Every field of knowledge has books that have stood the test of time. They call it “legs” in publishing, as in “that book has legs,” because it’s going to keep walking itself into the future on the strength of its content and its impact on those who read it. Dog training is no different. Because of some game-changing authors, our dog training abilities have experienced profound changes in the last thirty years. Indeed, our perspective on the relationship between people and dogs has evolved into something as rich and nuanced as it has ever been, in part because of these books.
In honor of these important volumes, we’ve created a new section on the website for them. I’d like to tell you why these books are such game changes, and why I honestly think every serious student of dog training and behavior should read them. First, here’s my list:
Don’t Shoot the Dog, by Karen Pryor
Excel-erated Learning, by Pamela Reid
The Culture Clash, by Jean Donaldson
The Other End of the Leash (Okay, awkward. Who wrote this book anyway?)
On Talking Terms with Dogs, by Turid Rugaas.
Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook, by Barbara Handelman
Here’s why I think they deserve to be called classics, and should be on everyone’s bookshelf:
Don’t Shoot the Dog: The New Art of Teaching and Training, by Karen Pryor. First published 1999, this book was revolutionary at the time. If anything deserves to be called a classic, this is it. In spite of the title, this not just a dog training book, but the first accessible account of how to use operant conditioning, especially positive reinforcement, to influence behavior. As Pryor herself says in the Foreword, “This book is about how to train anyone—human or animal, young or old, oneself or others—to do anything that can and should be done.” The title, “Don’t Shoot the Dog,” derives from her listing the 8 ways that a behavior can be “unlearned.” Does your dog jump up onto visitors? Method one is shooting the dog (guaranteed to eliminate the behavior) and method two is “everybody’s favorite,” in spite of the fact that it rarely works. She goes on to list the methods that DO work, using examples from a variety of contexts (Ex: Kids too noisy in the car? Teach kids to yell “on cue,” (putting the behavior under stimulus control).
The principles summarized in this book, based in part on the work of B.F. Skinner, are as relevant today as they were in 1999. I encourage everyone to master the science of learning through more current programs with Karen Pryor or Dr. Susan Friedman, or learning about “behavior adjustment training” by Grisha Stewart. But Don’t Shoot the Dog is the place to start, because it summarizes the key concepts in an accessible and concise form that should be read and re-read by anyone who would like to influence the behavior of virtually anyone or anything that moves. (Rocks and water are excluded, but that’s about it!)
Excel-erated Learning: Explaining how dogs learn and how best to teach them, by Pamela J. Reid. This is probably a critically important book to read if you want to truly understand classical and operant conditioning, including how to define and apply the four operant conditioning quadrants of positive-negative, and punishment-reinforcement. Given that just about everyone gets these wrong without studying them, this book is vital if you really want to understand conditioning. I wouldn’t begin to take the CPDT or CDBC exam without reading and studying this book. As one reviewer said on Dogwise: “How on earth did Dr. Reid get an entire psychology text into such a small book?” I would add that it’s better than most texts, because it’s readable and clear and a breath of fresh air in a field often plagued by confusion. Even thought it’s a “classic,” I don’t think this book has gotten the attention it deserves—Reid is one of the country’s top applied psychologists, an agility enthusiast, an expert in saving dogs from horrific situations through her work at the ASPCA, and a terrific writer to boot. I think I’ve just convinced myself to read this book again. Good idea.
One cautionary note about this book: The four quadrants of operant conditioning include “positive punishment,” which means adding something (positive as in addition, not as in “happy”) to decrease the frequency of a behavior (which is the definition of punishment). Although many of us avoid using many forms of positive punishment (P+), you can’t understand operant conditioning without knowing how to define it. Dr. Reid has been criticized for her discussion of P+, but the fact is you simply can’t understand learning without knowing about the quadrant most often used (and abused) by dog owners. (An additional note: The cover of Excel-erated Learning is, uh, as I say on the website, “visually jarring.” I wonder if it has put some readers off, but if it has, don’t let it. I’ve become quite fond of the drawing of a dog with a brain that looks like a cauliflower.)
