Click & Play Agility

Author: Angelica Steinker
Publisher: Courteous Canine, Inc. Publishing

What people are saying about Click and Play Agility:

Rob Bitler, Professional dog trainer, agility and flyball competitor: “I found it easy to read and I think that it's extremely helpful for all levels of competitors. I think everyone could learn something from it. I liked your examples and the diagrams. Also, I thought you did a wonderful job of explaining the theory behind the training. It's important to have people understand why things work so that you empower them to be able train in the future without having to rely on you all the time.”

Jean Donaldson, author of Culture Clash and Director of the Dog Trainers Academy San Francisco: "This book made me want to immediately start doing agility! A fabulous weaving of learning theory into the latest agility teaching technology. The games and proofing exercises are truly first-rate."

Brenna Fender, Agility Journalist and avid competitor: “Click and Play Agility is an incredibly thorough book that describes how to train agility by using the clicker. More important is the book's focus on building and maintaining motivation and attitude by having lots of fun while training in this demanding sport. It has useful information for all trainers of all breeds. Click and Play Agility is a resource that you will use over and over as you train your dog. It contains clear-cut information to help you learn how to teach specific agility behaviors using the clicker. Angelica is an expert at motivating dogs and keeping agility fun for everyone. Agility enthusiasts need this book!"

Dee Ganley, CPDT, CABC: “I love it !! I really LOVE IT !! You’re a master with words and I just love all the pictures and easy to follow directions for teaching the equipment and how to have FUN with your dog. I love the info about the dogs in the pictures and what they are doing they are so clear and tell the story in themselves you can see the joy the dogs are having! As you know I love playing games with my dogs and these are great games even if one never participated in agility they are the games I love teaching my students. You have incorporated in all the self control skill the dog need for today in real life. Fantastic Book. This book is a must have and I will make sure all my students know about it.”

James O’Heare, author of Aggressive Behavior in Dogs and many other behavior books and Director of The Companion Animal Sciences Institute: “Angelica Steinker's approach is both technologically rich and also extremely innovative in its unique treatment of the use of play in a win / win context. One does not have to sacrifice their relationship with a dog to be a top competitor. Angelica shows you how to be a top competitor and actually improve your relationship with your companion dog. Her unique use of play and underlying win / win philosophy sets her apart.”

Subscribe to CCincClickandPlayAgility
Powered by pets.groups.yahoo.co

Appendix 2 Recommended Resources

All the books listed below are available at http://www.Dogwise.com, http://www.CleanRun.com, http://www.CourteousCanine.com or at http://www.ClickerTraining.com.

Agility

Aggression
  • Aggressive Behavior in Dogs by James O'Heare http://www.dogpsych.com
  • Bringing Light to Shadow by Pamela Dennison
  • The Canine Aggression Workbook by James O'Heare http://www.dogpsych.com
  • Changing People Changing Dogs by Dee Ganley
  • Click to Calm by Emma Parsons
  • Dogs Bite but Balloons and Slippers are More Dangerous by Janis Bradley
  • Fatal Dog Attacks by Karen Delise
  • Fight! by Jean Donaldson
  • Mine! by Jean Donaldson

Clicker Training
  • The Book of Challenges by Kay Laurence
  • Click N Sniff: clicker training for scent discrimination by Deb Jones
  • Clicker Training Foundation by Kay Laurence
  • Clicker Training Intermediate by Kay Laurence
  • Clicker Training Novice by Kay Laurence
  • Clicker Training for Obedience by Morgan Spector
  • Clicker World Obedience by Kay Laurence
  • Click for Joy! by Melissa Alexander
  • Dances with Dogs by Kay Laurence
  • Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor
  • Karen Pryor on Behavior by Karen Pryor
  • Lads Before the Wind by Karen Pryor
  • Quick Clicks, 40 Fast and Fun Behaviors to Train with a Clicker by Mandy Book and Cheryl S. Smith
  • Special Weave Pole Training Issue by Clean Run Magazine
  • Teaching People Teaching Dogs magazine by Kay Laurence
  • Walk with Me by Kay Laurence

