Teamwork II: A Dog Training Manual for People with Disabilities Spiral-bound – July 1, 2010

I bought the two book set about 3 years ago from Amazon. Then I did not realize how many different uses there was for a service dog. I was lucky to buy the set, and the second volume was the biggest help for specific tasks for my mobility issues. The first book in the set is your needed basic work, the second book helped with task training. To me these are the two best books out there. My dog earned his CGA and if I can find the urban test we could pass it today - basics for a service dog. I learned how to do some things easier than other books as it takes the handlers disability to he forefront, other books assume the handler can function as the majority but those of us with limitations can’t do so. Yes it takes 2-3 years to have a sound working dog, but you are out there with his help prior to this. Please do not put weight or heavy harness work for mobility on a young animal, they are not up to it. No harness before 1 year of age. Also remember the lifespan of your breed and the need to retire your dog at a reasonable age for him/her. Great books,

I bought this book first after reading reviews that said Volume 1 was useless. I am an experienced MWD handler and was looking to help a friend with training a service dog so that the Sgt. wouldn't have to wait 3-4 yrs or spend $8-12k on the VA approved animal. I would start her on a program so she could train her green puppy now, so that in 2 yrs time we could get him independently tested for public access. Shortly after getting through the first two chapters I found myself wanting the 1st volume. The reason for an experienced MWD handler to get a basic obedience manual? Simply put, I found the alternative training methods important and I was lacking them. How does a bi-lateral arm amputee train without a quick tug on a lead? What about a non-verbal handler, how can they voice commands to the dog? What about the reward? How does a wheelchair bound handler with no control of their arms or hands (a reason to need a service dog) give the reward, because even a trained dog needs ongoing maintenance training. Both texts are detailed more in their open-ended training methods than by, the "this is the best way to do it". They were written for actual disabled persons to train their own service animals which likely irritates the people that don't want to read more than a paragraph. Speaking of, I almost didn't buy either text because of the poor reviews stating that the author was self promoting non-stop. What I found was a paragraph or two in each section (including the chapter quote that provided the experiences of other handlers) that gave insight as to why this particular chapter was important and how a disabled handler handled it. This example was barely a 16th of each chapter and definitely not about just the author as they were about other handlers that trained on their own. I highly recommend the second text for the next level of service dog training. I do wish that there was some discussion on Deep Pressure Therapy and other techniques for Autism/PTSD dogs. It does however go into great detail about target training for opening doors, teaching the Brace, and even methods for pulling.

Every dog is an individual, and no disabled person, even if they have the same condition as their identical twin, will be alike enough to need the exact same things from their dog. This is one reason training your own dog is ideal.This book truly responds to that. There can be no simple formula for teaching every dog everything. Even teaching "sit", by the lure-over-the-head method, some dogs will do it for food. Others for their squeaky toy.This book shows you how at least two real people, with different dogs and different levels of ability, including quadriplegics, those who have full range of motion most of the time, and many in between, taught their dogs how to do what they needed in a way their dog could understand.You have to understand that there can be no 1, 2, 3 approach to this process. You have to try and understand what your dog isn't getting and adapt what you're doing.But this book gives examples that can help. Reading other sections can give you ideas of how to adapt what you're doing in training a particular task as well.The book also gave my ideas of ways my dog can help me that I never would have thought of and that make my dog even more useful, and knowing she's helping me helps her bond with me. The more things she does for me, the more things each day we do together.This book is wonderful in showing how even the most disabled can be the "voice" of authority, even if they communicate to their dog with sounds other than speech or signs. The person assisting the dog is there, doing a lot, but from the dog's perspective fades into the background.This book has been a wonderful help and guide to us and we just started!

Very good read

Great book to have as having to wait for a pre trained dog from a charity or training centre can take upto 5 years and often the bond ain’t as good.

Great practical exercises for people with disabilities to work their dogs

It is one of the best books that anyone whether disabled or not can use to help them train a dog. In my books this is a book tht will help you not just to train your dog but to understand how to train your dog to do anything. Awonderful book !

brilliant book