The Culture Clash: A revolutionary new way of understanding the relationship between humans and domestic dogs, by Jean Donaldson. This is another book that came out originally in the 90’s with a behaviorist’s perspective that caused people to re-evaluate their relationship with their dog. Starting with the now-classic story about how an owner interprets a dog’s cowering at the door after chewing up the couch (guilt or appeasement?), The Culture Clash had a profound effect on the world of dog training when it was first released. The “clash” refers to the conflicts that occur between species with different natural behaviors and expectations. Is your dog chewing up your slippers? Jumping up on you when you come home and ruining your white pants? Donaldson argues, compellingly, that the common attributions of “stubborn,” “dominant,” or “dumb,” are not only ineffective, they are destructive. She goes on to illustrate how learning theory, and a behaviorist’s perspective (now called behavior analysis), is the best way to influence the behavior of our dogs.
Although this book shares a common theme with the two above, it was one of the first books written that tries to look at the world through a dog’s eyes, and I think that is part of the reason for it staying on the best seller lists for decades. It’s another classic that deserves to be read and re-read by us all.
Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs, by Patricia B. McConnell. Well, this is awkward. This book, written by, uh me, wasn’t on my list until colleagues lobbied for it. I’m honored by their suggestions, and include this book in part because my publisher tells me that it sells as many books now as it did over fourteen years ago. That’s rare in the world of publishing, and objectively qualifies a book as a classic, even if I am scuffing my feet as I write it.
This book introduces a different perspective than the three books already listed. You’ll note that the first three books share a common theme: What science has shown us about how animals learn, and how to use these well-researched principles to influence behavior effectively. My book comes from a different but complimentary field. It asks what science has to tell us about the natural behavior, or the ethology, of both species at either end of the leash, and how that both binds us and causes us no end of confusion. Dogs and people love to play, it’s part of why we love dogs so much, but the different play styles of the two species can end up in tragedy if they are not understood. Does your dog not come when called? Perhaps that is because you walk toward him and raise your voice when you call. That’s a very “primate-like” thing to do, but in dog language you just told your dog to stop.
The Other End of the Leash is not a dog training book. Rather, it’s a book that helps dog lovers see the world from the dog’s perspective, and understand better how their own behavior can help or hinder their communication and relationship. The books already mentioned certainly talk about canine behavior (and our expectations of them in The Culture Clash), but this book reminds us that we need to look to the other end of the leash to truly understand why dogs do what they do.
Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, by Turid Rugas. I was thrilled when Turid’s work first got the international attention it deserved. Here was a summary of exactly the kind of careful observations that I had been trained to make as an ethologist, applied to interactions between dogs. Rugaas describes behaviors that she labels as “calming signals,” like turning the head, licking the nose and yawning, and notes how owners can use similar behaviors themselves to influence their dog’s behavior. The second part of the booklet lists signs of stress in dogs, and how to help dogs who are distressed in some way. The newer version, published in full color by Dogwise, has excellent photographs of important behaviors and postures that every dog owner should be able to recognize instantly.
One note: Recalling the importance of not making speculative attributions about a dog’s intentions, stressed by both behavior analysts and ethologists, I want to caution readers about assuming they know what’s going on inside a dog’s head when it sniffs the ground or lip licks. I have heard some readers of this book talk as though a lip-licking dog is doing it to intentionally calm another dog. We don’t know that—we do know that dogs tend to lip lick in what appear to be stressful situations. When a dog turns away from another to sniff the ground after what looks like a tense greeting, we should all applaud it for doing something that results in calming down a potentially dangerous situation. We just need to be careful what “calming” actually means—“calming” signals don’t necessarily mean the dog giving them is calm herself, or is intentionally calming another dog. The author accurately makes it clear in her book that this isn’t always the case. For example, while “looking away” might avoid conflict with another dog, the dog doing it might be stressed herself.
