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Price: $18.99 - $13.59
(as of Feb 10, 2025 18:47:10 UTC – Details)
The board-certified specialists of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists are here to decode how dogs think, how they communicate, and how they learn.
More than 90 percent of dog owners consider their pets to be members of their family. But often, despite our best intentions, we are letting our dogs down by not giving them the guidance and direction they need. Unwanted behavior is the number-one reason dogs are relinquished to shelters and rescue groups.
The key to training dogs effectively is first to understand why our dogs do what they do. And no one can address this more authoritatively than the diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, whose expert and researched work analyze problem behaviors and correct common misconceptions.
With veterinary-approved positive training methods, expert advice on socialization, and remedies for behavior problems such as OCD and aggression, Decoding Your Dog is the must-have behavior guide that will challenge the way we think about man’s best friend.
ASIN : 0544334604
Publisher : Mariner Books; Reprint edition (January 6, 2015)
Language : English
Paperback : 384 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780544334601
ISBN-13 : 978-0544334601
Item Weight : 10.5 ounces
Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.94 x 8 inches
Customers say
Customers find this book informative and helpful for understanding dog behavior. They find it easy to read and effective, providing good tips and teaching them how to spot signs. Many readers consider it a great gift for dog lovers. The ideas presented are unique and insightful, making you look at your dog through a new set of eyes. However, some customers have mixed opinions about the humaneness of the advice, with some finding it caring and kind, while others say it’s harmful to dogs and may cause neck injuries.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
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S. Hanna –
A great book for owners of problem dogs: unique ideas, but could use some editing!
I have a problem dog. He has extreme separation anxiety and he is unpredictably reactive with other dogs. He’s been to multiple trainers and to a veterinary behaviorist. All of those things have helped some. But dealing with his issues is a lifelong battle, in spite of his overall delightful good cheer and positive attitude. This book has supplied me with several good tips (like, he’ll bark less if I draw the front curtains while I’m working and he’s in this room with me. Yes, that works. And makes a better Zoom backdrop.)More importantly, it has “girded my loins” to continually emphasize the training process. Every day, all the time. For example, don’t give away high value objects without some task to do. He’s a dog that loves routines, so I’m building routines to structure his outdoor time and make it less likely he will, for example, aggress through the fence at our neighbor’s dogs (one of whom he likes, one he hates… like I said). I’m teaching him a new command to get him “away” from the fence. All helpful ideas stimulated or reinforced by this book.My experience with a problem dog is that you just get tired. Tired of dealing with it, tired of the embarrassment when the dog misbehaves in public. It’s very helpful to have a bunch of smart, rational and highly trained people give you some encouragement. You will get that from this book.The one flaw of this book is that there’s a lot of repetitive content, by virtue of the fact that each chapter is written by a different author or team. For example, the ideas of using a head halter and using positive training methods only are repeated OVER and OVER. A good editor could have pulled that common content out to some opening chapters on “basics” and made the book shorter and a brisker read. No one has a lot of time, that’s what editors are for. So, hear me! Please edit the next version of this book!Others gave this book low marks because they didn’t agree with some of the points or found the advice impractical. I don’t know how valid their criticisms of the content are, but in my mind “practical” is different for every person. As I said, I found the idea to close my curtains helpful. For another dog, or blinds instead of curtains, maybe it wouldn’t work. For me it does. Just because an idea doesn’t seem practical to one person doesn’t reduce its value, in my mind.If you have to deal with a problematic but loveable dog, I strongly encourage you to try this book. Don’t expect miracles, there aren’t any – also one of the main lessons. But you can keep making it better.
