Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog

I always wanted to put Indy in dog agility training, so Indy and I took the agility classes at Fetch Sam. We were about 16 weeks into the agility course when Indy started showing disruptive behavior. Indy wouldn't stay by my side and ran off twice to play and chase the other dogs.

Our agility trainer, Sam, reached out to me via email, saying we may need to pull Indy out of the class for liability reasons.

It took me a couple of minutes to cool off and reply to her email; I was upset. I knew Indy's behavior was unacceptable, and I felt guilty because Indy loves agility.

I take dog ownership seriously, so I asked what can I do to help Indy. Sam suggested I read Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog by Leslie McDevitt.

About Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog

Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog is a program to help reactive dogs learn how to calm down, relax, focus, and work off-leash in a stimulating environment or stressful situation.

Leslie McDevitt is a certified dog behavior consultant with over twenty years of experience. McDevitt's background includes behavior modification and has experience working with dog sports clients, which led her to write Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog.

My Take on Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog

I admit Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog is expensive. I was unsure if I could apply McDevitt's methods to Indy's behavior, which made me hesitate to purchase her book.

I've taken puppy classes and spoken to dog trainers about Indy's behavior. Our dog trainers told me Indy's poor leash manner was a common dog behavior that all puppies go through and will age out of.

I bought Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog because I trusted Sam, our agility dog trainer because she was the first one who cared enough to point out Indy's behavior and help,

After reading Chapters 1 and 2 of Control Unleased: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog, I realized Indy's leash manners, being unable to work off lead around other dogs, and being unable to control her impulses when she does get excited, which is the behavior of a reactive dog that McDevitt describes in her book.

I felt guilty, and I wished I trusted my gut instincts because I knew Indy's behavior wasn't because she was just a puppy. I thought dog trainers knew better than I did. Truth be told, no one will know your dog better than you.

I learned that there is a huge difference between a dog trainer and a dog behaviorist. All the dog trainers I met before were dog trainers, and they were not like Sam, who was a dog trainer and dog behaviorist.

There's a difference between teaching your dog and training your dog. For reactive dogs, it's a lot more training and shaping their behavior than teaching them something new.

I use McDevitt's methods every time I take Indy for a walk. Like the Premack Principle to help Indy focus, I use the Look at That game.

For Indy, the stimulus that causes her to go above her threshold is people greeting her and seeing other dogs. Some days the training works, and other days Indy and I have to take a few steps back, especially with the Look at That game. The Look at That game keeps your dog below its threshold while teaching them to look at whatever stimulus may cause your dog to go above. You are simply rewarding your dog for looking calmly.

If Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog is worth the price, I think it is. I have seen an enormous difference in Indy's reactive behavior, and Indy's body language is relaxed when she sees people and dogs. After reading, Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog, I understand who Indy is.

Do I Need Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog for My Dog

According to Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog:

• Dogs that are uncomfortable or unable to work off lead around other dogs

• Dogs that are easily distracted and have difficulty concentrating

• Dogs that are reactive or easily aroused

• Dogs that are anxious or stressed and shut down

• Dogs that are unable to control their impulses when excited

If you said yes to one of these ballpoints, you'll need to read Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog.

McDevitt helps you identify if your dog needs CU training, covers the basic concepts, and breaks the training into seven chapters. Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog is filled with pictures and graphs to give you a visual understanding of the training. There are real-life examples of McDevitt's clients' dogs and her dogs. McDevitt leaves dog owners with guidelines on integrating CU into daily life.

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