Worst Features: Not enough agility. There is only one page devoted to it. All clicker based training.

Unfortunately it is not an easy read. It's not written in plain English so that everyone can understand the ideas and principles involved in the subjects covered.

Design, format and quality of production: New eye catching magazine. All very good with photos on a lot of subjects.

Overall Rating: 7/10 mainly because just one method of training is covered and I am not yet convinced that clicker is the way to go.

Price: £3.50 per issue or UK£22 for one year (6 issues)

Value for Money:  Well worth having. I am really glad I bought the book as it really made me THINK. When I get another dog I shall certainly be rereading Ruff Love, and my initial management of our relationship will be different.

The Publisher Learning About Dogs Ltd, P.O. Box 13, Chipping Campden, Glos. GL55 6WX Tel:0(+44)1386 430189 http://www.teachingdogs.com/

About the Editor
Kay Laurence does not consider herself a trainer of dogs but a teacher of dogs.  She appreciates the enormous capacity dogs have for learning. This naturally encompasses clicker training and all it represents - a method of communication that does not involve coercive or adversarial techniques i.e. no force or punishment.

She breeds Genabacab collies, a line which is know to have lots of pop, keen, sensitive and very, very dedicated as well as Gordon Setters and lives in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire.

About the Reviewer
olette Kinnersley was born in Shrewsbury, but moved to Chase Terrace in Birmingham and Bolsover near Chesterfield.  She got her first dog Mitze a black miniature poodle at the age of ten. She moved back to Shrewsbury and after Mitze passing on got Mitze II, another black poodle who proved to be deaf. This was not a hindrance but taught her to look at things from a dogs level and point of view, to use clear signals, and to have loads of patience.

The first club she attended was obedience held at Copthorn in Shrewsbury, She travelled 3-4 miles on push bike, with Mitze in the basket. She gained lots of placings including first in club competitions.

Shrewsbury club then moved to the West Mids Show Ground in Shrewsbury. Luckily by this time, she was old enough to ride a moped. A special box was made for Mitze to travel in on the moped.

Colette then got another black poodle, Bambie (Bravels Black Knight), not a handsome lad - he was long in the back - but a real character. He always made you laugh, even when you should have been cross with him. Everyone loved him. He introduced Colette to Agility though, at that time there were no Mini classes at shows. When Mini classes were introduced, he did very well always getting a placing, though she could only enter jumping classes as Bambie was frightened of heights! His legs really shook with fear. This trait was passed onto his daughter Peppar whom Colette gave to her sister Dawn as a present.

Colette also attended Ruth Hobday's in the quarry at Donnington, which then moved to the Church Stretton Hills, where the training was relaxing, the air clean and the views spectacular. You will see a picture of Colette with Penny, a Papillon owned by Dawn, in Ruth Hobday's book Agility Is Fun (page 37) teaching a Mini dog the A-frame, published in 1989.

Colette then got a Papillon pup Titus or Small Copper. He had a lovely nature, and was a great companion but he was a show off and played to his audience. They often missed the high placings because Titus went into show off mode, high stepping across the dog walk.

Unfortunately work stopped Colette from doing a lot of competitions, working in a supermarket meant she had to work weekends.

She eventually got her first WSD in 1989. Emma was an old fashioned tri-colour, a very loyal and honest dog. She could put her paw to anything. Many a time she herded a sheep back to the safety of it's field off a road. She was good at agility, but never quite made the placings, only in Colette's heart.

In 1992 Colette, Emma and Tammy, a chocolate Poodle, moved to Birmingham to live with her sister Dawn and her two dogs Peppar, another poodle and Penny a Papillon. It was then Colette joined Beacon agility club.

When Emma passed on with auto-immune disease, Dawn bought Colette Misty, another WSD. Being a blue merle will explain a lot. She is very excitable and suffers with nervous aggression. Every one advised them to put her to sleep, but they persevered with her, and they are still persevering. Misty is improving. She's a loving dog, and Colette is of her fears, and working through them. Having the dog muzzled in public places ensures no incidents occur.

Colette rescued Chance (Just By Chance) a black and white, very ugly puppy, but he turned into a very handsome dog both affectionate and a reliable worker. If anything, he tries too hard to please you, and gets confused. A slight raised voice is all that is needed to correct him. He works on well ahead, listening to directions, which is just as well as Colette cannot run that fast. He is also very helpful around the house, opening and closing doors when the other dogs need to go out or come in from the garden, And he loves taking messages between the family.

Colette's latest addition to the family is Chiko (Safe and Sound), a sable and white WD bought for her by her sister Dawn last September. She was chosen at 12 weeks but they did not collect her until she was 14 weeks, due to the current show regulations. Those extra weeks on the farm, running free and being allowed to do her own bidding has made her a very self-assured, headstrong and stubborn young lady. She sums up situations by observing them and not by running away. Chiko seems to be the rebellious teenager saying 'so what'.  However, she is coming on quite well, and loves to do agility and Colette says she hopes she can live up to Chiko's expectations.

Colette says that each and every one of her four legged friends have taught her such a lot, and that even solving their problems or most of them, have made her view things from their point of view, and she hopes she is a better friend and handler to them.

She still works in a supermarket, but luckily she now has weekends off, so hopefully she will be able to do more shows next year.