Puppy Zen

World-renowned dog behaviourist and psychologist Mark Vette shows you how to train your new puppy for a trouble-free life and harmonious bond between puppy and owner.

A comprehensive guide to puppy training by Mark Vette, of Pound Pups to Dog Stars fame. Mark’s first book Dog Zen had just 40 pages on puppies – this book goes into full detail about all ages and stages, and how to do the right thing at the right time.

Following a quick look at the role of pups within the wolf pack, and how dogs evolved from wolves, this book gives a day-by-day, week-by-week guide to the fundamentals of training your puppy and building a happy lifelong bond between the two of you.

Mark stresses the importance of the formative period (1-4 months) to instill good habits in your puppy, then shows you exactly how to do so and when to teach each skill. Includes chapters on choosing a puppy, forming a bond with your pup, training foundations (equipment and techniques), basic commands (like sit, heel and stay), what to train in which weeks of age, house training, socialisation, teaching them not to bite or indulge in continual barking, jumping up or other anti-social behaviours.

It is a detailed and practical guide combining the latest cognitive science with modern, loving, training techniques.

Illustrated with irresistible puppy photos (by renowned animal photographer Rachael McKenna), plus down-to-earth how-to shots of the training methods.

Author Biography

Mark Vette is an animal psychologist and zoologist who has been studying and working with animals for 40 years. He runs an animal behaviour clinic and has created a companion online training program called Dog Zen. He has been on several popular television programs and has trained animals for many iconic New Zealand commercials, from the Toyota ‘bugger’ dog, to the pukekos in the Genesis ads. He is famous for having taught dogs to drive and also to fly a small plane.

His first book, Dog Zen, has sold over 10,000 copies.