Head of the Class: A Teen Dog Expert Teaches You to Raise and Train the Perfect Pal (Howell Dog Book of Distinction)

the Only Dog-training Guide For Kids Written By A Teen! Author Kate Eldredge, Age 15, Knows What It Takes For A Kid To Raise And Train A Dog—she's Been Parenting Pooches Since She Was 7. It's A Big Responsibility, But It Has Awesome Rewards (besides All Those Wet, Slobbery Kisses). When You're Your Dog's Caregiver, Provider, And Trainer, Your Dog Will Be Your Loyal Playmate, Protector, And Confidant For Life! In This Book, Kate Gives You The Scoop On: * Choosing The Right Dog For Your Family * Getting The House Ready And Establishing A Routine * Teaching Basic Household Manners * Feeding And Caring For Your Dog * Dealing With Health Problems * Showing Your Dog * Activities Like Obedience Trials, Sports, And Community Service Kate's Mom, A Veterinarian, Provides Valuable Information. A For Parents Only Section At The End Of Each Chapter Tells Adults How They Can Help Without Taking Over. Head of the Class: A Teen Dog Expert Teaches You to Raise and Train the Perfect Pal 5 Dedication 7 Table of Contents 9 Preface 13 Acknowledgments 15 Foreword 17 Chapter 1: Are You Ready for Parenthood? 19 Why Dogs Are Good for Kids 19 Why Kids Are Good for Dogs 21 Responsible Dog Ownership 22 The Right Dog for You 23 The Human-Animal Bond 25 Profile: Tom with Susan and Baloo 26 Chapter 2: Preschool and Kindergarten: Getting Ready for Dog Ownership 29 Puppy/Dog-Proofing Your Home 29 Establishing House Rules 32 Who’s in Charge, or Who’s on First? 34 The Importance of Routine 35 Profile: Kate and Flash 38 Chapter 3: Elementary School: Teaching Household Manners 41 Household Manners 41 Attention 42 The Three R’s of Dog Training 44 Walking Nicely 47 Putting It All to Use in Real Life 49 Profile: Jamie and Buddy 50 Chapter 4: Avoiding Detention 53 Developing Respect for (Human) Authority 53 Playing Well with Others: The Social Dog 55 Separation Anxiety—Home Alone 57 Chewing: The House, Not Gum 58 Too Much to Say: The Barker 61 Excavating: When Your Dog’s a Digger 63 Profile: Margo and Raisin 64 Chapter 5: Health Class: Care and Feeding 67 Nutrition: Chow for the Hound 67 Exercise: Run, Spot, Run! 70 Poop Patrol 72 Grooming: Squeaky Clean 73 Routine Care: What You Learned in Health Class 76 Profile: Katelyn and Jake 79 Chapter 6: Vet School: Dealing with Health Problems 81 ER—First Aid, Not the TV Show 81 Dealing with Aliens—and This Isn’t Science Fiction 85 Minor Illnesses 87 More Serious Health Problems 90 Euthanasia 92 Profile: Becky and Vicky 94 Chapter 7: Going for a PhD in Obedience 97 Where to Train 97 Basic Levels 100 Competitive Venues 102 Rally Obedience 105 Profile: Brie and Blaze 109 Chapter 8: Finding Your Roots 111 The Draft Dog Sports 111 Herding 113 Earthdog Activities: A Job for a Digger! 115 A-Hunting We Will Go 116 Lure Coursing: The Canine Cheetahs 120 Profile: Sarah and Sooner 121 Chapter 9: Extracurricular Activities: Sports 123 Agility 123 Flying through the Air: Disc Chasing 126 Flyball—a Team Sport for Ball-Crazy Dogs 128 Water Sports 129 Tracking: Born to Sniff 131 Hiking and Backpacking: Taking to the Great Outdoors 132 Profile: Cecilia and Sage 135 Chapter 10: Extracurricular Activities: Cultural Experiences 137 Breed Showing (aka Beauty Pageants) 137 Modeling: Junior Showmanship 140 Tricks: A Place for the Class Clown 142 Freestyle—Dance Class in a Whole New Way 143 Profile: Amanda and Ripley 146 Chapter 11: Civics Class: Community Service, Being a Good Neighbor, and Giving Back 149 The Canine Good Citizen Program 149 Doing Therapy Dog Work 151 Walking a Walkathon 152 Working at Dog Events 153 Helping Out at the Humane Society 155 Getting Political: Pushing Papers for Power 156 Becoming a Foster Parent 156 Raising an Assistance Dog 157 Profile: Hunter and Smudge 159 Chapter 12: Field Trips: Traveling with Your Dog 161 Safety in the Car 161 Flying High—Taking to the Skies 163 Hotel Etiquette 165 Campground Etiquette 166 The Social Dog 166 Boarding—Kennel, That Is, Not School! 