More and more people are working leaving "man's best friend" on their own. The dog's day no longer revolves around "what can I do?" but instead "where is everybody?" Jodi Anderson offers extremely clear and manageable, step-by-step instructions that will permit you to get your house back in order, while teaching your dog to be useful, working member of your family. The result will be a return to a harmonious and healthy household -- for you and your dog. We had the opportunity to ask Jodi Andersen about her wonderful book,

How is this book different?

Eva:
What led you to write this book about "latchkey dogs" and why are they different from other dogs?

Jodi:
I have been training dogs and their people for more than twelve years. Private training, which is a special kind of one-on-one instruction designed to train dog owners as much as dogs themselves, is my specialty. It can, unfortunately, reach only a limited number of people. I wrote The Latchkey Dog so that all dog owners could have the luxury of understanding dog parenting from a private (sometimes very private) perspective. In theory we could all use a little one-on-one but in practice not everyone has access to it. Now, with The Latchkey Dog, they do.

Latchkey dogs are modern dogs whose behavior is a direct result of the way we live with them. They are not necessarily dogs that are alone so much as dogs that are alone in their own thoughts - thus, in charge of their own behavior. Believe it or not, dogs (like children) don't want to be in charge. The Latchkey Dog is the dog who stays home and waits for you to return but is also the dog who waits for you to tell him what to do when you are together.

Given the demands of contemporary lifestyles, very few of us have time to do more than feel guilty about not spending enough time with our dogs, leaving us with little choice but to indulge them. But dogs do not equate indulgence with love. Instead, they see it as a weakness in our ability to take care of them, leaving them with the responsibility of parenting themselves - a responsibility that only fosters behavior problems. The Latchkey Dog offers solutions that are specifically designed to teach dog owners how to find a balance between living with and loving their dogs.

What are the most common problems

Eva:
What are the most common problems in dog behavior and could you give us a few tips on how to solve them? How do you uncover the underlying reasons why your dog behaves in negative ways?

Jodi:
Separation anxiety, obsessive chewing & barking and assertive/aggressive behavior have become the hallmarks of the modern dog. I believe that all of these behaviors can at least be modified if not completely eliminated with basic training. Separation anxiety stems from a dog's fear of being left alone and obsessive behavior is born out of boredom and stress. Dogs are naturally pack or group oriented creatures that find strength in numbers. When you leave the dog (i.e., to go to work) the dog feels weak and vulnerable. The more you indulge the dog when you return, the more stress the dog experiences when you leave. While you are away, every sound becomes a pre-cursor to your return and the dog is never able to relax. This stress, believe it or not, also fosters obsessive behavior like chewing and barking. But, if you make "coming" and "going" a benign exercise (i.e., ignore the dog for a moment or two when you come home, instead of kissing and hugging) the dog learns to relax in your absence instead of anticipating your arrival. By the same token, if you work your dog (through sit, come, down, stay) when you are around, the dog will be a working member of the pack whose shift begins when you come home and ends when you leave. Putting a dog to work through basic obedience avoids as well as solves many undesirable behaviors in our dogs.

If you are trying to determine what might be causing your dog's behavior problems, first check your parenting skills. If your dog is pushing you around inside the house, chances are, that dog is pulling you around outside the house. If you are not treating your dog like a viable working member of your family the dog thinks you are working for him - leaving him with little need to listen to you. What's worse, if he thinks you are working for him, it becomes his responsibility to keep you safe, leaving him with little choice but to be assertive toward anyone or anything that comes between you. Dogs who do not work become bored and dogs that are bored become destructive, whether it is to themselves or their surroundings, giving them a job saves everybody a lot of trouble.

Three Basic Tips

Eva:
How is your book different from other dog training books?

Jodi:
The Latchkey Dog offers a new twist on dog training. It's not just about how to train dogs, it's also about why we need to train them. Because I am not only a dog trainer but also a mother, I wrote this book as part parenting manual, part training guide. The recipe for Good Dog Parenting requires three necessary ingredients. First,

• Set Healthy Boundaries
  Without healthy boundaries (i.e., no jumping, no chewing, no biting) our dogs don't have safety nets to help dictate and guide their behavior. Boundaries foster self-confidence. Next,
• Lay the Foundation for a Common Language
  That language is basic obedience - "sit," "come," "down," "stay," etc. Once you teach the dog what these words mean, you can communicate. Without it, the dog speaks dog and you speak English - leaving you both to struggle with what the other wants. Then,
• Give the Dog a Job
  Dogs are members of a working species who rely on the jobs they are required to do within the structure of their immediate social circle to measure their own usefulness. Without a job (i.e., listening to you) a dog becomes bored with its unemployment and begins to act out in destructive ways.

