Book Review: The Art of Introducing Dogs by Louise Ginman

Well it turns out being immobile has some perks, one of which being that I can finally start making a dent in the huge reading pile that has been taking over every side table in the house over the past 6 months. I thought I'd share my thoughts with all of you and first on the list is "The Art of Introducing Dogs: A guide for conducting dog-to-dog introductions" by Louise Ginman which was recommended on Patricia McConnell's recent blog.

I'm really impressed as it's a well written and easy read with some great illustrations to accompany the introduction protocols. Louise highlights the importance of considering personality, play styles, breed, sex age etc. when looking for a new addition to the household and the overriding theme of the book is to preempt and prevent any issues occurring in the first place, something that I really respect and try to put across to my clients with everyday training. The book is split into 3 chapters, with the first covering the assessment and personality traits of the existing dog and potential new addition. Socialisation, play styles, bite inhibition and resource guarding are used as measures to assess the potential for issues to arise and how these can be prevented. Particular attention is paid to developing canine communication skills or employing the services of a behaviourist to help. "During introductions it is vital that you or an experienced trainer can correctly read what the dogs are saying, as failure to do so could quickly lead to a fight or escalation in tension".

Chapter 2 goes through the different methods of introducing two new dogs, what to watch for and how to react. There are some smart suggestions to reduce potential tension and the emphasis on short, positive interactions (or proximity) should help to counteract the unfortunately widespread  'let them off lead and see what happens' mentality when it comes to introducing dogs. I particularly love the suggestions of using scent to do the work for you, with both dogs being allowed to bimble around in the same area one at a time. Parallel walking is another great suggestion which I have had great success with when introducing short term boarders to my collie Jack."If things are a little tense, end on a positive note (remember - know when to quit) and try again tomorrow."

The final section of the book highlights the importance of enrichment, home alone schedules and keeping up the momentum of the initial introductions to ensure that things don't slip and the dogs continue to settle. Keeping stress levels low is the key to success and Louise also addresses the difficult issue of knowing when to abandon the introduction and consider rehoming. The summary messages that the reader is left with are extremely thought provoking and depict the reality of the work required to successfully introduce a new dog to the family. The appendix also contains numerous step by step training protocols to guide owners through introductions which I'm sure would prove extremely useful. "Slow and steady wins the race"

I would certainly recommend this to clients and it's a useful book to have on the shelf and lend out/refer to. Most of the information and techniques are things that I already recommend to my clients but this is set out as a step by step processes and the importance of management is highlighted time and time again which is excellent. I think this book serves as a great tool for anyone looking to get a new dog or even having dogs come to stay for short periods. So all in all, a very well spent £8.50 and I would recommend you get yourself a copy!