Books on Animals
Dogs: Books on behaviour
If you want to buy a book, clicking on the book cover will take you directly to that book on the Amazon.co.uk web site.
See also:
Dogs:
General
Dogs:
Books on single breeds
Dogs:
Origins, canine evolution and wolves
Dogs: Training
Dogs:
Health and Nutrition
Dogs:
Breeding and kennel management
Fiction
and biography relating to dogs
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Dog Language : An Encyclopedia of Canine Behaviour
This is essential reading for anyone interested in dog behaviour and training. Abrantes helps you to communicate with your own dog, as well giving you insights into how dogs communicate with each other. He is accessible enough for non-specialists, and provides a wealth of information for experienced owners. It's a fascinating read, and is very well illustrated.
Ain't Misbehavin': A Good Behaviour Guide for Family Dogs
David Appleby is well known for his work as a pet behaviour counsellor. He takes a common-sense approach to dog behaviour, which should appeal to most pet owners. Like John Fisher (two of whose books are reviewed below) Appleby stresses that dogs are often seen as behaving badly when they are just doing what dogs like to do, which does not always fit in with what humans want from them! Appleby and Fisher both stress that it helps to understand dogs' natural behaviour, and to understand how our behaviours and lifestyles might be perceived by dogs, in order to get them to do what we want them to do It's worth reading widely if you find dog behaviour fascinating in itself. Ideas are changing all the time, and there are some areas of disagreement between people working in this field. Dog nuts who are interested in dog behaviour may find that this book presents some ideas with too little discussion. Appeleby has, however, written an extremely useful book for people who just want to know enough of the basics to teach their dogs to be good companions, and this book is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in dog behaviour.
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Good Dog Behaviour: An Owner's Guide
This is a good general introduction to dog behaviour and training. Anyone with a problem dog may need more help, for example from Gwen Bailey's 'Rescue Dog', and/or John Fisher's 'Why Does My Dog?'. 'Good Dog Behaviour' offers some information on breed characteristics set out in charts for different breeds, and there's a very useful chapter on understanding how dogs communicate, with good illustrations showing different types of dog postures and body language. The importance of owners taking the initiative is stressed, as a way of encouraging good behaviour. Dogs' needs, such as a safe environment, exercise, and social contact, are set out, with some good points on the usefulness of games. Ways to motivate dogs are well explained. There are training exercises, and there's a chapter on teaching your dog special skills, such as retrieving. The last chapter deals with problem behaviour, and does not really go into much depth. Owners of inveterate chasers, for example, won't find much to help them in the single paragraph on this habit in the 'problem behaviour' chapter.
This book will be of use to novice owners, because it is well set out, well-explained, and well illustrated. It is a very good starting point for learning about dog behaviour and training, and is a good introduction for children who take on a dog.
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How Dogs Learn
A book for anyone interested in dog training who's prepared to learn some of the science behind the ideas. This would suit animal care students, dog trainers and dog behaviourists. Some ordinary mortals who own dogs may find it a little heavy going, and this isn't really a book to buy children with an interest in training their dog, unless they are keen science students. This book does allow you to gain a clear idea of the logic behind training schedules, but be warned, it demands a lot of its readers.
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Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships with Dogs
Suzanne Clothier is deservedly highly respected for her understanding of dogs, and her ability to explain to owners how to get the best from their pets. She explains how to use 'kind' methods, and bond with dogs, yet be firm enough so that our dogs don't become brattish and spoilt. This book will give new insights to experienced dog owners, and offers invaluable insights for novices. This edition is quite likely to sell out soon!
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Dogs
This is a fascinating and controversial book, which presents a new view of the evolution of the dog as a species in its own right, as opposed to being an inferior type of wolf. The authors use both their extensive experience as trainers, and draw on biological science to develop their theories. They examine the development of different breed types, such as herding dogs, and guarding dogs, and their suitability as companion animals. They also examine the nature-nurture debate, and how the interaction between the two is important for understanding dog behaviour. It helps to have some understanding of zoology to be able to follow all the arguments in this book, but you can enjoy it without being a specialist. You may not agree with everything the authors say, but this book will certainly give you new insights to help you get the best out of your dog.
