Ralph "is just a puppy, after all"
CHAPTER 3. Ralph’s relationships
CHAPTER 4. Ralph stakes his claim
CHAPTER 5. Ralph "goes ballistic at the door"
CHAPTER 6. Ralph "likes the sound of his own voice"
CHAPTER 7. Ralph "has selective deafness"
CHAPTER 8. “Can you teach Ralph to walk without the lead on?”
CHAPTER 9. Ralph “only wants to play”
Extract
Ralph, the Rambunctious Adolescent Lunging Posturing Hound, can be any breed, and although I have found many more males to be Ralphs, there are also a few “Ralphinas” around. The ones I see most often are medium to large sized dogs of popular breeds. Very often, Ralph is owned by a young woman (whom he harasses), or a young couple, in which case the male says he doesn’t have a problem with the dog but his partner does. Many Ralphs are chosen as family pets because guide dogs, assistance dogs and gun dogs are all supposed to be intelligent and have soft mouthes. Sadly this is not always the case, and certainly not without careful breeding early socialization and expert training.
It is interesting to reflect what my clients asked me when I first became a professional dog trainer.
• “How can I stop my dog from jumping all over me?”
• “When I go out into the back yard, my dog hurls himself at me from behind and bites me in the back. How can I stop him from doing that?”
• “When I get out of the shower and start to dry myself, my dog grabs my towel and plays tug of war with it. How can I stop her?”
• “If I get up and go to the toilet at night, my dogs flies out of her basket and growls at me or tries to bite my ankles. What can I do to stop her?”
• “How can I stop my dog from biting my hair? He gets hold of it and won’t let go. It really hurts.”
These and other questions are dealt with in the book
Reviews
Kaye is Australia’s foremost dog training author. She writes with warmth and humour, but especially with compassion for both dogs and their owners. Her methods, which are described in step-by-step detail, are both humane and above all practical. We have all known many Ralphs - dogs with normal behavior that has gotten out of hand - as they fill our training establishments and, sadly, our shelters. Too many young dogs are euthanized because their owners can’t cope with their unruly behavior. Vet clinics now offer puppy classes, but – up until now – have not had any resources to offer dog owners to help them survive the troublesome adolescent period. Dog training schools also struggle with the unruly and reactive behavior of these dogs. Kaye offers them plenty of good advice about how to train the unruly dog, and how to manage him in class. Let’s hope that vets, owners and dog training instructors alike will adopt Kaye’s methods. This book will save dogs’ lives.
Review by Dr Debbie Calnon
Kaye Hargreaves has written a book that successfully fills the significant gap that many owners and trainers have in finding good information for adolescent dogs. It is wonderful that the uptake of puppy classes continues to grow in Australia. However, the step from cute, cuddly puppy into adolescence can be a challenging one. Kaye offers practical advice in a way that is easy to understand and implement. The dog friendly techniques will help ensure that the path to adulthood is as smooth as possible. This text would be a valuable addition to any veterinary library, dog club or for any owner interested in providing the best chance of a long and happy life with their dog.
Dr Debbie Calnon BSc BVMS MACVSc (Animal Behaviour)
Veterinary Behaviourist