167 Baby (Pet) Sitter— Another Great Option 168 Profile: Matt and BooBoo 170 Chapter 13: Fine Arts, Home Economics, and Shop Class 173 Rubber Stamping 173 Sewing 175 Other Needlework 177 Woodworking and PVC Construction 178 Painting and Drawing 178 Clay and Pottery 179 Photography 180 Kitchen Delights—Doggy Style 180 Profile: Holly and Soda Pop 183 Appendix A: Recommended Reading 185 Agility 185 Boarding Kennels and Pet Sitters 186 Carting 186 Choosing a Dog 186 Clicker Training 187 Delinquent Dogs 187 Disc Dogs 187 Dog Magazines 188 Dogs and Kids 189 Earthdogs 189 Euthanasia 189 Flyball 189 Freestyle 190 Grooming 190 Health Care 190 Herding 190 Hiking and Backpacking 191 Hunting 191 Junior Showmanship 191 Lure Coursing 192 Nutrition 192 Obedience 192 Photography 192 Puppies 193 Rally 193 Sledding, Weight-Pulling, and Skijoring 193 Therapy Dog Work 194 Tracking 194 Training 194 Traveling with Your Dog 194 Tricks 195 Water Work 195 Appendix B: Organizations 197 Agility Organizations 197 Boarding Kennels and Pet Sitters 198 Disc Dogs 199 Earthdogs 199 Flyball 200 Freestyle 200 Groomers 200 Health Care 201 Herding 202 Hiking and Backpacking 202 Hunting 202 Junior Showmanship 203 Obedience 203 Rally 204 Sledding, Weight-Pulling, and Skijoring 204 Therapy Dog Work 205 Tracking 205 Training 205 Water Work 206 Appendix C: Internet Resources 207 General: The Five-Star Sites 207 Agility Organizations 208 Boarding Kennels and Pet Sitters 208 Carting 209 Choosing a Dog 209 Clicker Training 209 Delinquent Dogs 209 Disc Dogs 210 Dogs and Kids 210 Earthdogs 210 Flyball 210 Freestyle 211 Grooming 211 Health Care 211 Herding 212 Hiking and Backpacking 212 Hunting 212 Junior Showmanship 213 Lure Coursing 213 Nutrition 213 Obedience 214 Rally 214 Sledding, Weight-Pulling, and Skijoring 214 Therapy Dog Work 215 Tracking 215 Training 215 Traveling with Your Dog 215 Water Work 216 Appendix D: Hobbies and Crafts 217 Cooking 217 Crafts 218 Cross Stitch and Needlework 218 Photography 219 Quilting 219 Rubber Stamping 219 Sewing Projects 220 Woodworking/PVC Construction 220 Appendix E: A Good Reminder: A Leash=Love=Life 221 About My Dog 225 Important Information 226 Record of Vet Visits 227 Vaccination Record 228 Medication Records 229 Training Achievements 230 Training Notes 231 Other Notes 232 Photo Credits 233 Index 235 Head of the Class: A Teen Dog Expert Teaches You to Raise and Train the Perfect Pal......Page 5 Dedication......Page 7 Table of Contents......Page 9 Preface......Page 13 Acknowledgments......Page 15 Foreword......Page 17 Why Dogs Are Good for Kids......Page 19 Why Kids Are Good for Dogs......Page 21 Responsible Dog Ownership......Page 22 The Right Dog for You......Page 23 The Human-Animal Bond......Page 25 Profile: Tom with Susan and Baloo......Page 26 Puppy/Dog-Proofing Your Home......Page 29 Establishing House Rules......Page 32 Who’s in Charge, or Who’s on First?......Page 34 The Importance of Routine......Page 35 Profile: Kate and Flash......Page 38 Household Manners......Page 41 Attention......Page 42 The Three R’s of Dog Training......Page 44 Walking Nicely......Page 47 Putting It All to Use in Real Life......Page 49 Profile: Jamie and Buddy......Page 50 Developing Respect for (Human) Authority......Page 53 Playing Well with Others: The Social Dog......Page 55 Separation Anxiety—Home Alone......Page 57 Chewing: The House, Not Gum......Page 58 Too Much to Say: The Barker......Page 61 Excavating: When Your Dog’s a Digger......Page 63 Profile: Margo and Raisin......Page 64 Nutrition: Chow for the Hound......Page 67 Exercise: Run, Spot, Run!......Page 70 Poop Patrol......Page 72 Grooming: Squeaky Clean......Page 73 Routine Care: What You Learned in Health Class......Page 76 Profile: Katelyn and Jake......Page 79 ER—First Aid, Not the TV Show......Page 81 Dealing with