Dog Sport related reading

[Kayla]

With Christmas around the corner i've been looking into a few books I've been wanting for awhile and was curious if anyone could give me recomendations.

I'm hoping to start Duke in agility in Feburary after he reaches 18 months old, but would like to get some books before hand to give me an intro to the world of agility before we embark in it.

I've found 4 titles which focus on the entry level aspects of the sport and was curios if anyone could recomend one over the other or suggest different titles.

1. The Beginner's Guide to Dog Agility (Paperback)
by Laurie Leach

2. Introduction to Dog Agility (Paperback)
by Margaret H. Bonham

3. Agility: A Step-By-Step Guide by Patrick Holden and John Gilbert

4. Having Fun With Agility by Margaret H. Bonham (Paperback - Nov 5, 2004)

In addition I found two titles related to sledding and skijoring and was also curious if anyone has ever read them or heard of them.

5. Skijor With Your Dog (Paperback)-by Mari Hoe-Raitto

6.Mush! Revised: A Beginner's Manual of Sled Dog Training by Inc. Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers and Charlene G. Labelle (Paperback - Mar 15, 2007)

Thanks
Kayla

[adojrts]

Why are you waiting to start agility training? It generally takes at least a year or more of training to get them trial ready. Even if you are not wanting to trial (which bty, there are a ton of agility trials near Toronto each year), your dog still has to be trained correctly for safety reasons and in the event that you change your mind about trialing (you then don't have to go back and retrain, which takes longer and is more $$)

As for the books you listed, I think most or all of them are outdated.
Check out www.cleanrun.com for the latest in all agility. Also there is the Clean Run mag, which is excellent. Dog Sport Mag is also very good (its from Guelph Ontario) and it covers all dog sports and how to train them etc.

When you get ready for classes in agility, let me know, I know several excellent trainers/schools in the GTA and I can get you their contact info.

A couple of books that I recommend is Agility Flat Foundations, In Focus and Shaping Success. The Foundation Skills for Agility by Greg Derrett is awesome (DVD), so is his Great Dog, Shame About the Handler (DVD), both are packed with his training and handling style which is taught and respected around the world.
FYI Ontario has some of the most respected and Internationally successful trainers/handlers. Its awesome to have so much talent right at our fingertips and available to us for lessons and workshops.

Good Luck
Lynn

[oc_spirit]

I have heard of Mush! but have not read it myself. From what others have said it is a pretty good book though.