Follow my lead : what training my dogs taught me about life, love, and happiness / Carol Quinn.

Author: Quinn, Carol.

Publisher: Berkeley, CA : Seal Press, c2011.

ISBN: 9781580053709 (pbk.)
158005370X

Description: 259 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.

Subject: Dogs Training Anecdotes.
Dogs Behavior Anecdotes.
Human-animal relationships Anecdotes.
Human-animal communication Anecdotes.
PETS / Dogs / Training. bisacsh
SELF-HELP / Personal Growth / Happiness. bisacsh

Summary: "Follow My Lead is the story of how two rambunctious dogs and a tough Russian dog trainer named Irina taught Carol Quinn everything she needed to know about life, love, and happiness. It all begins when the author decides-somewhat naively-to enroll her two Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Nairobi and Sheila, into dog agility training. Unhappy with her failing love affair, her stagnant career, and even herself, she's hoping to find a hobby and straighten out her unruly but affectionate pets. She soon discovers that dog agility is not a lazy game of fetch-it's a highly competitive sport that requires owners to move their dogs through a timed obstacle course using only voice and hand signals. What follows is a life-changing experience: a learning process that teaches her not only about her dogs, but also about herself. As she continues, the training, and even the obstacle course itself, becomes a metaphor for her life. With humor and candor, Quinn shares the parallel story of how, with Irina's guidance and wisdom, she and her dogs develop a deep bond of love and trust, and learn to navigate the course obstacles with grace and skill; and how she, too, overcomes life's obstacles by accepting her flaws and finding the inner strength to move forward-away from her doomed love affair, fears, and anxieties-and become the alpha dog" of her own life. Funny, thoughtful, and uplifting, Follow My Lead is a story full of useful life lessons and homespun wisdom that will entertain and inspire readers of all sensibilities, whether they are dog lovers or not"--
"Follow My Lead is the story of how two difficult dogs and a Russian dog trainer taught Carol Quinn everything she needed to know about men, relationships, fear, success and personal happiness"--