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How to Speak Dog
Stanley Coren is a controversial writer, especially for his views on breeds and intelligence. You may not agree with him, but he is certainly entertaining, and gives food for thought. His 'How to Speak Dog' pushes the debate on canine-human communication one level higher, and will help many owners work out just how much human language their pets can understand. Coren is also good on non-verbal communication, and breed variations, both in terms of how dogs understand one another, and how they understand us. This is an inexpensive book, and well worth reading.
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Dog Behaviour
Ian Dunbar's very useful introductory guide to dog behaviour, which should be read by people planning to share their lives with a dog. It covers a lot of ground, such as socialization, key periods in dogs' lives, and there is some help with behavioural problems. Older children should find this book easy to follow. It is perhaps a bit basic for someone who is already knowledgeable about dogs, but it contains more useful information presented in a more concise way than many longer dog behaviour books. It's certainly of more use to would-be and novice owners than Bruce Fogle's 'Dogs's Mind', for example, entertaining though Fogle may be!
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The Dog Listener
Jan Fennel has become well-known from British TV, and her approach appeals to pet owners who want to be friends with their dogs. She emphasises the need to communicate with dogs, and listen to what they are telling us. She argues for a compassionate approach to training, relying on positive reinforcement rather than punishment. Her work tends to be far more popular with owners than with trainers! She is very readable, but many trainers argue that she can be confusing. This is an interesting book, but should not be the sole source of information for a novice about how to understand their pets. Suzanne Clothier, Ian Dunbar, John Fisher, and Patricia McConnell are more reliable sources of information on how to understand your dog, so become a better trainer.
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Think Dog
Why Does My Dog?
These books contain a lot of duplicate material, and 'Why Does My Dog?' is perhaps the better bet if you only want to buy one, though there are some useful points in 'Think Dog' which are not repeated in the later book. John Fisher is refreshing in the way that he examines the idea of 'problem behaviour' , which varies from one owner to another.
Fisher offers a lot of practical advice which is very useful for novice owners and those who have previously only kept well-behaved dogs, and suddenly find they own a dog with problems. Fisher has strong prejudices against training classes, perhaps from the days when they were more amateur. Not all dogs are suited to training en masse, as he notes, but they are more helpful than he gives them credit for. Well worth investing in.
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The Dog's Mind
Bruce Fogel is a prolific writer, and his avuncular style is easy to read. This is a helpful book for people seeking to understand why their dog behaves in certain ways, and how dog and wolf behaviour is linked.
Some of the ideas presented in 'The Dog's Mind' may appear outdated, and this is more the work of a vet interested in science than a rigorous presentation of scientific research. The classification of breeds according to behaviour is also a little misleading, and this is an important area because it is very difficult to obtain information on less desirable traits of some breeds. This book is worth reading, but needs to be supplemented with more up-to-date research.
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Man Meets Dog
Konrad Lorenz was a Nobel prizewinner who has had a major influence on the study of animal behaviour, especially in Europe. "Man Meets Dog" is a charming account of his views of dog-human relationships, with anecdotes from his own experiences. It's a very entertaining and readable book, which talks about cats as well as dogs. The book first came out in 1954, but the questions Lorenz asked are questions that dog owners still ask today, such as how dogs see the world, how far their perceptions and behaviours are hard-wired, what influence breed and evolution have had on dogs, how they adapt to human society, how rewards and punishment affect their behaviour, and how owners can cope with the loss of their dogs. 'Man Meets Dog' is also interesting as social history, an account of how people lived with dogs at a time when they were allowed more freedom. This classic is a must read for anyone with an interest in dog behaviour.
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The Other End of the Leash
Patricia McConnell is an animal behaviorist and zoology professor at the University of Wisconsin Madison, specialising in dog behavioral problems. Here she looks at how dogs see humans and human behavior, as canids seeking to understand primates. She is especially good on ways to use your voice with your dog, and how to play games that will help him behave the way you want. Her views on what makes a good leader are also clearly explained, and she contrasts this with old-fashioned ideas on 'dominating' dogs.
