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Beverley Courtney
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Essential Skills for your Growly but Brilliant Family Dog: Books 1-3: Understanding your fearful, reactive, or aggressive dog, and strategies and techniques to make change Kindle Edition

by Beverley Courtney (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 131 ratings

Are your dog walks a nightmare?

Lunging, barking, pulling you over, and putting on a blood-curdling display of aggression?

You love your dog - a perfect peach at home - so why on earth is she doing this?

Using entirely force-free proven methods, developed through extensive study and working with thousands of dog-owners - and a very readable, jargon-free approach touched with humour! - professional positive dog trainer Beverley Courtney takes you step-by-step through the process of understanding, of change, and teaches you solid techniques to move you forward.

In this series of three books for anxious, fearful, aggressive, or reactive dogs, you have everything you need to build confidence in both you and your dog, so that you can say goodbye to those distressing scenes when your dog barks, screams, and lunges at everything she sees. No longer will you be subjected to the scorn of other dog-owners! You’ll learn why your dog is acting as she does, and with understanding comes patience and empathy.

Book 1 in this series Essential Skills for your Growly but Brilliant Family Dog will bring you lots of “Aha!” moments as your dog’s complex thoughts are revealed to you. It’s essential to understand what’s going on before you can make any changes. Don’t listen to people who say you have to show your dog who’s boss. Beverley will also explain a lot of other things your dog does, and why.

Book 2 goes into the detail of what you’re going to change and how, what approaches will work best, and what you need to make it all work. Lots of Lessons in this book. And much of this will involve change for you: exciting!

Finally, Book 3 gets you out there with your dog, enjoying a new way of walking and interacting with her, and making the scenes you’ve endured before, mercifully, a thing of the past. Lots more Lessons here, and Troubleshooting sections to cover all the “what ifs” you’ll come up with for your individual dog.

“Simply makes you a better person and your dog a better dog” 5* reviewer

Don’t wait another moment before starting to change life with your dog - for good! Buy this complete set today and make your Growly Dog a Brilliant Family Dog!

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  1. Print length
    354 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    February 5, 2017
  4. File size
    6.2 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Beverley Courtney has lived with dogs all her life. She qualified her first dog, a Battersea Dogs' Home rescue, as a Working Trials Champion - and has enjoyed herself hugely for many years helping new owners with their dogs and puppies.

Using the latest scientific breakthroughs in dog behaviour, she is dedicated to improving communication between owner and dog. Once you ditch the idea that it's a one-way process ("I said SIT!") and start understanding how your dog learns, training becomes a breeze.

Her fresh approach has helped hundreds of families to discover the joy of choice-based training.

Beverley's first four books address the problem so many new dog-owners experience - of wanting to love their new puppy at the same time as preventing mayhem in the home! She draws on her experience with her own pups, as well as the thousands who have learnt with her at *Brilliant Family Dog*, together with extensive and continuing study. And this means she can bring the gentle and humorous approach to training that her readers love!

Beverley's next three books address the tricky problem many dog-owners experience - of having a dog who barks and reacts to other dogs. Or people. Or bikes ... Drawing on her own experience with her "Growly Dog" Lacy, together with extensive study, she brings the gentle and humorous approach that her readers love! There is no blame or shame here - just empathy, understanding, and masses of how-to's to get you enjoying calm walks with your dog again.

Fetch It - teach your dog to retrieve, and the very popular New Puppy! How to survive the early weeks have anchored her place in the most popular dog training authors around.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01MZI4877
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 5, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 354 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 131 ratings

About the author

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Beverley Courtney

Beverley Courtney

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Beverley Courtney has two strings to her bow! First, she is the author of the popular Brilliant Family Dog series of step-by-step, force-free dog training books.

And she is now emerging as a serious novelist, with her Literary Fiction novels "Keeping Tabs" and "Seeking Clarity", dealing with issues that so many women experience.

Beverley has lived with dogs all her life. She qualified her Battersea Dogs’ Home rescue Poppy as a Working Trials Champion - and has enjoyed herself hugely for many years helping new owners with their dogs and puppies through her books, classes, and online courses.

Using the latest scientific breakthroughs in dog behaviour, with a no-force / no-blame / no-shame approach, she is dedicated to improving communication between owner and dog. Once you jettison the idea that it’s a one-way process (“I said SIT”) and start understanding how your dog learns, training becomes a breeze.

Her fresh approach has helped hundreds of families discover the joy of choice-based training. The first four books address the four "Essential Skills for a Brilliant Family Dog" (yes! there are just four!), featuring one of her students’ favourite skills - getting their frantic puppy to relax!

Beverley’s next three books address the tricky problem many dog-owners experience - of having a dog who barks and reacts to other dogs. Or people. Or bikes … Drawing on her own experience with her “Growly Dog” Lacy, together with extensive study, she brings the gentle and humorous approach that her readers love. There is no blame or shame here - just empathy, understanding, and masses of how-to’s to get you enjoying your walks with your dog again.

Get yourself a really useful dog, by mastering the retrieve with "Fetch It!", so that after an enjoyable walk playing ball or frisbee, she can fetch your slippers and the tv remote for you!

