Understand Your Dog

[Grace Erick]

I was wondering if there are any recommended books on general dog behavior, like the calming signals that were mentioned and not necessarily training books.

I did see one on Amazon.com called "Dog Speak: How to Understand and Help Him Understand You". I don't know who wrote it, but I think he has a series of books on dogs. I have seen one or two others with the same topic which is more of understanding your dog by how they act and not just training your dog; it's more understanding your dog and why they do what they do.

Bye, Grace

[Robert]

Im in the middle of. IF BONES WOULD RAIN FROM THE SKY.

[Jill Ramsey]

Im in the middle of. IF BONES WOULD RAIN FROM THE SKY.

I'm reading it, too.

[Renee]

that's a great book!

[Renee]

The Other End of The Leash by Dr. Patricia McConnell.....

[Melissa Brunoehler]

Hi Grace~

Here's a link to a book on Calming Signals

http://www.dogwise.com/search.cfm



I was wondering if there are any recommended books on general dog behavior, like the calming signals that were mentioned and not necessarily training books.

I did see one on Amazon.com called "Dog Speak: How to Understand and Help Him Understand You". I don't know who wrote it, but I think he has a series of books on dogs. I have seen one or two others with the same topic which is more of understanding your dog by how they act and not just training your dog; it's more understanding your dog and why they do what they do.

Bye, Grace

[Renee]

Dog Language an encylopedia of canine behavior by Roger Abrantes

[Renee]

When Elephants Weep by Jeffrey Masson

Rosetta Bone by Cheryl Smith

[Debbie Chastain]

I highly recommend anything Jane Goodall was written and any documentaries you can watch. She not only gives insight into animal behavior, but human behavior through her well documented studies of one of our closest relatives, the chimpanzee. She broke all of the rules defining the lines between humans and animals when she discovered "tool" use by chimps. She is a leader, if not the top expert, in the study of chimpanzee comunication and behavior, yet she has never "trained" a chimp.

There is a Jane Goodall special currently airring on the Animal Planet channel called "When Animals Talk". I can't recommend this program highly enough! It contains segments with dogs and many other animals. I've already seen it five times.

[Grace Erick]

Oh my goodness!!! I did not expect to get that many replies, though I don't know why since this is a dog forum and people do read. I have read a lot of regular non-fiction novels, but have read a few dog nutrition books, but none on understanding your dog. I was not even aware they were out there. I thought they were all about fixing behavior problems. These books may have some behavior problems listed and how to fix them and that's okay, but I'm really going to focus on the dog mentality.

I do enjoy scientific reading about things I'm interested in and not just fluff. I will see if my library carries any of these books, so I don't have to buy a bunch of them.

**A TIP: to getting reasonably priced books is to go to Amazon.com and put the name of the book in. If they have it listed, they will have a list of vendors that sell the book in varying conditions from new to very good to good and it keeps decending. There are great values to be had even though you have to pay shipping.

I made a basket up to be raffled off for a chihuahua fundraiser and amongst other things, I put The Zen Dog book in and it cost me only $7+ and that included shipping and the book was in brand new condition. The retail cost in bookstores is about $16 or $17 and that's w/o tax yet. You can e-mail the co. or store selling the book and ask what "good" condition means or any other words they use and they will send you an e-mail describing what each term means. Some describe books as being slightly worn or some are even written on with highlighters. Those would be the ones that may cost $1. or so.

I'll keep checking this thread for more tips on books. I love to read and would be facinated to understand more about dogs and their personalities.

Thanks,

Grace

[Stefie C]

Grace, If your local library doesn't have the titles you want they may be able to get them from other librarys in your state. At least they do that here in Ohio. I have gotten many books thru the intrastate loan program. I love not wasting $$$ on books I don't like but when I find one that is helpful and something I will want to refer to again & again I will go ahead a buy my own copy.

[Grace Erick]

Hi Stefie,

That is a good tip and I forgot to mention it myself. I always use the interloan library system. I have a library card with a I.D. number so I can look online for books in the library system to see if they are there and to put them on hold so that they are brought to my library for me to pick up. I have 2 on the hold shelf now that are regular novels. I'm not picking them up right away, because you get a grace period so you don't have to pick them up right away. This way I can wait to pick them up a week later and bring them to NY with me in July and they won't be due back again until I come back.

The online library system is great. You can also renew books you have out if no one is requesting the book. You can even fill out a form to have the library buy books that they don't own. I don't know how it works with what books they will order and which ones they won't. I did place an order for them to buy a book and it seems they did. Now I have to try it with some dogs books.

Bye, Grace

[Grace Erick]

Renee,

Hmmmm, what is the When Elephants weep book about? I'm sensitive to any animal issues where they tell stories of animals being hurt or killed etc? I'll have nightmares for years!

Bye, Grace

[Page Fever]

When I was looking for really good dog books, I went to the Cynology College website and looked at the reading lists for their degree programs. I am not enrolled in any of their courses but I was confident that they were choosing very good and cutting-edge books.

They have both training books and scientific reading selections listed. Some of their suggestions I could not find anywhere, and am still looking for. Some of them seemed to be available only for sale on dogwise.com.

--PF

[Renee]

Renee,

Hmmmm, what is the When Elephants weep book about? I'm sensitive to any animal issues where they tell stories of animals being hurt or killed etc? I'll have nightmares for years!

Bye, Grace


Grace, it's been years since I've read this book. If I remember correctly, there are some emotional stories, so it might not be for you....Maybe someone who has recently read this book can comment.

[Renee]

When I was looking for really good dog books, I went to the Cynology College website and looked at the reading lists for their degree programs. I am not enrolled in any of their courses but I was confident that they were choosing very good and cutting-edge books.

They have both training books and scientific reading selections listed. Some of their suggestions I could not find anywhere, and am still looking for. Some of them seemed to be available only for sale on dogwise.com.

--PF

Anything from Cynology is good. Is there any book in particular that you are looking for?

[Page Fever]

I don't have my list in front of me but I remember wanting to look at the dog aggression "workbook" and a few other things by that author.

Also, I think there were a couple of videos that I wanted to check out, too. One had a title sort of like "Bite-O-Meter" or something like that, and I believe the other was maybe about pit bulls...? They were both made by the same person.

So how do you like the course? I went through a phase of really wanting some dog education. I considered Cynology College and also a couple of the schools where you actually went there and worked with dogs...eventually I decided that, for my money, it would really benefit me to first spend more time working with my own foster dogs, the volunteer training program at the local humane society, and etc. before I went the next step.

[Renee]

I don't have my list in front of me but I remember wanting to look at the dog aggression "workbook" and a few other things by that author.

http://www.dogpsych.com/ The Canine Aggression Workbook by Dr. James O'Heare.


Also, I think there were a couple of videos that I wanted to check out, too. One had a title sort of like "Bite-O-Meter" or something like that, and I believe the other was maybe about pit bulls...? They were both made by the same person.

Sounds like you are talking about Sue Sternburg.... http://www.suesternberg.com/00shop.html


So how do you like the course? I went through a phase of really wanting some dog education. I considered Cynology College and also a couple of the schools where you actually went there and worked with dogs...eventually I decided that, for my money, it would really benefit me to first spend more time working with my own foster dogs, the volunteer training program at the local humane society, and etc. before I went the next step.

Cynology College is a great school.
Good luck with the shelter work!

Best wishes,

[Amber]

What about the book Leader of the Pack by Nancy Baer and Steve Duno? I saw it while looking up the books that everyone suggested.

[Renee]

Amber-

Just by looking at the table of contents, I don' think I would recommend that particular book. Leader of the Pack by Dr. Patricia McConnell is great though....

[Amber]

I went ahead and got the book before reading any posts (I just couldn't wait to get new reading material! lol) It's actually not that bad. It does talk about NILIF a lot in the book...the authors just don't call it NILIF. I'm only up to Chapter 5 though. There are some things in the book that I don't agree with, but it may just be a personal thing, like not letting your dog sleep with you and they condone the use of spray bottles. Other than that, so far it's not a bad book. I'm going to my library tomorrow to get The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell, however. I do have some questions about what the authors said in the book, but I'll post them in their appropriate places.

[Grace Erick]

Hi Amber,

Ugh, not spray bottles??? It would kill me to spray my dog in the face with a spray bottle and she would be so upset with me. I don't blame you for not agree with that. Can you imagine spraying Sally? I mention Sally since she is shy and I think would also really be hurt by it like with Capri. I think that would set both our dogs back so much when it comes to trust issues.

Amber, did it say why dog's should not sleep the bed with you? Capri sleeps with me and a lot of chi owning people let them also for two reasons, they are small and don't take up much space and they love to burrow under the covers and be next to you.

Bye, Grace

[Amber]

They say it's because "the leader always sleeps in the highest, warmest, most comfortable place." They go on to say that height is a measurement of status among dogs and that if a dog sleeps in your bed, they think they are dominant over you.

I don't know. There are several things in this book I like and several things in this book I don't like. Every chapter is started by a wolf story. The book talks mostly about wolves and then the authors give (surprisingly enough) reasonable solutions, besides the spray bottle, for your dog for whatever they were talking about in that chapter. I'm not sure it was what I was looking for, but it's an okay read. I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone and I may try to sell it to a secondhand store or Amazon or something when I'm done. It's not really worth having in my collection. I wouldn't highlight it or make notes from it.

And, I would definitely NOT spray Sally! lol I had to get on to her last night for snapping at Precious while they were both on my bed and that just about sent her through the roof! And all I did was say her name in a firm tone! LOL

[Grace Erick]

Hi Amber,

I can see the height thing with my parrot, because if he is above you, I do believe he feels some dominance especially since he can be aggressive, but I don't feel that way with my dog. Capri will also react to a firm tone. No yelling is needed.

Bye, Grace

[Amber]

I read in a past post on this forum that dogs should be let on your bed in order to think they are part of the pack. I don't know if this is true or not, but I know Sally is doing a lot more "doggie" things since I let her sleep on my bed a couple nights a week.

[Daniela Jantzen]

Hi Amber,

I can see the height thing with my parrot, because if he is above you, I do believe he feels some dominance especially since he can be aggressive, but I don't feel that way with my dog. Capri will also react to a firm tone. No yelling is needed.

Bye, Grace

Hello Grace,

careful about "height dominance" in parrots. There are various opinions on that one. And the most common is: parrots do not feel more dominant when being higher than you, but just safer. This feeling of safety can lead to problems when handling aggressive birds - they would do anything to defend their safety zone....
If you have problems in this matter with your parrot, try to keep him lower to your head to ensure easier handling. If he insists on being up there, make a funny game out of it: if you step on this stick here, right next to me, you get whatever yummy treat you want. Make him WANT to be down there. Then go on dealing with whatever issue you have with him from this lower spot.
Clickertraining can help tremendously with parrots, by the way..... (if he bites, hand the treats on a long spoon to prevent getting bit).

About the sleeping in bed issue:
Sleeping in such a comfortable space is a privilege. One has to earn it first to be granted the right to sleep there.
If your dog is guarding the ressource "bed", it hasn't earned the right to be there yet. But once it has learned to step up and off the bed on cue, why not grant this privilege? After all, benevolent leadership is a lot about giving, not just demanding. And dogs bond a lot closer to someone who offers them something special every now and then. And besides the comfy place, as Amber already mentioned, granting them the right to be right next to you is one of the strongest gestures you can offer.

Danny