Can anyone recommend dog books for children?

[broxi3781]

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I was hoping fellow dog lovers might know some good dog stories to share with children. My sons are ages 9 and nearly 6. The youngest is the one mad for dogs. his favourite so far is Kavik the Wolf Dog. He has asked for any stories combining dogs and his other favourite subject the battle of Stalingrad but I don't think those would be very nice stories. He does prefer books at a much older level, and I read them too him , so even teenage books are ok but here is the problem - He doesn't like the dog to die and that rules out most of the best ones. If you know of anything with a reasonably happy ending please let me know and I do hope this is not too off topic for this list. I am new here if that gives me any slack on mix ups

Also a good trick training book for his age might be fun too. He really does take a lot of time for the pup and thinks it is his... well I will share

 

[Biker John]

The only one I can think off is 'Born to Run' by Michael Morpurgo, I haven't got young children so don't normally buy children's books but as a sight hound fan I happened to see this and bought it for myself. It is a very well written book as you would expect from the author. In places it gets fairly dark but it works out in the end. And sorry cant recommend any suitable dog training books, but have you considered taking them to a local training club?

 

[pippywhippet]

What about "The Incredible Journey" or "White Fang"? I loved "Born to Run" but sobbed when Alfie the greyhound got shot :'(

Oh- I forgot. What about "Shadow" which is another Michael Morpurgo book. It also combines war (albeit a modern theme with the Taliban, Afghanistan crisis and immigration all a part of the story) My kids loved it

 

[broxi3781]

Oh thank you for telling me one gets shot! Why do so many dog stories have to be sad? I am ordering White Fang and just got the film of The Incredible Journey. Shadow sounds brilliant though --- as long as the dog does not die! Does Alfie die in the book Born to Run?

As to obedience clubs, I am planning to call around and see if any will allow children to handle to dogs. I will want to make sure he is well enough trained for my to control him first. I am disabled so can't do the classes any more, but I did train and show competitive obedience years ago - without choke chains. Right now I am trying to find the right motivator - with my old dogs it was a Frisbee, it could be a ball or other toy we'll see which one as he gets older. My son very much wants to try agility as well, but I m not sure if we are allowed. Reznov does not have papers as his mother was bred accidentally only a couple of months after weaning her last litter. I understand you can only register one litter per year from each bitch. We got him early because of that as well. The mother was very tiny and the father huge which didn't help, and they were fed on Baker's Choice, and I believe even that was limited. She was no longer able to nurse so he was on 2 meals a day Wheatabix with milk in the morning dry bakers choice at night. I took him at 5.5 weeks.

I do know the basics of training at home, but my boys are home educated and as my husband complains - we get a book for everything. It keeps the boys reading, but I also feel it a good way to encourage them to be more involved with the pets, and to encourage them to turn to books whenever they try something new. Reznov's breeders were not bad people, but reading a few books on breeding before getting started might have helped them a lot, especially the sections on nutrition. Thankfully the bitch is meant to be spayed before her next season. Also the boys will spend ages training tricks and such. We've been reading Staffordshire Bull Terrier books too, but my son doesn't like the history of the breed scenes.

If by chance anyone knows of good obedience classes in the Belfast area please let me know as well. Since Reznov is a staffy, I really do want him around other dogs besides my own while he is young. I am kind of fussy with my dogs though and my son would go ballistic if anyone hurt him. We are crossing any that advertise alpha dog or calm assertiveness off the list. I have to confess it took me far longer to get results with Frisbee motivational training than traditional obedience, but I do want reward based training only. In short, agility would be great fun, but what we really want is just basic training and a well socialised gentle dog. I know staffies can be dog aggressive if not socialised, so it as an absolute must. To be honest I'd be happy enough if they just let us sit there around the dogs and watch.

 

[Biker John]

I have no knowledge of classes around Belfast, but the various classes I have been to over the years not only allowed children to attend they welcomed them, obviously with a parent present. As for agility if your two get good enough, (two 'cause its a handler / dog pair), and wish to enter competitions then the absence of papers wont be a problem, he can be registered on the activity register with the KC and then attend any KC competition apart from normal confirmation shows. With what I've seen Staffies make excellent agility dogs. You could also try Fly Ball as well.