That said, On Talking Terms with Dogs had a profound effect on the training world, and is a wonderful example of the importance of observing your dog, and how what appear to be small, subtle movements can have massive effects on behavior. It is concise, clear, accessible and affordable—I wish every dog owner received a copy of this book when they got their dog!
Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook, by Barbara Handelman. If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, this book—which actually has 1,000 photos in it—is worth its weight in gold. Along the same lines as On Talking Terms, but expanded into a 344 page book that is chock full of photographs, Handelman’s book is a resource that every serious dog owner and trainer/behaviorist should have.
No text can fully describe the richness of this book, with illustration after illustration of important aspects of canid behavior and communication. The photographs are stunning, and the integration of wolf and domestic dog images have much to teach us about the subtleties and intricacy of communication in our best friends.
How Handelman managed to accomplish gathering all the photographs (they are excellent) and putting them together in a semblance of order is beyond me, but I’m thankful that she did. My brain doesn’t always follow the ways she has categorized information, but you’ve got to love some labels she’s given to behaviors we all are familiar with but haven’t named, like “Paw Thwack” and “Nose Boink.”
Of course, in a book this large, there are some descriptions or interpretations that I might quibble with, but they are few and far between. Canine Behavior is the brilliant accomplishment of a woman whose first career–working with non-verbal children—gave her a solid background in observation, and whose later career as a professional photographer has resulted in a timeless classic that deserves informs and improves our understanding of our best friends.
Know someone who needs them all? Dogwise has partnered with us to offer a discount on the PACKAGE of all six (30% off). It’s a great deal for anyone starting out in the field, or as a donation to your local shelter or library. Thanks to all at Dogwise for helping to spread the word on this, we’re very grateful!
Note: After writing about these classic books, I realized that my choices are perfectly balanced between the sciences of ethology (who animals are and how they see and react to the world) and psychology (how animals learn and how to influence their behavior). That reflects my belief that, in order to truly understand dogs, we need to master both perspectives. Add on lots of “paws on the ground” experience with many different types of dogs, and you’ll become someone who improves the relationship between people and dogs, whether it’s your own dog at home, or the dogs of thousands of others. And what could be better than that?
MEANWHILE, back on the farm. Holy moly, could someone put another 6 hours or so in the day so I can get enough time to do everything that needs to be done at the farm? The weeds are threatening to take over the house, much less the garden, the sheep need to be moved around often so that the lamb’s mothers get the best grass, Maggie’s first competitive trial season is coming up. In addition, along with my usual work-related duties, I’m spending hours every day revising my memoir based on suggestions from my editor. I’d write more but, the weeds are threatening to take over the house, much less the garden, the sheep need to be moved around so that the lamb’s mothers…. Oh. Sorry. Already said that. Bye.
I did take a few minutes to capture this photo of a classic spring scene in the Midwest. (It seemed fitting, given the focus on “classics” today.) There’s not much more “spring has come to southern Wisconsin” than this shot of green hills, blue skies and fields awaiting planting.
Here’s Nellie, having been interrupted by me and my camera while she napped in a box. (Another reminder of how much cats love to sleep in things that touch their body.) She was adorably curled up until I returned with my camera, and appears to be none too pleased about being disturbed (Trisha says, with blatant but unapologetic anthropomorphism).
Barbara Romanofsky says
Thank you so much for the information about the books. I have bookmarked this post so I can go back and read it carefully. It’s nice to have your descriptions on each book. We currently have a 5 year old female Chesapeake Bay Retriever. We bought her from a breeder 10 months ago who I guess I’ll just say we wouldn’t recommend. We consider her to be a rescue and she’s living the good life now. We adore her.
Kat says
One that wasn’t in my library! Looking forward to getting and reading Reid’s book. Anything that helps me better understand and work with Finna is welcome in my library. Thanks for this list.
