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It's a Dog Not a Toaster: Finding Your Fun in Competitive Obedience
Learn to love competing in obedience
Most books on competitive obedience focus on the training and ring skills you need to be a winner with your dog in the ring—and that’s great. However if you find competing stressful or think you and your dog will not “succeed” against the “best” the key is defining success in a way that will make the sport enjoyable for you. Author Diana Kerew-Shaw takes on the subject of “how to find your fun” in It’s a Dog Not a Toaster, showing you how you can learn to enjoy the sport, even if your Basset Hound never comes close to a qualifying score.
You will learn
How to set goals that are meaningful and will work for you and your dog.
What it’s like to enter the “Land of Obedience” and become a member of the “Cult” which inhabits it. it’s fun!
What every newcomer to the sport needs to know to get started including information about Fun Matches, Show n Go’s, and obedience clubs.
How changes in the obedience world are making the sport accessible to more competitors including the development of Rally Obedience and the opportunities which now exist for mixed breeds.
What experts are saying about It's a Dog Not a Toaster
This book is a must read for everyone involved in dog obedience competition. Diana's humorous writing style offers newcomers all the information they need, and those of us already competing are gently reminded why we love this sport.
Connie Cleveland, Author of Dogs are Problem Handlers Should Be
This book is a Must Read for all Novice A handlers and for anyone already training and showing dogs. Reading the book reminded me of all the mistakes I made as a Novice A trainer and handler, inspired me to work even harder at assisting Novice A handlers and once again reminded me of why we love the sport of obedience.
Petra Ford is a top obedience competitor. Her Labrador Retriever, Tyler, has the distinction of being the 2008 and 2009 National Obedience Champion
Destined to become a permanent addition to every library, this book has it all. Those already involved in Obedience and Rally will recognize and appreciate the balanced overview of our sports. Those new to companion events will find this book to be an invaluable resource and give friends and family insight into why we become so wrapped in obedience.
Deborah Neufeld, AKC and ASCA Obedience and Rally Judge
Diana provides an impressive insight into the world of competitive canine events. Her work reveals the impact dogs have on our lives and the influence trainers have on each other. Benevolent at times, forthright at others, this book exposes the vulnerabilities exhibitors face as they prepare to enter the ring and proceed through the advanced classes.
Robert T. Self, Editor Front & Finish
Most books on competitive obedience focus on the training and ring skills you need to be a winner with your dog in the ring—and that’s great. However if you find competing stressful or think you and your dog will not “succeed” against the “best” the key is defining success in a way that will make the sport enjoyable for you. Author Diana Kerew-Shaw takes on the subject of “how to find your fun” in It’s a Dog Not a Toaster, showing you how you can learn to enjoy the sport, even if your Basset Hound never comes close to a qualifying score.
You will learn
How to set goals that are meaningful and will work for you and your dog.
What it’s like to enter the “Land of Obedience” and become a member of the “Cult” which inhabits it. it’s fun!
What every newcomer to the sport needs to know to get started including information about Fun Matches, Show n Go’s, and obedience clubs.
How changes in the obedience world are making the sport accessible to more competitors including the development of Rally Obedience and the opportunities which now exist for mixed breeds.
What experts are saying about It's a Dog Not a Toaster
This book is a must read for everyone involved in dog obedience competition. Diana's humorous writing style offers newcomers all the information they need, and those of us already competing are gently reminded why we love this sport.
Connie Cleveland, Author of Dogs are Problem Handlers Should Be
This book is a Must Read for all Novice A handlers and for anyone already training and showing dogs. Reading the book reminded me of all the mistakes I made as a Novice A trainer and handler, inspired me to work even harder at assisting Novice A handlers and once again reminded me of why we love the sport of obedience.
