Labrador Retrievers for Dummies

Joel Walton, his wife, Janet, and their two boys, David and Jimmy, got their first Labrador Retriever, Bart, in September 1969. Bart crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 1981. The Waltons had their first Labrador litter in 1983. Although some Walton Family Labradors have excelled in obedience, drug detection, hunting and hunt tests, and other doggy activities, the Waltons continue to focus on breeding the best possible family pets. Joel has been a member of the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac for many years and helped found Lab Rescue of LRCP, Inc., serving as their first secretary. Karen Pryor opened Joel's mind to the science of positive dog training when she passed through the Washington, D.C., area giving her famous "Don't Shoot the Dog" seminars based on her classic book of the same title. In June of 1987, Joel and Janet took Cocoa and her two pups, Bear and Ginger, to Dr. Ian Dunbar's first ever Puppy Training Workshop. Joel immediately adopted lure-and-reward training and stopped using the old-fashioned methods involving punishing dogs by giving them a leash correction with a choke collar when they made a mistake. Joel says it is much more fun to reward dogs when they get it right! Walton Family Dog Training LLC was founded in 1986. Joel trains families in the Washington, D.C., area to train their puppies and dogs. Joel provides classes for aspiring positive dog trainers and operates five Internet e-mail lists for pet dog trainers and pet dog owners. Joel and Janet continue to breed a few Labrador litters each year. They share their home with over 25 Labradors and one Rottweiler. Eve Adamson is a freelance writer in Iowa City, Iowa, who specializes in pet and holistic health subjects. She is a frequent contributor to Dog Fancy magazine and many other pet-related publications and a member of the Dog Writer's Association of America. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Florida and has authored and co-authored many books.Walton, Joel is the author of 'Labrador Retrievers for Dummies' with ISBN 9780764552816 and ISBN 0764552813.