Nic1 says
Trisha – I’m really heartened to read about your caveat on ‘calming signals’. I prefer the term threat reducing or even stress signals to the term ‘calming signals’ I think.
A great selection of books recommended, thank you – I have read all but three (but know of them) but I am intrigued now that you mention them as essential ‘classics’. Except I can’t add anything else to my reading list otherwise it will be 2020 by the time I get around to reading your memoir!
Karlyn Shepler says
Thank you for “The Other End of the Leash”. I have had it for years, the first book of this genre I purchased while working with a dog rescue group so I could be a better foster. I have given several copies away as well. A friend got a Labradoodle from a breeder and they give your book away as well.
I also remember “back in the day” when you did the program with Doug. Loved it.
Andy says
I’ve got the Handelman on-deck and am really looking forward to it! That would put me at three – Rugaas and of course TOEOTL, all more ethology than training from what I can tell. After that I really need to read one of the more training-centric ones, and I think I’ll start with Reid.
It’s very classy of you to showcase other great authors on your site, and gives me a good idea of where to go from here.
Vicki says
I have most of these books and reread them all. I learn something new each time. I am not a weirdo but have often wished we were friends…..I so love your outlook and am awed by your knowledge and those OS the other authors here. We owe it to our animals to educate ourselves as much as possible! Thank you!
Diane says
I have read a few of these books. Yours was the first that started me on my journey. I will check out all the other books I have not yet read. From a novice…one who didn’t get dogs at all…to a dangerous new kid on the block (I hope not too dangerous because at least I recognize I don’t have enough knowledge!), I thank you and all the experts who share.
Donna Wolff says
Have had all but the Handelman in my library since their publications and love that your list may expose others to their wisdom. Now to order the one I’ve not even heard of. Thank you.
Chris from Boise says
My marriage (as well as our dogs) improved considerably after I read Don’t Shoot The Dog. And I became a nicer person all around.
The Other End Of The Leash came to us two days after adopting Habi, eight years ago. A friend said “Here. You need this book”. We did. It (and a behavioral vet) helped us get through the first year of hell, the second through fifth years of excruciatingly slow progress, and the last three years of stability and joy.
Re Calming Signals – could these be what my animal behavior prof (40 years ago – eep!) called “displacement activities” (Wikipedia: “Displacement activities occur when an animal experiences high motivation for two or more conflicting behaviours: the resulting displacement activity is usually unrelated to the competing motivations.”)?
Looking forward to re-reading several of them, and reading a couple for the first time. Thank you for the list!
Ellen Jefferies says
I think all the McConnell books belong on this list! They’ve been my “go to” for advice on every problem I’ve had with our “pack”. “Don’t Shoot the Dog” has been my bible since it was first published, long before the concepts became popular. I even bought 10 copies to give my friends. Wish it had been available when I was raising my children. My personal opinion is that the original edition is much better than the revised edition, if you can lay your hands on one.
Beth says
Ever been in a group of people (workplace, social gathering, family event) and one person starts holding forth loudly and somewhat aggressively? And people wonder if maybe there will be a fight? And the room goes a bit quiet, and everyone on the periphery tries very hard to pretend they aren’t noticing? They look down, pretend to work, find something in their bag to fiddle with?
Are those people sending intentional signals or reflecting an internal state? Something like “Oh my gosh, I don’t want to get involved, but I don’t want to just hide or I’ll draw attention so I’ll act normal and maybe he won’t notice me…..”
This is how I think of dogs sniffing the ground when there is a dog bully around.
With some dogs, it is hard to tell if their on-the-toes, slightly wild behavior or their staring is communicating “I really want to play!” or “I’m going to eat you!” Because face it, some dogs have great, er, “enthusiasm” for a fight. I can’t always tell, but dog-savvy Jack can. If he wants to go towards the other dog, I know it wants to play. But if he starts sniffing the ground “La-di-daaa, I don’t even seeeee youuuuuuuu” I know the other dog does not have good intentions.
