experience and getting bitten by our jack russell as a child!
like michael,,,i have been around dogs all my life! my first recollection is of our pet jack russell Timmy. I would have been around 5 or 6yrs old. I remember wondering what his dog biscuits tasted like (dont know why? i was a curious child,,,,into everything) and helped myself to one out of his food bowl while he was eating!!!!!!!! i ended up in hospital having my nose stitched back on and was totally gutted when i got back home to find out that while my mum was seeing to me my dad had "sent Timmy away" for being a naughty boy. It was only when i was much older that i realised he had wizzed the poor dog off to be pts at the vets. I was so sad without my little buddy - we used to do everything together. i managed to persuade myself that it was my fault that Timmy had been "sent away" and swore i would never love another dog.
of course, as i grew up and learnt about these things, i came to love many dogs and have done my utmost to give all my animals the best love, care, and training i possibly could. i have read many books, filtered out the relevant information to my situation and developed my own understanding of my companions. many people who know me well have commented on my ability to connect with the dogs and how in tune with them i am - even dogs that are not in my care.
i believe that hands on experience far out weighs any academic knowledge - being in touch with any animal is a learnt skill and takes years of practise. shared experience is invaluable tool in furthering your abilities as a carer and trainer which is why i enjoy these forums so much. we learn so much from each other. but the best teachers of all are our dogs themselves. they tell us, in their own individual ways, what they need. All we have to be able to do is to listen, observe and connect with them.