Amazon Customer –
Good reading
Thinking about getting a dog, want to be a good dog mom. This book is very readable, clearly written, focused.Very helpful
Claudia B –
definitely nuggets of information that will be very helpful in understanding and interacting with your dog in a positive way
It can be a bit more info than you want about some things (lengthy explanation at times) and I have found myself skipping over some sections especially in the beginning of the book, BUT there are definitely nuggets of information that are very useful for interacting with and working with your dog. Explanations that will give you a better understanding of you dog.Many commonly held misconceptions about dogs are rebuked and explained in a common sense way. For example, the belief that taking your dog’s food away from him/her when they are eating is not promoted. It is explained that a dog who has its food periodically and for no reason taken from him/her is more likely to develop aggression when eating because of the fear someone is going to take the food. It is instead suggested that you periodically add a special treat to their bowl while they are eating to make it a pleasant experience to have some approach them when eating. Makes perfect sense when you think about it logically.The book endorses positive ways to work with your dog and his/her behavior. A gentler, kinder, approach than some methods that insist aggressive domination of you pet is necessary.There is quite a bit of time taking explaining dog behavior and how our own interaction with them affects our dogs. I found very helpful. Again with the reasoning explained in a common sense and logical way.
Hokie97 –
I recommend this book to EVERYONE, no matter how much you think you know about dogs.
I was recommended this book by my dog’s board certified behaviorist. I was initially hesitant to purchase a book on dog behavior, as I have been a Licensed Veterinary Technician for over 15 years, and I worked closely with a good dog trainer for my rescue dog for over a year. I figured I paid all that money to see a behaviorist, what was another $15?This book is fantastic. There are some chapters I have skipped or glossed over, as my dog is a middle aged rescue, so I don’t need the chapters on picking out a puppy or deciding on a breed, house training, etc.The chapters on general behavior and separation anxiety and compulsive disorder, which my dog has recently started with after a cross country move, has been both fascinating and educational. As an LVT, I have heard a lot of opinions from clients about dogs and cats seeking out revenge and knowing they’ve been bad, and I knew in my heart that wasn’t the case, but this book talks about studies and what we’ve learned over the last decades, and actually gives me the words I need to explain that to clients. I wish I had had this book years ago.If you think you know everything about dogs and their behavior, don’t let that stop you from getting this book. I have learned so much about both my dog, and about how to work with dogs in the future. I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE! Anybody can write a book and make is sound like the proper technique, but the authors of this book are board certified veterinary behaviorist. You can’t get a more knowledgeable group of people to educate the world on dog behavior.
Loukritia –
Sometimes even experienced people need to be reminded of some basics. I like simple books.
Eric G. –
Anyone who has a dog, or especially if youâre considering getting one, read this book! Itâs incredibly thorough, but clearly and simply written. I appreciated the consistent layout of each chapter and enjoyed the numerous first hand stories. It did take a while to read simply because it is so full of information but covers all aspects from before you commit to a dog, the process of getting and training your dog, all the way to problems and end of life care. The consistent and predictable layout allows you to easily skip irrelevant sections and go back when needed (my puppy certainly does not need end of life care at the moment). A valuable resource in the library!
Justin Marsan –
Un livre sur l’éducation canine écrite par des vétérinaires, l’idée semblait bonne, mais au final on se retrouve avec un livre feel good qui promeut des valeurs qui font plaisir à lire au coin du feu mais qui ne font pas vraiment avancer les choses. Certes l’approche positive est plutôt bien expliquée sur certains points, mais la partie outil est complètement orientée et mensongère et je ne suis même pas allé jusqu’à la fin du livre qui alterne entre niaiserie et banalités…J’aurais du m’en douter, mais c’est un best seller typique à l’américaine, ça fait très branché de l’avoir lu et c’est formatté pour bien passer au télé achat mais ça n’a que peu de substance…
Antonio Corti –
Libro molto dettagliato e completo. Gli autori sono dei veterinari. Ogni capitolo si conclude con una sintesi di rapida consultazione.
Corvin –
Can’t recommend this highly enough. Written in and easy to understand way, by Professionals and covers anything any dog owner needs to know about their dog, how they think, their behaviour and how to modify it. Techniques are modern, up to date and humane. A MUST for any dog owner. You think you know dogs, you don’t! Learnt so much from reading this book. Highly recommended.