Despite its name, this small dog is bred mainly as a house dog. It is intelligent, alert, and loves human companionship. Barron's comprehensive series of Pet Owner's Manuals advise both current and prospective owners on the care of virtually every kind of pet, including a wide variety of dog and cat breeds, hamsters and other small caged animals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and even scorpions and tarantulas. The author of each book is a specialist in his or her field, which guarantees readers solid advice and instruction that helps them know what to look for when acquiring a pet, feeding, housing, maintaining health care, and where applicable, grooming and training. All Pet Owner's Manuals are filled with high-quality color photos and informative line art.
Learn to communicate with your dog—using their language “Good reading for dog lovers and an immensely useful manual for dog owners.”—The Washington Post An Applied Animal Behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years’ experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell reveals a revolutionary new perspective on our relationship with dogs—sharing insights on how “man’s best friend” might interpret our behavior, as well as essential advice on how to interact with our four-legged friends in ways that bring out the best in them. After all, humans and dogs are two entirely different species, each shaped by its individual evolutionary heritage. Quite simply, humans are primates and dogs are canids (as are wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Since we each speak a different native tongue, a lot gets lost in the translation. This marvelous guide demonstrates how even the slightest changes in our voices and in the ways we stand can help dogs understand what we want. Inside you will discover: • How you can get your dog to come when called by acting less like a primate and more like a dog • Why the advice to “get dominance” over your dog can cause problems • Why “rough and tumble primate play” can lead to trouble—and how to play with your dog in ways that are fun and keep him out of mischief • How dogs and humans share personality types—and why most dogs want to live with benevolent leaders rather than “alpha wanna-bes!” Fascinating, insightful, and compelling, The Other End of the Leash is a book that strives to help you connect with your dog in a completely new way—so as to enrich that most rewarding of relationships.
The Northern, Nordic and Spitz breeds are truly representatives of the most beautiful dogs in the world. Their elegance commands attention, their stature commands respect and their appearance is breathtaking. Simply looking into their eyes reveals a vibrant intellect and spirited life-force that is as enduring as nature itself. This is the story of how Northern Breeds branched away from their wild ancestors and forged a lasting bond with mankind. The most fascinating part of the story is the fact that the breeds of dogs in the world today are descended from original genome of the primitive Northern Breeds by becoming trusted partners that specialized in helping mankind survive by herding, hunting, pulling sleds, guarding and providing companionship. The development of the primitive Northern Breeds was more than thirty thousand years in the making. They held the keys to not only surviving, but adapting to continual change and in so doing, established the master imprint and the genetic survival kit that became the tame domesticated dog. Today's modern dog breeds owe their existence to the noble and capable Northern Breed dogs who bridged the gap between a harsh and solitary life in the wild and applying their talents to provide service to mankind. The way we relate to our dogs is framed by the dogs we've encountered and held close in our past. And our character is shaped by many defining moments in our past and it is tendered by love and our hopes, dreams and aspirations. We are also shaped by our ancestors and the genetics we inherited from them. Similar principles hold true for dogs. We cannot fully comprehend the true nature of the dogs we love until we understand their spirit, their nature and their character, which is woven from the very same fabric and genetics of the Northern Breeds. We never realized how many varieties were locked away inside of their genome until we brought them into our homes and our hearts. This book is an essential guide that helps us understand the ancestral journey our dogs have made as well as providing the keys to unlock, understand appreciate their true nature. The dog genome map and inheritance patterns have provided corrections and additions to the historical story started by archaeology. The inheritance of health strengths and weaknesses provides a glimpse into the future of dog breeding. Also woven into the saga are many age old mysteries such as, "What does Spitz mean?" and "Where did certain behaviors (or instincts) come from?" and "Did dogs descend directly from the Wolf?" and "Is there a gene for white color?" and "Where did Toy size dogs come from?" and more are explored and explained.