I don’t know that he is intentionally communicating something to the other dog so much as trying very hard to not do anything that might draw notice or in any way signal to a dog itching for a fight that he might join in.
When any signal might be misinterpreted as a challenge because the other party is so wound up, the best choice is to avoid any intentional communication signals at all. It’s not intentional communication, but it’s not just reflecting inner state either. It shows a knowledge by the sniffing dog of the OTHER dog’s internal state.
That’s sort of how I take it.
Sasha says
Ha! I didn’t expect to be, but I’m 6 for 6. I love all of them. I would add Suzanne Clothier’s Bones Would Rain from the Sky and Alexandra Horowitz’s Inside of a Dog.
Ellen Jefferies says
I had to do quite a lot of digging for this info. “Don’t Shoot the Dog, How to Improve Yourself and Others Through Behavioral Training” was first published by Simon and Schuster in 1984. A heavily revised edition, “Don’t Shoot The Dog, The New Art of Teaching and Training” was published by Bantam in 1999. By 1999 clicker training had become a widely used technique used by almost everyone, Karen Pryor had become famous among dog trainers, in short there was a major “band wagon” rolling. The revised edition, as well as Karen Pryor’s thinking and public presence was substantially influenced by the way that “clicker training” popularity had morphed the original concepts. Personally, looking at the results of the training trends that have evolved, well, I’m pretty appalled. I couldn’t live with dogs behaving like that. I like the first book MUCH much better and have used it’s approach with results that I am very happy with.
Trisha says
To Sasha: “Here here” on those recommendations! I did struggle with keeping the list short, but wanting to add more. So many great books out there, aren’t we lucky?
To Beth: Your analogy is just perfect. “I’m just staying out of trouble here. If I could just fade into a blank space, I would.” You do bring up that always-interesting issue of “Theory of Mind,” or can/do dogs imagine the mental workings of another. It’s possible that they could behave as they do without knowing another dog has a mind like theirs, with emotions, and intentions, etc. I personally find it harder to imagine a dog learning that avoidance is safer without some conscious knowledge of why that would be true. Ah, this will keep scientists and philosophers busy for decades!
Trisha says
To Chris from Boise: Excellent point about “displacement” behavior. Here is a great example of looking at behavior from different perspectives, from behavior analysis (what’s the function?), to psychology of the mind (what’s the emotion), to ethology (what’s the evolutionary component, and what’s the communicative value to a social species), to neurobiology (where and how is this behavior regulated?). Ah! See why I love behavior so much!!??
Sorry can’t write more–crazy day, but thanks to all for the kind comments about my books. She said, scuffing her feet. They mean more to me than I have words to describe.
Holly says
The Other End of the Leash, and Don’t Shoot the Dog were both recommended and read by more than dog trainers recently. Warwick (pronounced Warrick) Schiller is a horse trainer out of California who is very operant, and he recommended both of these books.
Funny how that happens, that good information starts to bleed into other disciplines.
Bruce says
Trisha, your list of “The Classics” makes me realize that I have read ABOUT many of these books without actually READING them. Not my style, so I see a book wallow in my near-term future. Always appreciate an excuse to read more books.
Already have The Other End of the Leash, of course. I re-read it regularly and always pick up something useful. I particularly appreciate your ability to simplify complicated concepts without glossing over the underlying complexity and uncertainty. I do a lot of training on technical / regulatory matters, so I know that is not an easy balance to strike. Keep up the good work!
Red Dog vs. puppies update: We met a brindle boxer puppy at the dog park. The boxer pup was less than 6 months old and quite confident. Red Dog was more gentle than usual so I let her play without a leash. Whenever I separated the two, the Boxer pup immediately ran back to Red Dog for more.
Boxer pup and Sandy even played a bit. I always smile when Sandy is playing – she looks like she is having so much fun, and it is such a nice contrast with her usual slightly worried demeanor (but less worried than when we got her a year ago. Progress, progress).
