Dogs partner with humans in a wide array of work-related disciplines. As detectors, guides, guardians, stock herders, assistants and professional canine athletes, there is demand for more scientific knowledge to enhance the performance and success of human and working dog partnerships. This topic encompasses a holistic approach to the science of working dog performance. The ability of a dog to complete tasks depends on their physical and behavioral traits; their ability to exert themselves at various demanding tasks requires both physical and behavioral stamina, agility, and resilience. The influence and interactions of genetics, health, environment and training are areas that can provide new insight to improve performance in current dogs and future generations. The human impact on the success of the working dog team encompasses the human's physical, psychological and analytic perspectives, and the intersection of human and canine interspecies communication.

Whether you are interested in working dogs for a hobby, on the ranch, or for serious trial competition, Stockdog Savvy will be an invaluable aid. Beginning with chapters on herding dog characteristics, instinct, and choosing a herding dog, the Taylors explain how to prepare your puppy and do basic foundation training. The book progresses to starting the dog on stock and developing a useful working dog and ends with advanced lessons and preparing for the various types of competition. If you want to learn about working stockdogs, this is the book for you! Learn how to: • Select, care for and train a working stock dog. • Teach your dog to work cattle, sheep, goats, foul or exotic livestock. • Choose the right type or breed of livestock, care for and handle them correctly. • Train a dog for work on a ranch, the open range, or in the trial pen. • Recognize more than 60 different herding breeds and much, much more.

The Australian Shepherd Judging Compendium, An Illustrated Workbook for judges and non-judges alike by the award-winning author, of All About Aussies: The Australian Shepherd From A to Z. "The Australian Shepherd, Judging Compendium" by Jeanne Joy Hartnagle-Taylor is an illustrated workbook that reviews not only the breed standard and how it is interpreted but illustrates the breed standard with text and carefully selected pictures that help the reader see the importance of each trait as it is discussed. The Compendium begins with a review of breed history as a herding breed to modern day usage. This workbook also provides the reader with good insight and understanding of why structure and gait are important to its function. Each chapter explains a section of the breed standard followed by a quiz that is used to make the reader think.The text is easy to read and carefully written with a good analysis of unique traits that are described in the breed standard. The illustrations of each trait give the reader good insight into why the breed standard requires certain body proportions and what is considered correct breed type, movement and character. The Compendium makes clear that herding sheep, cattle and other animals requires strong herding and guardian instincts coupled with versatile skills which are required of a dog that must be easy to train. All of these traits are carefully described.I would recommend this judging compendium to anyone who is seriously interested in a better understanding of the Australian Shepherd breed. - Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia, a highly respected AKC Judge, author, lecturer and world-renowned canine expert.