Decoding Your Dog: Explaining Common Dog Behaviors and How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones (Spiral Bound)

Jacket Description/Back:
Although this book has a scientific basis, it was written in a manner that is easily understandable for laypersons. Decoding Your Dog will be a valuable addition to the library of any small-animal practitioner or dog owner. Angela Bockelman, DVM, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Unwanted behavior is the number-one reason dogs are relinquished to shelters and rescue groups. Dog owners face a plethora of trainers offering a bewildering variety of advice. From rewards to dominance training, from to shock collars to clickers, there are too many theories peddled by too few trained experts. Finally, 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.

Combining cutting-edge science with accessible and adaptable real-life examples, this is a must-have dog behavior guide showcasing the latest veterinary-approved positive training methods. Decoding Your Dog will resolve the complaints, answer the curiosities, and, ultimately, challenge the way we think about our dogs.

[The] authors nimbly craft a basic primer for grasping dogs demeanor and in the process offer up the best life insurance policy you can buy for Fido. Ranny Green, coauthor of Good Dogs, Bad Habits

Decoding Your Dog is an important addition to the canine canon, one that will go a long way toward increasing your understanding of your best friend. Bark


Drs. DEBRA F. HORWITZ and JOHN CIRIBASSI are experts and leaders in the field of veterinary behavior, with decades of combined experience. Dr. Horwitz is a past president of the ACVB, and Dr. Ciribassi is a past president of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

STEVE DALE is a nationally syndicated pet journalist and radio host who has written numerous books.
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Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments -- Foreword / Victoria Stilwell -- Preface / Barbara L. Sherman -- Introduction / Steve Dale -- 1. Can't We Just Talk? -- Learning to Speak Dog / Jacqueline C. Neilson -- 2. Choosing Your New Best Friend -- How to Find the Best Match for You and Your Puppy / Meghan Elaine Herron, Patrick Yves Melese -- 3. Creating a Mensa Dog -- What Learning Really Is, and How Dogs Learn / Katherine Albro Houpt -- 4. Housetraining 101 -- Do It Here, Do It Now / Leslie Larson Cooper -- 5. Tools of the Trade -- Humane and Safe Training Tools / Lori Gaskins -- 6. School Days -- Practical Advice on Getting from a Puppy to a Dog / Gerrard Flannigan, Ellen M. Lindell -- 7. I Know They're Normal Behaviors, but How Do I Fix Them? -- Common Problems That Can Drive Any Dog Owner to Howl / Jeannine Berger, Lore I. Haug -- 8. Lassie and Timmy: Kids and Dogs -- Creating a Family That Works / Valarie V. Tynes -- 9. All Dogs Need a Job -- How to Keep Your Dog Happy and Mentally Healthy / Mary P. Klinck -- 10. Aggression Unleashed: Do Dogs Mean to Be Mean? -- If Aggression Leads to More Aggression, How Do You Respond? / Ilana Reisner, Stefanie Schwartz -- 11. Loyalty Gone Overboard: Separation Anxiety -- The Velcro Dog Dilemma / E'Lise Christensen, Karen L. Overall -- 12. I Know It's Going to Rain, and I Hate the Fourth of July -- Dogs Who Are Phobic About Sound / Emily D. Levine -- 13. Tail Chasing, Leg Licking-Can't You Stop? -- Compulsive Behaviors / Melissa Bain, Marsha Reich -- 14. Dogs with an AARF Card: Growing Old with Grace -- Old Dogs Should Learn New Tricks / Gary Landsberg -- Conclusion -- Appendix -- Glossary -- Recommended Resources -- About the Editors -- About the Authors -- Members of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists -- Index.

Marc Notes:
Includes bibliographical resources (p. 331-334) and index.

Biographical Note:
Drs. DEBRA F. HORWITZ and JOHN CIRIBASSI are experts and leaders in the field of veterinary behavior, with decades of combined experience. Dr. Horwitz is a past president of the ACVB and Dr. Ciribassi is a past president of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. STEVE DALE is a nationally syndicated pet journalist and radio host who has written numerous books.

This comprehensive guide from leading veterinary experts offers evidence-based strategies for a better-behaved dog:

• Understand Your Dog's Mind: Go beyond simple commands to learn the science behind how your dog thinks, communicates, and perceives the world.
• Veterinary-Approved Training: Implement effective, humane, and science-backed positive reinforcement techniques recommended by board-certified specialists.
• Solve Common Behavior Problems: Find clear, actionable remedies for challenging issues, from aggression to obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
• Effective Socialization: Learn the proper way to socialize your puppy and adult dog to build confidence and prevent fear-based reactions for a lifetime.

Contributor Bio:Amer Coll of Veterinary Behaviorists

The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) is the certifying board for veterinarians who are specialty trained to advance the behavioral health of animals through clinical practice, research, and science-based behavior education.