When David Rosenfelt first met his wife, Debbie, he also met her golden retriever, Tara... and he fell head over heels for both of them. Many years later, inspired by Tara, David and Debbie have dedicated their lives to rescuing thousands of unloved and unwanted dogs - sometimes living with up to 40 dogs at any one time. So here is the book dedicated to the inspirational canine who started it all, and taught David everything he knows. (Well, he did know how to tie his shoes before he met and came to love Tara, but that's about it.) Through Tara, David learned about dating, about being able to share his emotions, and also about everyday stuff like who gets to use the pillow if several dogs are sleeping in your bed (clue: It's not the human) and why random barking will never be something that can be eliminated. Lessons From Tara is infused with David's wry and self-deprecating sense of humor, and will move readers to tears and laughter.
The bestselling author and star of National Geographic Channel's Dog Whisperer shows you how to develop the calm-assertive energy of a successful pack leader and use it to improve your dog’s life–and your own Be the Pack Leader is Cesar Millan’s guide for taking your relationship with your dog to a higher level. By developing the skills necessary to become the calm-assertive owner your dog needs in order for him to live a balanced, fulfilled life, you’ll improve your dog’s behavior and your own life as well. Be the Pack Leader is filled with practical tips and techniques, including: • How to use calm-assertive energy in relating to your dog—and to others around you • The truth about behavioral tools, from leashes and harnesses to clickers and e-collars • How to satisfy the needs of your dog’s breed • Success stories from Cesar’s clients, viewers, and fans—including the Grogan family of Marley & Me fame • A quick reference guide of specific, step-by-step procedures to tackling some of the most common dog behavior problems “[Cesar] arrives amid chaos and leaves behind peace.” —Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker “[Millan is] serene and mesmerizing. . . . He deserves a cape and a mask.” —New York Times
"An animal behaviorist recounts the story of how in order to help a troubled dog she was compelled to revisit painful memories about her own past in order to gain understanding into the impact of trauma on the brain, "--NoveList.
Yes, humans and canines are different species, but current research provides fascinating, irrefutable evidence that what we share with our dogs is greater than how we vary. As behaviorist and zoologist Dr. Patricia McConnell tells us in this remarkable new book about emotions in dogs and in people, more and more scientists accept the premise that dogs have rich emotional lives, exhibiting a wide range of feelings including fear, anger, surprise, sadness, and love. In For the Love of a Dog, McConnell suggests that one of the reasons we love dogs so much is that they express emotions in ways similar to humans. After all, who can communicate joy better than a puppy? But not all emotional expressions are obvious, and McConnell teaches both beginning dog owners and experienced dog lovers how to read the more subtle expressions hidden behind fuzzy faces and floppy ears. For those of us who deeply cherish our dogs but are sometimes baffled by their behavior, For the Love of a Dog will come as a revelation–a treasure trove of useful facts, informed speculation, and intriguing accounts of man’s best friend at his worst and at his very best. Readers will discover how fear, anger, and happiness underlie the lives of both people and dogs and, most important, how understanding emotion in both species can improve the relationship between them. Thus McConnell introduces us to the possibility of a richer, more rewarding relationship with our dogs. While we may never be absolutely certain what our dogs are feeling, with the help of this riveting book we can understand more than we ever thought possible. Those who consider their dogs part of the family will find For the Love of a Dog engaging, enlightening, and utterly engrossing.
"A stirring tale of survival, thanks to man's best friend." —Seattle Times When a deadly diphtheria epidemic swept through Nome, Alaska, in 1925, the local doctor knew that without a fresh batch of antitoxin, his patients would die. The lifesaving serum was a thousand miles away, the port was icebound, and planes couldn't fly in blizzard conditions—only the dogs could make it. The heroic dash of dog teams across the Alaskan wilderness to Nome inspired the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and immortalized Balto, the lead dog of the last team whose bronze statue still stands in New York City's Central Park. This is the greatest dog story, never fully told until now.
While running away from home and an unwanted marriage, a thirteen-year-old Eskimo girl becomes lost on the North Slope of Alaska and is befriended by a wolf pack.