So many of the dog training books on the shelves today are about how to train dogs. Dog behavior is a fascinating subject that must be understood before it can be required. THE LATCHKEY DOG demonstrates how easy it can be to parent a dog once you understand how a dog needs live.

How do you make your dogs behave?

Eva:
Did your two dogs ever behave in a way as the other dogs in this book have? Could you tell us a little story about a negative behavior they displayed which you successful corrected?

Jodi:
I now have three dogs and although none of them has serious behavior issues now, this was not always the case. Because two of my dogs are rescues, they came to my family with their own baggage. Without simplifying it too much, applying the three steps of my good dog parenting philosophy helped to make them secure, working members of my family - eliminating whatever issues they had. My mixed breed, Wylie, was quite a handful when we first found him. He had a strong prey drive and if he saw a squirrel or a rabbit would not come back when called until he was good and ready. Even though I had taught him what the word "come" meant, his instinct to chase things was stronger than his need to listen to me. Because he could have easily been hit by a car during one of his famous chases, I had to come up with a solution to make him want to come back even more than he wanted to chase what I'm certain he considered "fast food."

I decided to imprint his brain with a sound, a smell & a feeling. Every day I would take a very small piece of salami, pinch it between my fingers and put it in Wylie's mouth. As he was trying to chew it out of my fingers I massaged his head with my free hand and whispered "Wylie, Wylie, Wylie" in his ear. After a few days of this "face-to-face" exercise, I began to call "Wylie, Wylie, Wylie" from various parts of the house. When he ran to find me, I was waiting with the salami and a quick massage. I had conditioned this dog to expect three things when he heard his name called. A sound -- a smell -- a feeling. Once he heard the sound, he had to find me to get the food and the massage. Now, when I want Wylie to "come," I just say "Wylie, Wylie, Wylie" and he stops what he is doing (even if it is chasing a squirrel) and comes to me.

Eva:
Are you planning other books for the future and what else are you doing today?

Jodi:
I am currently working on an idea for another book as well as a series for television.

Get your copy of
The Latchkey Dog

Meet the Author
The Labrador Retriever Handbook
by Audrey Pavia
hosted by Evamarie Spataro

Audrey Pavia is an editor, a writer, and above all, a dog lover. In this wonderful, comprehensive guide on Labrador Retrievers, The Labrador Retriever Handbook, she covers all of the basics of owning a Labrador and beyond. Learn more about this breed and don't forget to print our our Labrador coloring page for a fun way to share this with your kids. She is the author of many other books and you can also see interviews on some of her other books including: Horses for Dummies and Careers with Dogs.

Meet the author Caroline Coile, Ph.D.
Barron's Guide to Dog Breeds
hosted by Evamarie Spataro
She was about nine years old when she changed from simply loving dogs to studying them. She is the author of many books on specific breeds in the "Barron's" and "Complete Idiot" series of books. Find out more.

I just love baking Biscotti in the kitchen! Of course Eva has to help me open the refrigerator and turn the knobs on the stove. Anyway, I thought this recipe is really tasty and is great for a midnight snack!

The Labrador Retriever Handbook
FREE Labrador Coloring Sheet
see interview with author
Audrey Pavia

Nature's Beauty Kit by Deb Carpenter
ABC of Natural Beauty Recipes
FREE beauty tips from
author Deb Carpenter

Dogs on the Web
(On the Web Series)
by Audrey Pavia, Betsy Sikora Siino

The 500 best dog-oriented Web sites are located, their contents are summarized, and each is evaluated as both a canine resource and a Web site. Any software requirements are spelled out so that even a beginning Web surfer can find a wealth of information on favorite breeds or become involved in dog activities, including breed-specific clubs and real-life and online shows.

The Guinea Pig:
An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet (Owner's Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet)
by Audrey Pavia

A book devoted to the joys of pet guinea pigs. Proves guinea pigs are playful and fun--they don't just sit there. A joy to read--especially for those of us who remember Audrey when she was the editor of Horse Illustrated. Engaging, informative, helpful text written by a true lover of animals. The illustrations are also lavish, helpful, at times hysterical and heavy on cute. Also has a big listing of books, clubs and a tiny website listing--still, very accurate