HFR says
This is a wonderful list and I’m really anxious to read/look at the Canine Behavior book. I find illustrations or photos of behaviors very informative. I really enjoyed Rugas’ book, so seeing even more pictures of behavior sounds intriguing.
There were 2 books that rocked my world when it came to how I interacted with dogs. The first was the fantastic, The Other End of the Leash. I still am in awe of that book and how enlightening it was for me. (Thank you, Trisha…and I am another one who used to watch your TV show!). The other one became more controversial as time went on, I think, but it showed me a world I had never considered before and that was The Hidden Life of Dogs by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas. Not a dog training book at all, but a beautifully written look at life through a dog’s eyes.
I feel as if I’ve read Culture Clash and Don’t Shoot the Dog even tho I haven’t because it is referenced so often in articles I’ve read and classes I’ve taken, along with TOETL. That alone speaks to these books’ timelessness.
em says
@Ellen Jeffries,
I’m curious. Could you be a bit more specific about the training and behavioral trends you find appalling? I’m not asking to criticize, just out of confusion.
I do have my own critique of some of the trainers and techniques that I personally encountered early in my time with Otis (coming to the encounter as I did with plenty of experience with dogs and none at all with obedience trainers, I made some pretty serious mistakes by ignoring my experience and instincts-for which I blame myself almost entirely-but there is no doubt that not all professional trainers are equally adept or informed).
I remember being appalled on the first meet-and-greet evening where we observed our trainer and assistants working with their own dogs. I observed dogs jumping up, barking, with no solid heel or recall on dogs raised from puppyhood and over a year old, grabby behaivors, etc. I seriously thought about walking away before even bringing Otis to one session and later seriously regretted that I didn’t do so. Speaking from my perspective today, I can say that this particular obedience club relied on a disorganized mix of luring, treat-shoveling, and physical punishment as training techniques while at the same time utterly failing to address the mental and emotional states of the dogs present or teaching owners to effectively communicate with their dogs.
All the dogs did terribly, it was a terrible experience, and after four weeks, sensitive and well-behaved (outside class) Otis ended up having a complete meltdown.
I don’t consider this a failure of methodology, however, but more of a trainwreck of human frailties- techniques poorly understood, badly implemented, and ineffectively combined. Arbitrary and impractical training goals, (for instance- Otis found holding a sitting position on a hard floor for more than a few seconds physically uncomfortable, so when asked for a sit-stay, he’d lie down after a moment. I understand that in competition obedience that’s not allowed, but for my purposes, it was (and is) just fine- ideal, in fact. Despite my far-too-timid objection (I’m still kicking myself), I was instructed to jerk and harass him back into a sit if he tried to lie down.) and just generally a wrongheaded approach to developing a relationship between human and dog.
I often find that one of the greatest struggles in any field is in translating from the specialist’s understanding to the public’s. Popular science reporting, in particular, so often seems to miss the point, oversimplify the theories, and overstate findings, that I’m constantly (metaphorically) tearing my hair out over it. Combine that with the high emotions that surround pets and children, and it’s a public relations powder keg. I’m so grateful for those true professionals who manage to negotiate the landmines to put out work that its both accurate and accessible.
HFR says
Trisha, what do you think of this week’s hubub over Coren’s column/article in Psychology Today on how much dogs hate hugs. All of my friends are sending me links to it and my reaction has been, “So what else is new? Patricia McConnell has been talking about this for a long time.” I remember that was one of the things in TOETL that stuck with me and you talk about it in your speaking engagements. Now the backlash is starting. Today I’m seeing articles on why dogs do love hugs and the column was completely wrong. OY!
