[LHARTWICK]

I am looking for a couple of good books to possibly help recondition my little dog, Harley. (You can see his story on this thread: http://www.dogforums.com/3-dog-train...-not-want.html (Dog does NOT want to be held)

I am considering the following books:
Quick Clicks
Clicking With Your Dog
Scaredy Dog
Help For Your Fearful Dog

Any one have any opinion on any of these or other suggestions? If you've read my above referenced thread, you know my main problem with him is fear of being held or handled. I can pet him and play with him all day long, but not handle him. I started some basic clicker training with him yesterday, but I'm not sure exactly what "moves" to do during clicker training with him to get him used to being handled. I've corresponded with some animal behaviorists and trainers via e-mail and most have suggested clicker training. There are no animal behaviorists or trainers in my area so I'm on my own. Any suggestions re: books are appreciated!

[BoxMeIn21]

One of my favorite clicker training books is Pat Millers "The Power of Positive Training" She has a week by week plan you can put into play with a lot of insight into canine behavior.

[opokki]

I strongly suggest Turid Rugaas' booklet "On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals" to start with.

Learning to read your dogs body language and how to use yours when interacting with him will be very beneficial.

Other books on body language:
"How to Speak Dog" by Stanley Coren
"Canine Body Language: A Photographic Guide" by Brenda Aloff
"Dog Language" by Roger Abrantes

I'm not aware of any books on owner handling issues specifically but I beleive you will still get lots of useful information out any of the books mentioned below, which are mainly geared towards reactions towards other people/dogs:

I've read "Scaredy Dog!" and I'm less than halfway through "Help for Your Fearful Dog". Both good books IMO.

Some other suggestions:
"Click to Calm" by Emma Parsons
"How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong" by Pam Dennison
"Help for Your Shy Dog" by Deborah Wood
"The Cautious Canine" by Patricia McConnell

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Keep working with the clicker (several times each day, every day if possible), once he really understands its meaning and you develop good timing you will find it very easy to use for just about anything.

I would start with targeting. This can help build his confidence. Simply hold out your hand and the second his nose touches click/treat. Once he readily touches your hand when you offer it, you can put it on cue by saying "touch" right before offering your hand.

This can be transfered to various objects or body parts of your choice. You can teach him to touch things with his paw(s) too - just use a different cue. I use "paw" for paw touches and "touch" for nose touches.

How about sitting on the floor and using the clicker to teach him hop into your lap? To put his paws over your arm?

How far can you currently get with handling him? Can you pet him anywhere on his body or only in certain areas? Will he allow you to put your hand under his belly or chest while he is standing?

[BoxMeIn21]

Originally Posted by opokki

I strongly suggest Turid Rugaas' booklet "On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals" to start with.

Learning to read your dogs body language and how to use yours when interacting with him will be very beneficial.

This is an awesome book!

[LHARTWICK]

Originally Posted by opokki

How far can you currently get with handling him? Can you pet him anywhere on his body or only in certain areas? Will he allow you to put your hand under his belly or chest while he is standing?

At this time, I can pet him all over. I start with his chin and then work my way down his body. He loves to have his head and ears rubbed. Sometimes, not often, he'll roll over and let me rub his belly. If I try to even gently put my hand under his belly or chest he becomes a little anxious so I've started using the clicker when he let's me do that successfully. Is this okay? If I'm sitting in a chair, he'll come to me and sit beside me on the floor and let me pet him for a long time.

[cshellenberger]

Opokki,
Great reccomendations! Many of the same books I would suggest!

[Dogstar]

Cautious Canine and Click to Calm are my two top picks. Peggy Tillman's "Clicker Training With Your Dog" is a fun general clicker book (It's general and basic, but it presents it in a different, very visual format that is unique and useful, IMO), and "The Power of Positive Dog Training" is also good.

[opokki]

Originally Posted by LHARTWICK

If I try to even gently put my hand under his belly or chest he becomes a little anxious so I've started using the clicker when he let's me do that successfully. Is this okay?

How is that working out so far? Does he seem to be getting more comfortable with you putting your hand there since you've started?

[LHARTWICK]

Originally Posted by opokki

How is that working out so far? Does he seem to be getting more comfortable with you putting your hand there since you've started?

He's still very cautious, but he will stand there and let me do it. I have to do it ever so gently. I don't plan to move to the next step until his body language shows me he's completely comfortable with it. When I put my hand under his belly every so gently, he turns his head to try to watch what I'm doing with his ears laid down and his tail stops wagging. This tells me he's very anxious about it. It will require taking baby steps with him. We have no idea what kind of environment he came from, but he's made great progress in just the 2 short months he's been with us.