All Things Dog Blog

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Dog Books for Kids: Profile of "The Buddy Files" Mystery Series Posted: 28 Sep 2011 12:40 PM PDT by Dori Butler, guest author © Jeremy Tugeau If you're looking for dog books for the beginning chapter book reader in your life, I hope you'll take a look at my Buddy Files books, published by Albert Whitman and Company. © Jeremy Tugeau The Buddy Files is a series of books about a school therapy dog who solves mysteries. The stories are told from the dog's point of view and they're aimed at kids who are just starting to read chapter books or anyone who loves a good dog book. What's nice about writing from a dog's point of view is a precocious four-year-old who is reading chapter books can enjoy the books just as much as a 10-year-old who struggles with reading. They're not beyond the four-year-old's realm of experience, and I don't think the 10-year-old feels like he's reading a "baby book."  Each one is a stand-alone mystery, which means the dog solves a new case in each book. But then there is also another larger mystery that spans three books. © Jeremy Tugeau © Jeremy Tugeau I got the idea for the series when my own dog and I were training to become a pet partner team. Therapy dogs come in contact with a lot of different people, and each person a dog comes in contact with has their own story, or in the case of the Buddy Files, their own mystery to be solved. It seemed like the perfect hook for a children's book series. I've never had so much fun writing as I have writing these books. I love writing from a dog's point of view. Buddy grows and changes as the series progresses. He goes from shelter dog in book 1 to working therapy dog in book 4. © Jeremy Tugeau In the first book, a golden retriever named King finds himself at the P-O-U-N-D (dogs don't say that word, they spell it!). He's adopted by a new family—a 9-year-old boy named Connor and a single mom who is going to be the principal at the elementary school. They change King's name to Buddy. King/Buddy is growing attached to his new family, but at the same time he can't help but wonder what happened to his old family. © Jeremy Tugeau While solving the Case of the Lost Boy (book 1) and the Case of the Mixed-Up Mutts (book 2), Buddy receives clues to what might have happened to his family. But he doesn't actually find out what happened to them until the Case of the Missing Family (book 3). Likewise, in The Case of the Fire Alarm (book 4) and The Case of the Library Monster (book 5), Buddy wonders if his new school is haunted, but he doesn't find out whether there really is a ghost or not until The Case of the School Ghost (book 6), which will be published in March 2012. You can pre-order through Amazon at the link to assure you get a copy right away when it becomes available. The Buddy Files books are available online through the Albert Whitman site, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound. If you'd like to purchase your own, simply click the links to make your selections. For a chance to win one of 3 sets of the first five Buddy Files books, you can enter using our Rafflecopter entry widget below. Facebook and Twitter handles are included there so that you may get entry credit for following. Once you've completed the two mandatory entries, you're free to choose any extra entries you wish. Good luck! Dori Hillestad Butler and her dog Mouse are a registered Pet Partner team through Delta Society, and they enjoy reading her books with kids. Among other awards, The Buddy Files: Case of the the Lost Boy won the 2011 Edgar Award for best juvenile mystery published in 2010. More information about Dori and The Buddy Files: Teachers' Guide Free Coloring Pages Dori's website The Delta Society Therapy Animals If you don't see the Rafflecopter entry form below, simply click on the post title to refresh and it should appear here:

Ask the Dog Trainer: High Rise Potty-Training with Puppy Pads Posted: 27 Sep 2011 09:01 PM PDT by Michael Baugh, CPDT-KA, CDBC © courtesy drinkerthinker via Flickr.com Wrong Pet. Where's the Puppy? Dear Michael;  I just got a little furry baby from the rescue in my area. She is a mix of who knows what, cute and cuddly with curly fur. I live in a high rise apartment building and am starting to use puppy pads for training. I know there will be times when I cannot be there to take her out. How would you suggest I use puppy pads and crate training together? We are just starting and already unsure as to how to get the message across. Thank you, Jess  ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Jess, Great questions!  Potty training a puppy is a pretty straight forward process, regardless of where you want the puppy to "go."  Most dogs seek out absorbent surfaces, like grass.  Unfortunately some seek out carpet as well.  The potty pads are absorbent too, which is good news.  I can tell you, they are most effective if used in an area with hard flooring.  Don't put them in a carpeted area.  If you want to train your dog to use the potty pads some or most of the time in your apartment, then lead her to the pad right after letting her out of her crate.  As soon as she's done doing her business, praise and treat her.  Repeat this process often and she will learn the pad is the preferred indoor potty area. What about potty training when you are away from your apartment?  Here's what I recommend for puppies and newly adopted dogs.  If you're only going to be away for a few hours, leave the dog in her crate.  Most dogs can hold it for that short period of time, and most will refrain from soiling their crate.  If you're going to be gone longer, leave the dog in an area (preferably with tile flooring) behind a baby gate.  Since you'll have been training her to love relieving herself on the potty pads, leave a pad down while you are gone.  My guess is she'll use it.  (You might want to consider taping the potty pad to the tile since some puppies love to use them as chew toys). As your puppy gets older, she'll be able to control her body a bit better.  Start teaching your dog to love going potty outside as well right away.  The process is exactly the same.  When she's done going on the grass, praise and treat her right then and there. It works like a charm. Thank you so much for your thoughtful question.  Thank you even more for adopting a dog from a shelter.  You changed two lives for the better – hers and yours. Robyn Arouty Michael with Stella Houston Dog Trainer Michael Baugh CPDT-KA, CDBC is the director of training and behavior at Rover Oaks Pet Resorts. You may readch Michael at the link for a personal consultation, or write to him at our Ask the Dog Trainer Column @ LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. Michael's advice does not replace an actual consultation with a qualified trainer. Puppy Pad Giveaway: Just for fun, we're going to try something new today. We're going to give you a chance to get to know Michael a little better. At a recent pet blogger's conference, I received 2 packages of puppy training pads in a sample bag. In addition I got a booklet of 10 coupons for $2 off a package of puppy pads, for a total savings of $20. I'll give these away to three winners in a drawing from entries on the Rafflecopter below. If you do not see the Rafflecopter entry form, simply click the title of this post to refresh, and the Rafflecopter will appear below. Full disclaimer: Each of the two packages of puppy pads holds a minimum of 10 pads. I have not been compensated to give these products or coupons away. There is no purchase necessary to win. Good luck!

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