Beth says
em, I had a somewhat similar experience with an agility class where I should have trusted my gut and didn’t. The class was outdoors and there was a puppy class before ours. There were dropped and lost treats scattered everywhere in the grass, all the time. For food-motivated excellent-nosed Jack, the class stopped being agility and turned into an hour-long exercise in “leave it.” The instructor felt that an agility dog should be able to ignore distractions. I agreed but secretly felt that was way too much distraction for a novice dog. I kept trying, ignoring the knot in my stomach, until the night Jack kept running for the exit and asking to leave whenever I’d let him off-lead. Jack, who is enthusiastic about everything and has only ever tried to leave one place— the vet’s. Jack who normally loves training and running was so shut-down he just wanted out.
We quit and didn’t go back.
Later, I read about an agility competition where someone training on the equipment had lost a treat in a tunnel and every dog but one got “stuck” in the tunnel and didn’t want to come out because they were looking for the treat. I should have trusted my gut.
Anya says
Trisha, thank you so much for this list! I couldn`t agree more.
And yes, there are more wonderful books, of course. Another book I`ve read again and again is “Oh Behave!” from Jean Donaldson.
A friend of mine just lost her beloved dog and I gave her your “For The Love Of A Dog” .
I still can remember when I first read “The Other End Of The Leash”. I had to buy another copy because I had written “Yes!!!!”, LOL!!!, “This is so true” and other comments like these all over the pages of the first one…
If someone asks me for a book recommendation, I still say: “You don`t have to read many books about dogs, read “The Other End Of The Leash” .
Susan Strange says
Do you have any knowledge about dogs with crystals & bladder stones caused by the Purines that come from their diet? I need all the info I can find. I definitely don’t want to put my dog through another surgery.
Thank you,
Susan S
Trisha says
To HFR: thanks for the heads up, I’m at a sheepdog clinic and mostly outside, hadn’t seen the article. I can tell you that people also got mad at me when I was on book tour for OEL. One was the interviewer himself. I always asked if they’d seen their dog’s faces while being hugged. (Except of course, for the dogs who really actually do love hugs… Always are exceptions,, which all rules have… Golden Retrievers being the prime candidate for this!)
Kat says
I was first prompted to observe that dogs aren’t big fans of being hugged the first time I read The Other End of the Leash many years ago. Since then it’s just been a fact in my knowledge of dogs so I was astonished when our vet wanted to share this research with me last week when Ranger was in for his health check. I’m glad more people are realizing this isn’t a pleasant experience for the vast majority of dogs.
When Ranger and I do a dog safety talk for kids I ask the kids to tell me if Ranger looks happy or not. With his happy open-mouth grin and sparkling eyes kids easily identify him as happy. I’ll drape my arm over his shoulders and scratch his chest and he still looks very happy. I bring my other arm across his chest for a hug and his mouth closes and his eyes lose their sparkle. He looks like he’s enduring a dentist visit. All the kids easily see that too. It’s pretty obvious when you actually look.
Kris says
‘The other end of the leash’ is one of my all time favorite books. I got it after recusing a 2.5 yr old golden who had no training at all. What a smart girl she was with a wonderful temperament but a few issues I had no idea how to overcome. It worked, all of it, every tip, every process, every everything. Not that we didn’t have a little issue here and there but it turned my wild, pushy girl into an active, loving, cooperative part of our family. After her passing we decided a puppy was in order, another golden. With no children in the house now and being semi retired I had plenty of time for training, exercise and play. One would think it would be ideal wouldn’t one. Not so much. I became her constant playmate and by constant I mean CONSTANT, 24/7. Kai is so smart, too smart, and has trained me well. To say she is pushy is an understatement so much like Lexi was. Lexi, hmmm, why didn’t I think about it? Out came the book and in several hours this morning I can already see progress. Your book will always stay in plain view so I will never again forget my lessons. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
ltk10 says
I’ve read “The Other End of the Leash,” “Calming Signals: On Talking Terms with Dogs,” and “Don’t Shoot the Dog” at least 3 times each. Now I have three more to read, plus Grisha’s BAT 2.0!! Thank you so much for yours, which was the first for me and my all-time favorite.