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(as of Mar 01, 2025 09:03:36 UTC – Details)
The renowned author of The Other End of the Leash “sheds new light on the emotional lives of animals” (The Washington Post) in this thoughtful and engaging exploration of man’s best friend.
“Compelling . . . a wonderful blend of scientific knowledge, stories about real dogs and their behavior, and scenes from the author’s life with her own dogs . . . [For the Love of a Dog] will make you think—but it will also touch your heart.”—Associated Press
For those of us who deeply cherish our dogs but are often baffled by their behavior, For the Love of a Dog is a revelation—offering dog owners everywhere a new understanding of the complex web of emotions that sometimes bind, and other times damage, our relationship with dogs. As animal behaviorist and zoologist Dr. Patricia McConnell tells us in this remarkable book, more and more scientists accept the premise that dogs have rich emotional lives, exhibiting a wide range of feelings, including fear, anger, surprise, sadness, and love. McConnell suggests that dogs express emotions in ways similar to humans, and shows us how to read the more subtle expressions hidden behind fuzzy faces and floppy ears.
Those who consider their dogs part of the family will find For the Love of a Dog engaging, enlightening, and utterly engrossing. Packed with informed speculation and intriguing accounts of man’s best friend at his worst and at his very best, this book is a treasure trove that will teach us how to have a richer, more rewarding relationship with our dogs.
Publisher : Ballantine Books; Reprint edition (August 28, 2007)
Language : English
Paperback : 384 pages
ISBN-10 : 0345477154
ISBN-13 : 978-0345477156
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
Customers say
Customers find the book engaging and informative. They appreciate the scientific information and practical advice for understanding dog behavior. The book provides valuable insights into dogs’ emotions and devotion to their owners. Readers praise the writing style as well-written, easy to understand, and compassionate. The humor is interspersed with heartwarming stories.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
K9 Crew Pack Leader –
A head to tail enjoyable read.
A highly enjoyable read. Written by an expert who knows how to teach as well as entertain. Patricia B. McConnell gives the reader learning experiences of the psychology and neurobiology of man and dog but does so in a manner that is easy to understand and absorb, and leaving you wanting more.Welcoming the public into her private life is endearing and not just a bunch of fluff. She uses these moments to teach on a personal level and to remind us that she to is human and a dog lover; not just some brain with a PhD who doesn’t show any emotion. All this helps to put what she has written to use in real life.She writes much to explain primitive emotions of dogs (and humans) including their facial expressions. Is a dog who has an open mouth and showing its teeth angry and aggressive? Smiling? Fearful? Are the dog’s eyes expressing contempt or content? Joy or confusion? Read this book and she will explain how you can identify the differences.The only negative thought that I have about the information in the book is that I wished she had included information pertaining to the dogs ears. In my opinion, the ears of dogs are more part of the dog’s face, unlike human animals (sorry I couldn’t resist). These ears can help in their expressions, from macro- to micro-movements. When their ears are flat and straight back greatly differ from what they are expressing when their ears are flat and off to the sides.Although the information on ears wasn’t included, this book gave me some new information; as well as laughter, tears, smiles, and re-ived memories. And I must say, “Kudos, for excellent editing and proper grammar!” THANK YOU
Marianne Bennett –
Outstanding Read!
Helps bring deeper understanding of canine psychology. Love this book!
Franklin D. McMillan –
Understanding the emotional basis of behavior
Patricia McConnell has written a wonderful book filled with engaging stories and much practical advice for dog owners. She incorporates the latest research findings on the workings of the dog’s mind in presenting her own cases from her behavior counseling service. Her discussion of counterconditioning covers an extremely valuable concept that is not stressed (or even utilized) enough by other behaviorists and trainers. This technique is invaluable and of nearly limitless potential in alleviating many emotional distresses and disorders in dogs.Especially pleasing to see is that in her discussion of counterconditioning and other techniques the author diverges from the decades-old approach of addressing “behavior problems” (a term that should be killed off and unceremoniously buried – it’s not the animal’s problem any more than if your husband had a habit of talking too loudly to your liking would you tell your friends that he had a behavior problem) by focusing on simply eliminating the behavior. This mechanistic behaviorism approach may be effective in eliminating the behavior but frequently does nothing to relieve the dog’s underlying emotional distress that is causing the behavior. For example, if a dog is suffering from loneliness because he is tied up alone in a backyard and barks endlessly for human attention and companionship there are plenty of ways to eliminate the barking. But there is only one correct one: alleviate the emotional pain of loneliness. McConnell understands this and focuses on this underlying emotional distress when working with the dogs to change unwanted behavior. In light of the advances in neuroscience, comparative psychology, and brain imaging, this places McConnell on the leading edge of the changes underway in how unwanted behavior in dogs should be addressed. The primary focus in treating behavior “problems” is to help the dog rather than the owner. McConnell gets this. Most dog behaviorists and trainers don’t.I strongly recommend this book for all dog owners who want their dogs to get the best emotional care and support in all behavior-related matters.
Lei B –
For people who care about their dogs’ happiness, not just obedience
I’m a first-time dog owner and was looking for a few books on dog training. I decided against the popular Cesar books because the guy strikes me as more a celebrity than any kind of expert. What’s more, the dogs that were in his arms on the book cover did not even look happy!This book contains tons of information on new research in animal behavior and neuroscience. I think the most important take-home is that to solve behavioral problems in dogs, you first have to identify the emotions behind the behavior. Is it fear, anger, or frustration? Much aggression in dogs, contrary to common belief, is actually driven by fear. Peeing on the carpet? Also likely due to fear (separation anxiety, for example). Punishing the dog is not going to rid your dogs of the fear; moreover it’s going to increase fear: making the dog fear you. I think a loving, successful relationship is not about the dog obeys you absolutely; it should fulfill both parties of the relationship.The book incorporated face reading from Paul Ekman’s research. It’s striking how similar facial expressions are in people and dogs. And given misunderstanding happens all the time in our species (remember times when you look bored and the other just kept talking?), it is granted that dogs are misunderstood everyday everywhere. The cost, though, could be deadly. Hundreds of thousands of dogs are put down every year, often due to biting. Occasionally people die tragically from dog attacks. Lots of these attacks could be avoided if people are aware of the emotional states of dogs from reading their faces and bodies. I just watched a Youtube video of a German Shepherd biting a reporter on the face because he was looming over the dog and trying to pet it all the while the dog felt threatened and looked uneasy.For the love of dogs, I hope more people (dog owners or not) understand the thinking of dogs. To understand dogs is also to understand our evolutionary heritage, our “primitive” parts of the brain, and how to be more patient and sympathetic with the whole world.
Mukenga –
This book will make you understand how much we gain in our relationship with our companion dogs if we stop trying to control them and start understanding their needs!
Anne-Marie H. –
A great read for a dog lover who wants to understand dogs on a fundamental level. Some may find the authors personal anecdotes unnecessary, but I enjoyed them. This is just not a quick read where you pick out what you need to know – it delves in to not just what your dogs is trying to tell you, but all the possible reasons why. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and did gain some new knowledge, even though I am several books deep in dog behaviour now. If you want a to-the-point guide to dog beahviour, this would be a bit lengthy. The photos in the center are a helpful reference for dog expressions. Overall would definitely reccomend.
LARA –
It was a book worth reading for anyone wanting to understand dogs on a deeper level. I have read most of the author’s books and have found them all worth reading and every book seems as good as the last. She has a style of writing that keeps you glued to the book, me anyway. I would highly recommend this book.
Gill –
I am a HUGE fan of Patricia McConnell. She is so knowledgeable. The Other End of the Leash is one of my favourites. This one is slightly harder going with all of the scientific stuff she describes, but well worth it. And I love the way she uses case studies and analogies to make her point and put it into laymans terms. She has taught me so much about understanding my dogs.
anissa –
it’s very interesting book that you can buy it without any problem. You leran many thnigs about your dog, and their history.