Aliens—and This Isn’t Science Fiction......Page 85 Minor Illnesses......Page 87 More Serious Health Problems......Page 90 Euthanasia......Page 92 Profile: Becky and Vicky......Page 94 Where to Train......Page 97 Basic Levels......Page 100 Competitive Venues......Page 102 Rally Obedience......Page 105 Profile: Brie and Blaze......Page 109 The Draft Dog Sports......Page 111 Herding......Page 113 Earthdog Activities: A Job for a Digger!......Page 115 A-Hunting We Will Go......Page 116 Lure Coursing: The Canine Cheetahs......Page 120 Profile: Sarah and Sooner......Page 121 Agility......Page 123 Flying through the Air: Disc Chasing......Page 126 Flyball—a Team Sport for Ball-Crazy Dogs......Page 128 Water Sports......Page 129 Tracking: Born to Sniff......Page 131 Hiking and Backpacking: Taking to the Great Outdoors......Page 132 Profile: Cecilia and Sage......Page 135 Breed Showing (aka Beauty Pageants)......Page 137 Modeling: Junior Showmanship......Page 140 Tricks: A Place for the Class Clown......Page 142 Freestyle—Dance Class in a Whole New Way......Page 143 Profile: Amanda and Ripley......Page 146 The Canine Good Citizen Program......Page 149 Doing Therapy Dog Work......Page 151 Walking a Walkathon......Page 152 Working at Dog Events......Page 153 Helping Out at the Humane Society......Page 155 Becoming a Foster Parent......Page 156 Raising an Assistance Dog......Page 157 Profile: Hunter and Smudge......Page 159 Safety in the Car......Page 161 Flying High—Taking to the Skies......Page 163 Hotel Etiquette......Page 165 The Social Dog......Page 166 Boarding—Kennel, That Is, Not School!......Page 167 Baby (Pet) Sitter— Another Great Option......Page 168 Profile: Matt and BooBoo......Page 170 Rubber Stamping......Page 173 Sewing......Page 175 Other Needlework......Page 177 Painting and Drawing......Page 178 Clay and Pottery......Page 179 Kitchen Delights—Doggy Style......Page 180 Profile: Holly and Soda Pop......Page 183 Agility......Page 185 Choosing a Dog......Page 186 Disc Dogs......Page 187 Dog Magazines......Page 188 Flyball......Page 189 Herding......Page 190 Junior Showmanship......Page 191 Photography......Page 192 Sledding, Weight-Pulling, and Skijoring......Page 193 Traveling with Your Dog......Page 194 Water Work......Page 195 Agility Organizations......Page 197 Boarding Kennels and Pet Sitters......Page 198 Earthdogs......Page 199 Groomers......Page 200 Health Care......Page 201 Hunting......Page 202 Obedience......Page 203 Sledding, Weight-Pulling, and Skijoring......Page 204 Training......Page 205 Water Work......Page 206 General: The Five-Star Sites......Page 207 Boarding Kennels and Pet Sitters......Page 208 Delinquent Dogs......Page 209 Flyball......Page 210 Health Care......Page 211 Hunting......Page 212 Nutrition......Page 213 Sledding, Weight-Pulling, and Skijoring......Page 214 Traveling with Your Dog......Page 215 Water Work......Page 216 Cooking......Page 217 Cross Stitch and Needlework......Page 218 Rubber Stamping......Page 219 Woodworking/PVC Construction......Page 220 Appendix E: A Good Reminder: A Leash=Love=Life......Page 221 About My Dog......Page 225 Important Information......Page 226 Record of Vet Visits......Page 227 Vaccination Record......Page 228 Medication Records......Page 229 Training Achievements......Page 230 Training Notes......Page 231 Other Notes......Page 232 Photo Credits......Page 233 Index......Page 235 The only dog--training guide for kids written by a teen! Author Kate Eldredge, age 15, knows what it takes for a kid to raise and train a dog----shea s been parenting pooches since she was 7. Ita s a big responsibility, but it has awesome rewards (besides all those wet, slobbery kisses). Author Kate Eldredge, 14, offers a kid's perspective on canine care, covering manners, nutrition, exercise, and grooming, and more. The book also includes advice from Kate's mom, a vet. Kate Eldredge (Vernon, NY) is an award-winning pet magazine columnist