Dog Behavior
  • Canine Neuropsychology by James O'Heare
  • The Canine Separation Anxiety Workbook by James O'Heare http://www.dogpsych.com
  • The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson
  • Dogs:  Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution
  • by Ray Coppinger and Lorna Coppinger
  • Dominance Theory and Dogs by James O'Heare http://www.dogpsych.com
  • Excel-Erated Learning by Pam Reid, Ph.D.
  • Front and Finish Articles by Chris Bach
  • The Third Way Instructor's Manual by Chris Bach

Advanced Texts
  • Aggressive Behavior in Dogs by James O'Heare http://www.dogpsych.com
  • Applied Dog Behavior and Training vol. I and vol. II, by Steven Lindsay
  • Coercion and Its Fallout by Murray Sidman
  • The Domestic Dog by James Serpell
  • Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog by Scott and Fuller

Positive Training
  • Fun and Games with Dogs by Roy Hunter
  • Fun Nosework for Dogs 2nd Edition by Roy Hunter
  • More Fun and Games with Dogs by Roy Hunter
  • The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell
  • The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller
  • So Your Dog is Not Lassie by Fisher and Delzio
  • Whale Done! by Kenneth Blanchard, Thad Lacinak, Chuck Tompkins and Jim Ballard

Online Learning
  • For trainers interested in furthering their education
  • http://www.CynologyCollege.com provides online courses and diploma programs in dog
  • behavior, training, learning theory and professional behavior consulting.

Recommended Videotapes/DVDs
  • Canine Cineradiography: A study of bone and joint motion as seen through
  • moving x-rays by Rachel Page Elliott
  • Chris Bach the Third Way Foundation Video Series
  • Clean Run Productions Agility World Championship Videos
  • Clicker Fun - three tape series by Deborah Jones, Ph.D.
  • Dogs Need Massage Too!  Canine Massage Video by Angela Wills
  • Foundation Training Video tape 1 and 2 by Greg Derrett
  • Julie Daniels Agility DVD
  • The Language of Dogs, 3-DVD set by Sarah Kalnajs
  • Pets Incredible DVD http://www.Petsincredible.com
  • Sue Sternberg Videos http://www.SueSternberg.com