And new puppy-owners, so often lost and at sea in this new world, can get things right from the start. "New Puppy!" will remove the frustration and guide you to build an unbreakable bond with your pup.

Connect with me! I love hearing from readers ...

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
131 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Runner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great author
    Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    She is a great author, simple instructions to incorporate in daily living. Would highly recommend
    One person found this helpful
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  • Erin Lindsay McCabe, author of I Shall Be Near To You
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful
    Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This whole series was very helpful in understanding my leash reactive dog. Written in a kind, clear, engaging style with tons of exercises to try. I’ve already been trying some of them and having success (especially with loose leash walking— it’s fun to see my dog figure it out!).
    4 people found this helpful
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  • oink2man
    4.0 out of 5 stars Don’t like it
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This is a long read but will help.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Sarah Tasa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome series!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I can’t wait for my new harnesses to arrive and start working on all of these games with my dogs!
    Helpful
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  • W. L. E.
    3.0 out of 5 stars Some good advice, too many assumptions
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2020
    While many of her ideas are good, she is often simplistic and presumptuous in her advice. For example: oh get in your car to go to the woods, or play in the yard. Many of us don’t have either of those. Likewise, the advice to just keep doing something and the dog will eventually get it is broad advice. For example, sled dogs are notoriously independent and stubborn; some will frankly never “make the choice” you want.

    Being the leader in your house does not require you to be cruel, and it is not damaging to your dog. They are social animals used to a hierarchy. “Never raise your voice”...you do not need to scream, you do need to have a praise tone, a command tone and and a “that was bad behavior” tone. Dogs respond to body language, and voice. Merely cooing at a misbehaving dog (because let’s be frank, some situations you can’t “manage” or ignore and they need an immediate direction. If my dog runs for the street after a cat, I have to be able to get his attention with my voice. Otherwise you’re that mother in the store placidly saying “Trevor, Trevor, Trevor” while the child wrecks the place and perhaps injures themselves and others.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Scarycatlady
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book really helped me train my dog!!
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  • MG
    5.0 out of 5 stars This dog training method really works.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent, easy to follow games that simply make you a better person and your dog a better dog.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • kathyo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dog Training
    Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Very helpful and no nonsense information.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Jaime
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant as the title says!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    A short review would be GET THE BOOKS THEY WORK!

    A longer one is I recommend this set of books. Beverley is an excellent, highly qualified trainer. The books are written in an easy to read, clear and interesting way. Easy to pick up and refer to whichever section you may need. I can say hand on heart they have transformed our dog's behaviour. The training is force free and teaches giving your dog a choice while building the confidence of the owner and the dog. Lovely bonding games to play with your furry friend that they will love while they learn. Amazing for dogs of any age.
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  • Dani
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
    Reviewed in Germany on January 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    At last a book that gives you action steps and help! Easy to understand and follow the steps.You do not feel so alone anymore with your growly dog.....
    Report
  • Garden girl
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good practical advice
    Reviewed in Canada on November 30, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Very practical and to the point.
    Report
  • GS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous books, essential reading if you have a reactive dog.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 9, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Having rescued a 2 year old collie labrador cross three months ago we have been going from bad to worse outside despite attending training classes and faithfully following the advice day in, day out, to the best of our ability. Our dog seemed to be of the belief that he should "feel the fear and do it anyway" as he crouched, froze and then lunged at dogs, causing us to be embarrassed, ashamed and fearful pretty much every time we brought him out. I bought the Growly dog 3 book set yesterday and "devoured" them in one sitting! I couldn't believe how well Beverley described the issues and explained the underlying causes - it was truly as if she had met our dog and spent months analysing him! I loved her advice that we mustn't look at him as a rescue dog any more, simply our dog that we love who has a few issues. I am now watching the free videos and doing the free 5 day online course that accompany the books and it has already changed everything. We had been putting him under so much pressure unknowingly, and he is such a good dog, amazing indoors. I am now learning about his body language and am busy bonding with him through the games and have so much hope as he is already much calmer and happier.
    I could not recommend these books highly enough - they are fabulous.
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  • Milupa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Für mich und meinen schwierigen Hund die beste Lern-Methode
    Reviewed in Germany on April 29, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Nachdem die Erziehungs- und Trainingsmethoden aus 'Essential skills for a brilliant family dog' so gut bei meinem jungen Boston Terrier funktionierten habe ich mir auch diese Reihe von Büchern angeschafft (erst in der Kindleversion, dann als richtiges Buch). Mein Hund ist sehr sensibel, geräuschempfindlich und reagiert bei Frustration gerne mit Bellen und Beissen. Die üblichen 'Hundeflüsterer'-Methoden bewirken bei ihm das Gegenteil vom Erwünschten. Frau Courtney schreibt klar und mit subtilem britischen Humor. Alle Übungen sind darauf ausgelegt, den Hund zu verstehen und mit diesem Verständnis und kleinen Erfolgsschritten zu arbeiten. Es geht um ein ruhiges, stressreduziertes Miteinander bei dem der Hund lernt, selber Lösungen zu finden. Gegenseitiges Vertrauen und Spass im Umgang Mensch/Hund ist das Ziel. Viele Belohnungen und wenige Worte! Frau Courtney beantwortet sogar Emails von Lesern!
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