Petra Ford is a top obedience competitor. Her Labrador Retriever, Tyler, has the distinction of being the 2008 and 2009 National Obedience Champion
Destined to become a permanent addition to every library, this book has it all. Those already involved in Obedience and Rally will recognize and appreciate the balanced overview of our sports. Those new to companion events will find this book to be an invaluable resource and give friends and family insight into why we become so wrapped in obedience.
Deborah Neufeld, AKC and ASCA Obedience and Rally Judge
Diana provides an impressive insight into the world of competitive canine events. Her work reveals the impact dogs have on our lives and the influence trainers have on each other. Benevolent at times, forthright at others, this book exposes the vulnerabilities exhibitors face as they prepare to enter the ring and proceed through the advanced classes.
Robert T. Self, Editor Front & Finish
- GenresDogs
144 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2011
1 person is currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Diana Kerew-shaw
2 books3 followersWhen I was six I decided to be an actress. Real life taught me otherwise, and I became a producer of TV projects and films instead. That career lasted 34 years, and I created over 60 projects. After all those years,a few Emmy's and the Peabody Award, I decided to look elsewhere for my fun.
Currently I teach script development for the University of Texas/Austin film school's "Semester in Los Angeles." I continue to show my dogs and write about them. I've won the Dog Writers of America Maxwell Award twice and I'm looking forward to publishing my second book. And just in case you think dog trainers have got it all down: two months ago Rennie ate my sofa.
Currently I teach script development for the University of Texas/Austin film school's "Semester in Los Angeles." I continue to show my dogs and write about them. I've won the Dog Writers of America Maxwell Award twice and I'm looking forward to publishing my second book. And just in case you think dog trainers have got it all down: two months ago Rennie ate my sofa.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 12, 2024
Rating a 3.5, the book is a lighthearted reminder of all the joyful things in obedience competition and explains things well for newcomers.
The book is primarily targeted towards new entrants, and so a lot of it is about rules and jargon. Being from a different country to the author, I did enjoy learning how our obedience differs (we still have the seek back!).
I also enjoyed the range of stories of stuff-ups and how the author, or those interviewed by the author, were able to move on in good humour.
The first part the book fell flat for me was when it attempted to explain dog training methods. It started out with a very good story of an individual's struggles and solutions. I thought it was well placed to be having this chapter after the chapter about all the choices we have in training, and the chapter about sportsmanship. Unfortunately it then completely mangled describing the training methods available, portraying the author's preferred method as the only logical and sensible solution. There was a lovely paragraph sandwiched between all this highlighting the importance of choice and how many options there are and to learn what you find appealing...only to close out with the tired old fearmongering of how other methods will let your dog die and the true empathetic way is the authors way. This kind of fearmongering was tired and outdated in 2011 when the book was published, let alone in 2024. This chapter would have been much improved if it contained itself to the story of the dog owner's struggles, reminders of empathy and the paragraph on how to decide what you are comfortable to train and how to find people who can teach you those skills. Removed the author's unconscious bias in trying to swing away from other methods.
The half star was lost in the later chapters about group stays, where the chapter was described as changing minds and finding fun in group stays. Yet this chapter was primarily about how group stays will never change and to essentially just get over it and accept them. There were no tips or stories on finding group stays fun again, nothing that this book had been shining with in other chapters. I found that incredibly disappointing and it left me feeling not-fun at all when I finished the book after this chapter.
It did conclude with a list of interesting sounding books I will check out.
So, first half of the book is great and a fun read. Second half dragged on.
The book is primarily targeted towards new entrants, and so a lot of it is about rules and jargon. Being from a different country to the author, I did enjoy learning how our obedience differs (we still have the seek back!).
I also enjoyed the range of stories of stuff-ups and how the author, or those interviewed by the author, were able to move on in good humour.