Recommended Magazines

References Cited
  • Allen, C., & Bekoff, M. (1996). Intentionality, social play, and definition. Readings in Animal Cognition ed. Bekoff and Jamieson.
  • Baleviciute, G. (1999). Effect of a human contact and object-oriented play exercises on the development of behavior features favourable for search training of the domestic dog.  Acta Zoologica Lituanica.  9, 27-34.
  • Bekoff, M. (1997).  Deep Ethology. Retrieved on August 23, 2005 at
  • http://cogprints.org/161/00/199710001.html
  • Bekoff, M. (1972). The development of social interaction, play and metacommunication in mammals: An ethological perspective. Quarterly Review Biology, 47, 412-434.
  • Bekoff, M. (1974). Introductory Remarks - Symposium on Play. American Zoologist, 14, 266.
  • Bekoff, M. (1977). Social communication in canids: Evidence for the evolution of a stereotyped mammalian display. Science, 197, 1097-1099.
  • Bekoff, M. (1995). Play signals as punctuation: the structure of social play in canids. Behaviour, 132, 419-429.
  • Bekoff, M., & Allen, C. (1998). Intentional communication and social play: how and why animals negotiate and agree to play in Animal Play Evolutionary, Comparative and Ecological Perspectives ed. Bekoff and Byers, Cambridge Press.
  • Bekoff, M., & Allen, C. (2002). The evolution of social play: interdisciplinary analyses of cognitive processes in The Cognitive Animal.
  • Bekoff, M., Allen, C. and Burghardt, G.M. (ed), 429-435.
  • Blackshaw, J. (2000). Chronic stress in housed dogs.  Retrieved on August 23, 2005 from
  • http://vein.library.usyd.edu.au/links/Essays/2000blackshaw.html
  • Brown, S. (1998). Play as an organizing principle: clinical evidence and personal observations. Animal Play Evolutionary, Comparative, and Ecological Perspectives, Cambridge Press.
  • Byers, J. (1998). Biological effects of locomotor play: getting into shape or something more? In Animal Play Evolutionary, Comparative, and Ecological Perspectives, Cambridge Press.
  • Curl, P. (2004). An evaluation of dog-training techniques: an assessment of efficacy and welfare.  Retrieved on August 23, 2005 from
  • http://vein.library.usyd.edu.au/links/Essays/2004/curl.html.
  • Eisenberger, R. (1989).  Can response force be shaped by reinforcement?
  • Perceptual and Motor Skills, 68, 725-726.
  • Estes, W. (1944). An experimental study of punishment.  Psychological monographs. 263, no. 3.
  • Fagan, R. (1981). Animal Play Behavior: Oxford University Press.
  • Garnier, F., Benoit, E., Virat, M., Ochoa, R., Delatour, P. (1990) Adrenal cortical response in clinically normal dogs before and after
  • adaptation to housing environment.  Laboratory Animals, 24, 40-43.
  • Gibbs, N. (1980).  New brain research suggests that emotions, not IQ, may be the true measure of human intelligence.  Time Magazine 146, 14.
  • Girard, I., McAleer, M.W., Rhodes, J.S., Garland, Jr., T. (2001).  Selection for high voluntary wheel-running increases speed and intermittency in house mice.  The Journal of Experimental Biology, 204,
  • 4311-4320.
  • Henry, J. D., & Herrero, S. M. (1974). Social play in the American black bear: its similarity to canid social play and an examination of it's identifying characteristics. American Zoologist, 14, 371-389.
  • Hill, H. L., & Bekoff, M. (1977). The variability of some motor components of social play and agonistic behavior in infant eastern coyotes, Canis latrans var. Animal Behaviour, 25, 907-909.
  • Holford, P., (2003).  Depression: the nutrition connection.  Primary Care Mental Health, 1, 9-16.
  • Iwaniuk, A. N., Nelson, J. E., & Pellis, S. M. (2001). Do big-brained animals play more? Comparative analyses of play and relative brain size in mammals. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 115(1), 29-41.
  • Kabaila, A. (2004).  The effects of current training techniques and environmental factors on dog behavior.  Retrieved on August 23, 2005 at http://vein.library.usyd.edu.au/links/Essays/2004/kabila.html
  • Koteja, P., Garland, Jr. T., Sax, J.K., Swalow, J.G., Carter, P.A. (1999). Behavior of house mice artificially selected for high levels of voluntary wheel running.  Animal Behavior, 58, 1307-1318.
  • Minueur, Y., Prasol, D., Belzung, C., Crusio, W. (2003).  Agonistic behavior and unpredictable chronic mild stress in mice.  Behavior Genetics, 33, 513-519.
  • Panksepp, J. (1998).  Rough and tumble play: the brain sources of joy. Affective Neuroscience.  Human and animal emotions.  Oxford University Press: New York
  • Pellis, S. H. (2002). Keeping in touch: play fighting and social knowledge. in The Cognitive Animal. Bekoff, A., Allen, C., and Burghardt, G.M. (ed), 421-427.
  • Pellis, S. M., & Pellis, V. C. (1998). The structure-function interface in the analysis of play fighting. Animal Play Evolutionary, Comparative, and Ecological Perspectives ed. Bekoff and Byer, Cambridge Press.
  • Prato-Previde, E., Custance, D., Spiezio, C., Sabatini, F. (2003). Is the dog-human relationship an attachment bond? An observational study using Ainsworth's strange situation. Behaviour, 140, 225-254.
  • Robbins, T.W., Everitt, B.J. (1996).  Neurobehavioral mechanisms of reward and motivation.  Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 6, 228-236.
  • Rooney, N. Bradshaw, J. (2002). An experimental study of the effects of play upon the dog-human relationship.  Applied Animal Behavior Science, 75, 161-176.
  • Rooney, N. J., Bradshaw, J. W. S., & Robinson, I. H. (2000). A comparison of dog-dog and dog-human play behaviour. Applied Animal Behaviour Sciences, 66, 235-248.
  • Rooney, N. J., Bradshaw, J. W. S., & Robinson, I. H. (2001). Do dogs respond to play signals given by humans? Animal Behavior, 61, 715-722.
  • Rooney, N. J., and Bradshaw, J.W.S. (2003). Links between play and dominance and attachment dimensions of dog-human relationships. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 6(2), 67-94.
  • Rooney, N. J., and Bradshaw, J.W.S. The effects of games on the dog-owner relationship.  Retrieved February 3, 2005, from
  • http://www.bsas.org.uk/meetings/annlproc/Pdf2003/015.pdf
  • Siviy, S. M. (1998). Neurobiological substrates of play behavior: glimpses into the structure and function of mammalian playfulness. Animal Play Evolutionary, Comparative, and ecological Perspectives, Cambridge Press.
  • Smuts, B., & E., B. (2002). Ethogram for Dog Play Self-Handicapping Study
  • Revision Jan 2002.
  • Spinka, M., Newberry, Ruth C., and Bekoff, Marc. (2001). Mammalian play: training for the unexpected. The Quarterly Review of Biology, 76(2), 141 -168.
  • Tipton, C., Carey, R., Eastin, W., Erickson, H. (1974). A submaximal test for dogs: evaluation of effects of training, detraining, and cage
  • confinement.  Journal of Applied Physiology, 37, 271-257.
  • Thompson, K. V. (1998). Self assessment in juvenile play. Animal Play Evolutionary, Comparative, and ecological Perspectives, Cambridge Press.
  • Voith, V.L., Wright, J.C., Danneman, P.J. (1992).  Is there a relationship between canine behavior problems and spoiling activities, anthropomorphism, and obedience training?  Applied Animal Behavior Science, 34, 263-272.
  • Weyand, P.G., Sternlight, D.B., Bellizzi, M.J., Wright, S. (2000).  Faster top running speeds are achieved with greater ground forces not more rapid leg movements.  Journal of Applied Physiology, 89, 1991-1999.
  • Wilson, S. C., & Kleiman, D. G. (1974). Eliciting play: a comparative study. American Zoologist, 14, 341-370.

