A dog trainer who went viral after telling owners to stop walking their dogs has written a new book on how to help dogs feel more confident.
Niki French, whose first book STOP! Walking Your Dog became an Amazon bestseller, has written a follow-up about what happens next.
Over 7,000 people have bought the first book and Niki has heard from dog owners all over the world about how taking a break from walks has helped.
Niki said: “The idea for the book came from what worked for my own clients.
“Once people tried taking a break from walks, and their dogs started to calm down and grow in confidence, they wanted to know what to do next. How could they start going out again without things going backwards?
“For some people, their dog's world had become very small, and that meant their own world had become smaller too. It can be incredibly isolating.
“The new book, STOP! Walking Your Dog Volume 2: Grow Great Walks With Your Nervous, Reactive or Over-Excited Pup, is about opening up their world, growing confidence and enjoying life again.”
The new book explores canine body language, ACE Free Work, reducing pressure, rewards and practical training games, vet and grooming visits, car journeys and holidays, health and behaviour, equipment choices and supporting the human at the other end of the lead.
Niki is keen to stress that her message has never been anti-walk.
“I love walking my own dog,” she says. “For lots of dogs, walks are wonderful. But they aren’t wonderful for every dog in every situation.
“Sometimes the kindest and most useful thing we can do is stop thinking about what our dog should be doing and ask: what does my dog actually need today?”
Dog Centred Care founder Andrew Hale has written the foreword and said: “This may be a book about walking less, but its real gift is helping us to understand more.”
STOP! Walking Your Dog Volume 2: Grow Great Walks With Your Nervous, Reactive or Over-Excited Pup is published by Authors & Co today ( Thursday 22 October).
Find out more about Niki’s work at www.puptalk.co.uk