The first part the book fell flat for me was when it attempted to explain dog training methods. It started out with a very good story of an individual's struggles and solutions. I thought it was well placed to be having this chapter after the chapter about all the choices we have in training, and the chapter about sportsmanship. Unfortunately it then completely mangled describing the training methods available, portraying the author's preferred method as the only logical and sensible solution. There was a lovely paragraph sandwiched between all this highlighting the importance of choice and how many options there are and to learn what you find appealing...only to close out with the tired old fearmongering of how other methods will let your dog die and the true empathetic way is the authors way. This kind of fearmongering was tired and outdated in 2011 when the book was published, let alone in 2024. This chapter would have been much improved if it contained itself to the story of the dog owner's struggles, reminders of empathy and the paragraph on how to decide what you are comfortable to train and how to find people who can teach you those skills. Removed the author's unconscious bias in trying to swing away from other methods.
The half star was lost in the later chapters about group stays, where the chapter was described as changing minds and finding fun in group stays. Yet this chapter was primarily about how group stays will never change and to essentially just get over it and accept them. There were no tips or stories on finding group stays fun again, nothing that this book had been shining with in other chapters. I found that incredibly disappointing and it left me feeling not-fun at all when I finished the book after this chapter.
It did conclude with a list of interesting sounding books I will check out.
So, first half of the book is great and a fun read. Second half dragged on.
March 13, 2020
This is not a How-to book on training your dog for competitive obedience, it's a glimpse into the complex world of competitive obedience training. Each chapter covers a different aspect, such as "The Land of Obedience" or "The Old Dog." It's an easy read that gives beginner's and Old hand's a reminder of what training and competing are all about. Ultimately the title says it all: It's a dog not a toaster.
April 9, 2018
Upbeat, entertaining and instructive for those new--or old!--to the sport of competitive obedience training for dogs.
July 13, 2023
Being new to the world of obedience and rally, I learned a lot about showing my dog.
March 26, 2016
I really enjoyed this - it's an easy read. I bought this in a fund-raiser auction for a local dog rescue group, and its' been sitting on my shelf for a while. Between the tie I bought this and my actual reading of it, my old (8 yrs) dog and I got a Novice obedience title, and Rally Novice and Rally Advance titles! With encouragement from my trainer and my daughter who trains dogs, I was already focused on the fun, but I really enjoyed this. Lots of good examples, and some great stories about crises that caused non-qualifying in a show. This is a good book for anyone interested in getting into obedience or Rally, or for someone in training who is nervous about actually showing.
The title comes from a truth: During an advanced obedience class run, a dog (Splice) wouldn't take the down signal and failed (didn't qualify). A spectator observed that happening, then watched the owner (David) later working with Splice until the behavior was offered correctly. "But the next day, Splice missed the signal again. As they came out of the show ring, the onlooker approached him and remarked, 'I thought you fixed that!' David laughed and replied, 'It's a dog, not a toaster.' My thanks to David for this timeless remark which has become the motto for many of our friends...where I train."
The title comes from a truth: During an advanced obedience class run, a dog (Splice) wouldn't take the down signal and failed (didn't qualify). A spectator observed that happening, then watched the owner (David) later working with Splice until the behavior was offered correctly. "But the next day, Splice missed the signal again. As they came out of the show ring, the onlooker approached him and remarked, 'I thought you fixed that!' David laughed and replied, 'It's a dog, not a toaster.' My thanks to David for this timeless remark which has become the motto for many of our friends...where I train."
March 15, 2012
This book was extremely motivating to me. As a competitor with my dogs in both obedience and rally obedience, it can get very easy to lose sight of why I do this. Diana brought it all back, and reminded me of why I love working with my dogs. Even if you never compete, I highly recommend reading this book. The discussion about our relationships with dogs is profound and very understandable. No scientific gobbledy-gook in this book. This is a definite favourite of mine.
January 1, 2015
Nice book and a fun read. She writes very well. This is an excellent book for Novice A people, a good introduction to the sport. For the more advanced competitor, it can serve as a reminder (especially good sportsmanship!) of the fun in obedience.
July 28, 2015
Nice little book of (mostly) essays about obedience and rally. Enjoyed it!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews