Buy “The Dog Whisperer” from Amazon.com
Buy “The Dog Whisperer” from DogWise
Before Cesar Milan became a TV star as “The Dog Whisperer,” Paul Owens was using real “dog whispering” techniques - positive reinforcement training - to help dogs and their owners. “The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training” by Paul Owens should be on every dog owner’s bookshelf - or better yet, in their hands, open and being read.
Anders Hallgrens’s book “The ABC’s of Dog Language” is the best primer on dog language I’ve found to date. It explores how dogs communicate through body signals and movements, sounds, smells, and touch. With clear text and illustrative photographs, the author explains the nuances of dog language, including body postures, facial expressions, and the vocal language of dogs.
If you only have time to read one book on dog language, this is the book to get. Originally written in Swedish and translated into English by Mogens Eliasen and Pauline Kesteven, “The ABC’s of Dog Language” is currently hard to find unless you go to K9Joy.com (Mogens Eliasen’s website) to purchase it.
In The Other End of the Leash, Patricia McConnell explores the similarities and differences between humans and dogs, how we appear to one another, and the problems that can ensue when we miscommunicate. She explains why hugging a dog may result in a bite; the best ways to use your voice to communicate with a dog; why physical dominance is not the way to establish your social status; how to teach your dog to be patient and polite; and much more.
As with her newer book, For the Love of a Dog, Patricia shares personal stories of dogs and situations she’s known to illustrate her points, and she does so brilliantly.
Buy The Other End of the Leash from Amazon.com
This book contains a wealth of information on dog behavior and training. There’s information on canine senses, emotions, instincts, and breed-specific behavior; canine conversation (body language and vocalizations); explanations of some dog habits that may seem puzzling (e.g. rolling in dead things, barking when you’re on the telephone); and of course training and behavior modification solutions to common problems. There’s also a section on dealing with life changes, including canine dementia, moving, divorce (who gets the dog?), and final good-byes. With its small size (300+ pages packed into a book measuring 4.5″ x 6.5″) and question and answer format, The Dog Behavior Answer Book makes perfect reading in the bathroom. You may even catch other family members sneaking a peek now and then.
Buy The Dog Behavior Answer Book from Amazon.com
Download a Free Copy of “Before You Get Your Puppy”
Buy “Before You Get Your Puppy” from Amazon.com
Buy “Before You Get Your Puppy” from Dogwise
Dr. Ian Dunbar is a veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and writer who has done a lot to shape dog training over the past couple of decades. He was the first to introduce “puppy classes” - in 1981 - with his “Sirius Puppy Training” in the San Francisco Bay area. The nonviolent, positive training methods shown on his “Sirus� Puppy Training Video” helped pave the way for positive reinforcement dog training methods as increasingly more trainers embraced the “new” methods of lure/reward, clicker training, and other training methods focusing on positive reinforcement. (more…)
Dogs Make Great Pets is a must-have book for first-time dog owners. Using worksheets and checklists and an informal, easy-to-read writing style, Margaret H. Bonham takes you through everything you should consider before you bring your new dog home. Topics include making sure you’re ready for a dog, finding a good breeder or vet, choosing the right dog for your particular situation, and getting off on the right foot by teaching your new dog good manners.
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