Seymour resident authors book on dog training

• By Jessica Squires
  
• First Posted: May 07, 2013 - 9:50 pm
  Last Updated: May 07, 2013 - 9:51 pm

The perfect dog might sound like a myth, but one Jackson County resident has the solution down on paper.

Seymour resident Kathryn Jarvis is author of the book “So You Want The Perfect Dog: Start Here.” It discusses the process of preparing to add a dog to the family while choosing the best breed for your lifestyle.

Jarvis, who has a degree in animal science from Purdue University, wrote the book to share her experience from working with people and animals.

“Dogs come in different sizes,” she said. “Each breed has different traits. Not all of them are for everyone.”

Jarvis said it's important for people to make sure their pet matches their lifestyle, for the benefit of the pet and the owner.

"So many pets are brought in to the shelter because they didn't ft the lifestyle," she said. " One in five dogs are sold, given away, put in the backyard or dumped out in the country."

Jarvis said many of those dogs live and die in the shelter.

"I volunteered at the shelter, but I couldn't handle seeing the poor dogs who wanted attention so badly," she said. " I thought,' Why are they in the shelter? They're so good."

The book sets a seven step process for those looking for a pet to choose and prepare for their new dog, including making sure you are ready for a pet, necessities for taking care of a dog and some basic training techniques.

"The most important part is finding the right breed for you," Jarvis said. "You can take care of it,but if it doesn't fit into your life it's not going to work."

Jarvis said she hopes people will read the book and realize what they are getting into before they take home that adorable puppy.

"That puppy will turn into a full-grown dog," she said. "They're not an ornament or trophy. It actually has feelings and needs its basic needs taken care of."

Some basic needs might not be readily evident, Jarvis said. For instance, some dogs were bred in the past to be workers. Jarvis's dog, a  German shepherd, is part of a breed that was meant to guard and herd.

"Around small children, you can expect it to herd," she said.

If a dog is not allowed to do what it thinks its purpose is, it might act out, Jarvis said. Other things to consider about different breeds are shedding and size.

 Jarvis said anyone who is looking to add a dog to their family should read her book.

"They can learn what they need to expect and what to look for," she said.

Jarvis is also a personal dog trainer and coach, working one-on-one with dogs and their people.