Amazon.com Review: If you consider your dog to be a "furry human," this is not the book for you. But, if you see yourself as the leader of the pack, then Reading the Dog's Mind is the perfect choice.
Authors John and Mary Holmes do an excellent job of describing the inner nature of dogs and the instinctual traits that dictate their behavior. Key to the Holmes's approach is the basic premise that by understanding your dog's natural instincts, namely the five senses (sight, sound, smell, hearing, and touch), you can better train and control your dog. For instance, it's good to know that when training your puppy--whose underdeveloped senses of smell, hearing, and sight led him to rely on touch to keep in contact with his mother and siblings--physical contact (petting, hugging, snuggling) is of utmost importance if you want to raise a happy, healthy pet.
Other topics covered include choosing the best type of dog for your needs, finding the right breeding mate for your dog, and identifying those dogs that are best suited for service work. Black-and-white photos accompany the text and provide a visual illustration of the Holmes's expert advice. --Jennifer Pugh
Product Description: 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
