Every year millions of puppies enter homes, carrying their new family's expectation of a wonderful relationship. Sadly, many are re-homed or lose their lives as the result of behaviours which their owners find difficult to live with. Helping a puppy to grow into a resilient dog, capable of coping with the challenges of daily living, whilst retaining a good quality of life and exhibiting behaviours acceptable within society, is not an easy task.

Life Skills for Puppies aims to simplify puppy education by presenting the skills that are required to achieve these goals within the context of everyday life. By enabling owners to incorporate teaching into each interaction they enjoy with their puppy, it not only becomes easier for them, but also enables the puppy to practice appropriate behaviour choices within day-to-day situations. By teaching skills such as self-control, respect for rules, and clear communication, owners can spend less time directing their dog, and more time enjoying their relationship with him, as he takes more control for his own good behaviour. Beautiful, specially-taken photographs illustrate the points made, and each chapter includes a worksheet to help owners chart their puppy's progress.

Helen Zulch, a vet who qualified in South Africa, worked in a number of areas of veterinary science before focusing on animal behaviour. She has consulted and lectured in the field for over 10 years and holds European Specialist status, moving to the University of Lincoln, UK, to continue this career. Her main interests and areas of research include prevention of behaviour problems through appropriate early life experiences, the application of scientific principles in animal training, interaction between health and behaviour, communication in animals, and olfaction in dogs. She has owned and trained dogs all her adult life. Helen is currently programme leader of the MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour at the University of Lincoln.

Daniel Mills is an internationally recognised veterinary behaviour specialist and Professor in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine at the University of Lincoln, UK. He initially worked in the animal charity sector, developing his interest in problem prevention, before moving into academia about 20 years ago. After completing his PhD, Daniel became the first person to be recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as a Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine and was subsequently recognised by the European College and Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. His main areas of research focus around the biological basis of problem behaviour and the recognition of emotional states in animals, which has led to the development and promotion of a number of novel approaches to managing problem behaviour.

Peter Baumber is a multi-skilled photographer with specific expertise and experience in the field of classic motorcycles, portraiture, dogs and cats. On commissioned projects he works closely with authors and editors to ensure that the images he creates best illustrate the subject matter.