O'Connell is well-known for her work on nervous dogs, and her work is generally well-liked by trainers. She writes clearly, constructs arguments well, and bases her arguments on research and observation. Her passion for dogs also comes across clearly - this book has academic strengths without being dry, and there are plenty of anecdotes to keep you amused and interested.
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The Dog Whisperer
Some people love this book, others find it irritating. It's a 'touchy-feely' book which looks and dog behaviour and training with a strong emphasis on positive reinforcement, co-operation and fun. Owens wants you to learn how to motivate your dog, and start to enjoy training. This approach should especially appeal to people who are worried about some of the harsher methods they have heard of, though most trainers tend to emphasise positive reinforcement these days. People who feel that their dogs are evil tykes, constantly bent on mischief, and needing an occasional corrective bellowed 'No' in their furry little ears, may find this approach too soppy. However, it will appeal to many dog owners.
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Don't Shoot the Dog: The New Art of Teaching and Training
If you like your dog behaviour books with a dash of philosophy, this is the book for you. This book explains how positive reinforcement can be used to change behaviour, not just in dogs, in any species, including humans. Karen Pryor is messianic in her approach, and has many fans. Whether behavioural science can work the miracles she claims is open to debate, but there are a number of good tips that dog owners can pick up from her work.
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Excel-erated Learning
This is a very useful book for anyone wanting to be a trainer, or who wants to understand the rationale behind training methods based on operant and classical conditioning. You need a certain amount of commitment to read the book to the end, since Pamela Reid takes you through some complex ideas. Reid is, however, much easier to follow than Karen Pryor, if you want a full grasp of operant conditioning, and want to apply your knowledge to dogs. There are many illustrative and thought-provoking examples of operant conditioning in use. It's not a 'how to' book, rather it helps with understanding the theory well enough for you to develop your own exercises. Classical conditioning is also covered, as well as terms such as adaptation, desensitisation, counter-conditioning, generalisation, and reinforcers. There is also a discussion of clicker training, and electronic collars. This book will help you learn the jargon, though it's no substitute for actually working with dogs! Would-be trainers can make best use of the book if they apprentice themselves to a trainer they respect, never mind if the trainer knows the jargon. Dog training is a craft, and skills, such as reading dogs can take years to develop. Many trainers obtain excellent results while using few technical terms, and the theories and explanations set out in this book make much more sense when you have some practical experience.
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Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog
This book was first published in 1965, and has also come out under the title ‘Dog Behavior: The Genetic Basis’. Why should we bother reading something that came out so long ago? Mainly because it is the result of a long-term experiment to try to tease out the impact of genetics on behaviour, taking developmental stages into account, and it was so thorough that it is still a key text for anyone interested in dog behaviour. Dog breeders will obviously find this book of particular interest, but trainers and pet dog owners can also learn a lot from it. Breeds do differ in how they behave,for example, how easily they live together and share resources, or solve problems, and Scott and Fuller’s work helps with understanding these differences. The book covers a lot of ground, including dog-dog relationships, various aspects of dog-human relationships, and the physical development of dogs. This is a must-read for any dog nut who wants to understand breed differences, and is especially useful when supplemented with works from modern ethologists. It’s by no means an easy read, but it’s accessible to the general public, and is well worth the effort.
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The Domestic Dog
This is a collection of articles by different authors on a range of dog topics such as the evolution of dogs from wolves, and how dog breeds developed. There is a lot on the relationship between dogs and humans that can help you to understand your dog, and how what you do affects his behaviour. There are also discussions of the different breeds, and gender differences. There is interesting material on feral dogs in Italy which sheds light on pack behaviour. This book is for enthusiasts who want access to findings based on solid research, rather than anecdotes. It is essential reading for would-be dog trainers. It doesn't tell you how to train your dog, but it does give you a lot of information to help you to understand your dog, so be better able to train him or her.