Reading the Dog's Mind: Learning to Train from the Dog's Point of View

By Mary Holmes and John Holmes

The dog occupies a unique place in our world, having adapted itself to become our companion par excellence. But do we ask too much of our pet dogs, expecting them to subdue their instincts in order to live in our world? Using their unrivaled knowledge of canine behavior, John and Mary Holmes examine this question by looking at the world from the dog's point of view. They examine the five senses sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste and the instincts that rule all dogs the pack instinct, the hunting instinct and the guarding instinct to find out why dogs behave the way they do, and how their behavior can be influenced. Using this information, they offer expert advice on choosing the right dog to suit your lifestyle, the most effective training methods for your individual dog and what to do when things go wrong. Finally, there is a special section on how the dog's instincts and behavior patterns can be specifically channeled to help us. The work of guide dogs for the blind, dogs for the disabled, sniffer dogs and police dogs is analyzed to discover how instinct, intelligence and training interact to produce such widely varying skills. Award-winning authors John and Mary Holmes are professional dog trainers, well-known for their film and television work. Previous books include Pet Owner's Guide to Puppy Care and Training. A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0876050348
• ISBN13: 9780876050347
• Release Date: December 1998
• Publisher: Howell Books
• Length: 207 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Completely agrees with my philosophy of working with dogs!!!

This book represents everything I truly believe one should and should not do regarding dog training/communication. I haven't found a book like it in all of the research and reading I've done on the topic. Also of great benefit is the fact that they don't heavily recommend feeding kibble (this is just briefly mentioned in the book), which I advocate strongly. This clear-cut, easy format book is enjoyable and extremely educational without faddish training methods or too soft or too hard viewpoints on the treatment of dogs. I highly recommend it to everyone considering or interested in learning about how dogs think!