This book helps dog owners recognise the signs of pain and prevent them from the outset. It also alerts canine professionals to warning signs and provides a guide for use with clients. Making simple changes to our homes, and how we exercise and train our puppies will have a massively positive impact on our dogs' lives.
I have trained, observed and solved problems for tens of thousands of dogs during my 55 years as a dog trainer. In the beginning we did not think much about what impact training could have on the dogs' bodies, and vice versa. Yet observing dogs and their movements, and how they felt, we understood that we had to look at that aspect as well. Since then, thanks to new technology, recent years of studies have given us more knowledge about physiology, anatomy and neurology. It has been a real awakening.
When I met Julia several years ago, I saw how important it is for us to combine the two: the trainer skills, and the skills in anatomy and physiology. Working with dogs, we need knowledge in both. I have had the great pleasure of cooperating with Julia, observing dogs for coaching. We both observed the dog, Julia using her skills in seeing the physical details, and I observing the dog's behaviour and mentality. Summing up, we had the same opinion on what kind of problem we addressed, and what should be done for rehabilitation and treatment. It was an amazing - almost startling - experience.
Since then, I have been convinced about the importance for knowledge on several levels. It is not enough to be educated as a trainer or behaviourist. If you want to do the best job possible, you need also to have some knowledge of the physical side of the dog and be able to see when physical help and treatment is necessary. Then we can at least send the dog to the right specialist. Following this revelation, I asked Julia to write a book about her work, giving people more tools for helping dogs, and in many ways changing the way we train and handle them.
And now the book is here! It is such a pleasure for me to welcome it. It is so practical and well explained, Julia's love for dogs shining through every page. For me it is an important book and I believe it will have a huge impact on our work with dogs in the future.
-- Turid Rugaas, International Dog Trainer and author of On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals
