If your dog could talk... A training guide for humans

This book review features a book that is subtitled "a training guide for humans". That is a good description - this book is a wonderful "training guide"! Learn why dogs do what they do, and hopefully build a better bond with your dog.

Pros:
Excellent photography
Helpful pullout tips and behavior information
Good mix of science and "fun" facts

Cons:
Sometimes distracting computer-generated "floors" in photos
Emphasis on purebreds and obtaining dogs from breeders
No coverage of average "mutts" - mixed breed dogs

Bottom Line:
In my opinion, it is pretty hard to go wrong with DK books. This book is no exception. I found this to be is an interesting and informative read; for both dog owners as well as veterinary professionals. A better understanding of your dog's behavior creates better overall "communication" and ultimately (hopefully), yields training that is beneficial to both your pet and to the household.

This book is the revised American edition (published 2006) of Know Your Dog, published in 1992.

I will mention this right at the start: I am a huge fan of DK (Dorling Kindersley) books. The photography is top notch; and the information, whatever the topic, is always presented in a fun and interesting way. Namely, in small "bites" -- pullouts and sidebars -- to provide maximum interest without maximum boredom. I have found myself happily browsing DK books in the bookstore on topics that I didn't even know I cared about.

The title of this book grabbed me right away. Animal behavior is one if my favorite topics. And... who hasn't wished that their dog could talk at some point? The book is authored by a veterinarian, Bruce Fogle DVM, MRCVS, and I felt confident in the information presented. As mentioned in the Acknowledgments, the canine photos are dogs that he knows personally; his own dog and dogs of his clients. The photography in this book is what I expect from DK, excellent. It features many canine expressions and action shots.

The book starts out with a forward, followed by the history and evolution of the dog as a domesticated pet. Canine "intelligence" and "trainability" are discussed, as are the various breeds and how they rank in these topics according to top canine experts. The "Starting a Family" section tells it all in photographs: how mates are selected, the mating sequence, pregnancy, delivery and birth, and finally how puppies develop and view the world as they grow.

The following sections, "What Dogs Do", "Being A Dog" and "Living With Us" cover a variety of topics that will interest dog owners. Learn about:

• Social order - more complicated than simply top dog and everyone else
• The differences between male and female behavior and the effects of neutering on behavior
• Territory - marking it and defending it
• Seeking attention, happiness, excitement and boredom behaviors
• Meeting humans and other animals
• Normal dog behaviors associated with eating, chewing on things, vision, voice, sense of smell
• And many more topics!

A two-page chart of 62 popular dog breeds highlights each breed's characteristics relating to excitability/activity, aggression, and trainability is a useful guide for dog owners and prospective dog owners. Readers can also take the dog personality self test to assess a dog's personality and spot trouble areas as they relate to behavior. Readers are invited to send their assessment results to the author for a worldwide study of dog behavior.

My only "cons" for this book are minor, but I will mention them here to be complete. Typical of DK books, the photography subjects are standout - the backgrounds have been masked out and the dog is on a white background. This in itself is fine, but then they digitally put in grass or wood flooring that didn't seem to "fit". The other point I noticed is the emphasis on purebred dogs and purchasing from breeders. True, behavior is often more cleanly defined within the scope of a breed, but many behavior characteristics can be described for dogs in general. With the serious pet overpopulation and overbreeding problems (puppy mills, genetic defects) here in the United States, I hope that people will remember the large numbers of mixed breed dogs in need of homes as well as purebreds.