Taryn Boyd, the publisher of TouchWood Editions, shares how owning a difficult dog led to a bestselling book.
“I really struggled with my last dog, Watson. Even though I read every book I could on dog training a puppy, and followed that advice carefully, he became aggressive towards other dogs when he was about two years old. He became especially difficult for me to handle when I moved to a new city. He would howl all day when I went to work, and he would lunge and try to attack other dogs we were passing on the street on-leash. He was generally very unhappy. I tried everything I could think of, but the situation became very stressful and even dangerous, and it took its toll on both of us. It was a dark time for me. I felt completely hopeless and trapped by this dog who I loved but who I also didn’t know how to handle. I couldn’t figure out what he needed.
Then I found Monique Anstee, founder of The Naughty Dogge in Victoria. Monique is the only dog trainer who truly helped me. She taught me how to see the issues we were having in a much different way, and I watched as Watson transformed under her leadership. Under her tutelage, I actually started to see major improvements. Watson started to trust me more, and stop trying to protect both of us. I could finally walk him without fear (but I always watchful). I saw how my feelings and fear were putting us into a worse position as a team, and I finally learned how to communicate with my dog in a way he could understand: using my body language and my mindset. Monique was a godsend.
Even though in the end I decided that Watson and I were not a good fit for each other, he is now living his best life with his ‘dad’. He is actually doing very well and is very happy. I now own a labradoodle named Charlotte (pictured above), and we train with Monique every week. Now that I know more about how my behaviour affects my dog, we have done everything differently this time around, and it’s really paying off.
I am so proud that the publishing house I work for, TouchWood Editions has now published Monique Anstee’s first book, As a Dog Thinketh: Daily Words of Wisdom for Dog People. If you have struggled with your dog (and so many of us do, and feel ashamed about it!), do yourself a favour and pick up this book. Even if you think you’ve read it all, you haven’t. Pick up this book. I promise it will make you see your dog’s world in a different way. It’s perfect for any dog lover in your life.”
As A Dog Thinketh: Daily Words of Wisdom for Dog People by Monique Anstee (TouchWood Editions) offers a new and inspiring way to think about your relationship with your dog, tempered with the clear-eyed perspective of one who has seen dogs and their owners find solutions to all kinds of problems. She empowers her readers to affirm their instincts with their dog, and to believe in the power to change together, each and every day.