Recommended Websites
  • The Applied Companion Animal Network  http://www.acabn.com  a resource for dog owners on pet behavior, training and problem solving.
  • International Institute for Applied Companion Animal Behavior. http://www.iiacab.com. A resource for professional trainers and behavior
  • consultants.

Canine Health Websites
  • http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/HEMOPET.HTM
  • http://www.caninerehabilitation.com
  • http://www.CanineIcer.com This website sells dog ice packs and wonderful carpal supports.  These supports, similar to ones used on horses, protect the dog's front leg wrists from potential damage created by the pounding first stride on the A-frame and landing on the front end after jumping. 
  • http://www.OFFA.org This is the official site of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, a non-profit organization that tracks hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia.  The site also contains info on CERF, which is an ophthalmologic exam passing or failing the dog for genetic eye defects which may cause a dog to go blind. On this website you can actually enter kennel names, registration numbers, or OFA numbers to search for health screened animals.  OFA also contains information on other genetic problems. 
  • http://www.optigen.com/ This website provides DNA screening for common and serious dog illnesses.
  • http://www.PennHip.org The website for a hip dysplasia screen, commonly used by the clicker trained service dog community and others interested in rigorous and accurate screening.  PennHip is considered superior to OFA screening by many, including myself.
  • http://w3.vet.upenn.edu/research/centers/penngen/ The Section of Medical Genetics is dedicated to pursuing clinical and basic research on inheritable diseases of companion animals to better understand the disease processes and to develop novel therapeutic approaches.
  • http://www.vetgen.com/ Using VetGen's services, combined with our valuable DNA Profiling and DNA Storage, for the first time in history, animal breeders and owners have the opportunity to eliminate targeted inherited diseases in a growing number of breeds.

Animal Emotions
happiness, sadness and other emotions in animals. 

Agility Websites

Various Info and Clicker Training Sites

Recommended Software

Recommended Agility and Clicker Training Emailing Lists

Agility Equipment Manufacturers