 

[broxi3781]

John, I can't thank you enough for the information. I had never heard of an activity register. We wouldn't want to do conformation anyway. It seems better suited to those with an interest in breeding, which we lack. Agility and flyball look like so much more fun, and I do think staffies love anything active. We'd really love to try that good citizen thing too. I am glad to hear that many clubs will allow children too, and most obviously we would present at all times. I certainly wouldn't drop a child off for a training class unless the child were a teenager and the pair already working very well together.

 

[Biker John]

I would suggest you search for training clubs near you, the internet is good for some things. But please look for one that stresses that they use positive training methods, I would then go along to watch a class. If they wont allow you to watch without joining then I would keep well away, any decent club welcome it. Also remember that training is very tiring for both the dog and the human. Finally remember the best things about training your dog are that you and he both enjoy it. At the moment I have a Whippet and as well as taking her racing we do Rally training, I have no idea if we will ever enter a proper competition but we both enjoy the time together.

 

[pippywhippet]

Hi- yes Alfie dies in Born to Run :'(

"Shadow" lives and the ending is a happy one. It is very dark at some points but for the people, (not the dog) in the story.

Good luck with your pup. Sounds like you are all going to have lots of fun ^_^

 

[broxi3781]

Thanks again everyone. I was planning to ask to watch before signing on to any class. I had managed to find a very bad once several years ago., but had I been a bit more informed I would never have even tried the "class". he was not certified or trained, no military, police or security experience, nor had he ever exhibited at any type of show, but he specialised in bite work after having extensively studied a couple of books. He took a beautiful German Shepherd pup off a lovely elderly couple and proceeded to choke it nearly senseless. When the couple protested he said there was no other way to train a dog. Then he asked for my dog at which I refused after that scene. I got the whole speech about what an irresponsible owner I was before asking if I could take the dog off lead and demonstrating complete obedience routine. Half the class left with me including the older couple who decided to try train the dog themselves at the point using a ball in the same way I used a Frisbee as the main training aid. The instructor lived near me, but never spoke to me again. It wasn't a great loss This time it will either be a certified trainer or better yet a club, but I will be asking what methods are used before going, and make very clear my dog is not to be hit, kicked choked or caused to suffer physical pain in anyway. If I even see anyone else's dog hurt I'll be leaving. I'd love some help in teaching a few assistance routines if possible, but I can handle the basic obedience. Our whole reason to attend classes would be to socialise the dog, and if possible have a bit of fun. At the moment though - his attention span is still a bit limited. He is 10 weeks and can sit very nicely, but he won't stay long, and I wouldn't want to spend more than a few minutes at a time with it yet. he's had his 2nd jag and the all clear to go out, so we are working on getting used to the lead. He does well for awhile and then just sits, unless you walk him with the older dog, but it has only been a few days, and we are polishing the recall which is the single most important trick to me. Still working on fetch too. I am trying to get him fanatical about a toy so that he will do anything for a chance to play as that is my prime motivator for training. I'm afraid I spoil my dogs in terms of food. Every dog I have ever owned has been a somewhat fussy eater, and they all have had a set point, no matter what you feed them, where they decide they have had enough and won't eat more. Food is not a particularly big motivator for them, but staffies will play until they drop so once you find the right game, the rest is easy.

Will definitely buy Born to Run now that we know the dog lives. I still don't see why so many writers have to kill the dog off. We've got a fun non fiction for my sons birthday too - Sargent Stubby - a true story about a mixed bully breed in WW1. Rally racing sounds really fun too - but most likely better suited to the coursing breeds. Staffies are surprisingly fast considering their build, but no match for whippet or greyhound on a strait track for any distance.

 

[Biker John]

Just a small correction, Rally is not racing, I do take her racing and she loves it. Rally is an obedience thing, I think of it as obedience light. One good point is that in competitions you are really only competing with yourself in that its possible for every dog to be qualified at a level, or indeed no dogs to reach the qualification standard. And the judge is not looking for a 'Collie' style of heel work. And certainly in the lower levels you are encouraged to talk to the dog during the round.