A GUIDE dog funded by Kentish Times readers is facing a key stage in his training to provide a blind person with independence. Ewart, aged 15 months, will this week wear a harness for the first time, five weeks into his programme at a guide dog training centre in Redbridge, Essex. His handler, Daniel Stacy, 28, has spent time bonding with Ewart and helping him settle in. "It's very good going for his fifth week, he's such a good lad," Mr Stacy said. "We have played games and he's been out on his lead on the train and Tube. "He is very obedient and doesn't get distracted easily. He has to be able to sit, stay and walk to heel so that when the harness goes on, it is the only thing that is new. "Then we play games with him in the harness so he makes a positive association with it and relaxes. "In fact he is so good, he is helping me with skill checks that I have to pass to gain my handler qualifications." But Mr Stacy says not every dog responds well to training, with some lunging at other animals and being too easily distracted.

The Art of Raising a Puppy

Now the monks concentrate on the first three months of a puppy's life in The Art of Raising a Puppy. The book observes a litter of monastery puppies from birth to 12 weeks. Tender photographs and dialogue reflect these precious first few weeks of life. Even at this time, the human-canine link is vital; the monks stress the importance of gentle touch to help forge this connection. Basic puppy training techniques are explored and executed, all of which puppy owners should find easy to implement. Virtually all types of dog problems and dog training are examined in the book, always in compassionate and easily comprehensible language. The monks also look well beyond surface training techniques to analyze the roots of dogs' problems and explain how training can help. Owners are taught how to gently assert dominance over their dog, which will make for a long-lasting and fulfilling relationship.

Fighting dogs chew children's swings

CHILDREN'S swings in the St Albans area are being badly damaged by fighting dogs being trained to strengthen their jaws by biting on the padded seats and bars.Between 10 and 20 rubber safety swings have been gnawed away and have had to be replaced in six of the districts parks - at Longacres, the Camp (behind Kitchener Close), Fleetville,, Oysterfields, Downedge in Redbourn and Cotlandswick in London Colney.It is thought that the owners of dogs like Staffordshire bull terriers get them to bite on the swings. They then push the swings with the dogs hanging on to make the animals more aggressive and to strengthen their bite. Bull terriers have immensely powerful jaws and are extremely difficult to prise loose once they grab their prey.The problem of the damaged swings was discussed at a meeting last week attended by the police who suspect that the dogs' owners are training them for fighting - although there have been no reported incidents in this area.A police spokesperson said: "The offenders are causing damage to a number of parks in St Albans and it would appear that the process is aimed at making the dogs angry as part of their training."Neighbourhood constables and Police Community Support Officers have stepped up their patrols and visibility in the affected areas in the face of the problem.Cllr Sheila Burton, the District Council's portfolio holder for sport and healthy living, said: "These swings were put there for the pleasure of the children and not for dog training."We are in the first stage of collecting evidence to determine what is actually happening.

Dog Training School Moves On, Owner Retires

Apr.18 - KGO - A beloved Bay Area dog training school is marking the end of an era. The school has been operated by the same man in the same place for almost four decades, drawing dog lovers from all over the Bay Area. But times are changing. The school is moving and the 93-year-old owner is moving on.