Customer Reviews

The Dog Behavior Answer Book: Practical Insights & Proven Solutions for Your Canine Questions

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Aha! This easy-to-read resource confirmed my suspicion as to why my new dog Lucy barks madly at the FedEx guy (see p. 97). But I never figured out why she did some other odd things until I found the answers in this helpful book. It solved such mysteries as:

Page 100: Why dogs sniff the crotches of guests.
Page 103: Why dogs vigorously, messily splash water out of the water bowl with their front paws!
Page 107: Why dogs do the "dead fish dance," such as the time Lucy threw herself atop a dead Dungeness crab and wiggled wildly. Yuck.
Page 95: How to get dogs like Lucy to not bark nonstop when the pizza guy comes to the door.

The forward of this book is written by John Grogan, author of famous "Marley & Me," and owner of trouble-boy Marley. He includes some humorous insights, plus says The Dog Behavior Answer Book "could have helped us in a big way. Had we had Arden's commonsense expertise then, we would have better understood what motivated Marley's bad-boy behavior and been able to formulate a strategy to change, or at least, temper it."

What particularly impresses me is that Arden doesn't just write about dog behavior, she lives it. My husband and I have known Arden since the 1980s. When she recently met our German shepherd mix Lucy in our home, I was nervous. Lucy barks at visitors -- looking at it most charitably, I suppose it's in hopes that she'll remain the center of attention.

Arden wisely surmised that visitors typically make rapid movements and, among other things, reward Lucy's barking by giving her treats as she barks.

Arden employed an altogether different strategy.

Examples:

1) She initially met Lucy outside the home on neutral turf.

2) Arden took a seat on our living-room sofa several minutes before Lucy returned to the home from a walk. So, there never was a barkathon at the front door since Arden already was on the sofa, sitting calmly.

3) As Arden sat calmly on the sofa, she kept yummy treats visibly nearby. Intelligent Lucy noticed that by acting like a polite dog, Arden occasionally rewarded her with yummy treats. That reinforced Lucy's politeness.

Lucy *never* had a barkathon during the several hours she was with Arden.

Thank you, Arden, for showing us Lucy can be good with visitors!


-- Sally Deneen, co-author, The Dog Lover's Companion to Florida The Dog Lover's Companion to Florida: The Inside Scoop on Where to Take Your Dog (Dog Lover's Companion Guides)

After reading Arden Moore's The Dog Behavior Answer Book, I wish I had had this book when I first got my puppy. I would have saved myself a lot of money and aggravation. Arden sure knows how a dog thinks and her solutions are "right on". I recommend this book to ALL new and OLD dog owners.

Okay book for a beginner dog person. Was hoping for a bit more detailed insights.

What a great book, full of information and ideas on how to understand and correct dog behavior, resulting in happier times for all. Lots to learn even for the long time dog owner. Yes, you can correct older dogs behavior probelms with the ideas in this book!!

I have found it - an easy-to-read, complete pocket-size reference book on what to do when my dog does things that confuse or frustrate me. Arden has done a great job of bridging the communication gap between people and dogs. Thanks, Arden. I feel like I know my dog better and I can be a better guardian to her. I highly recommend this book to both new dog guardians and to long-time dog lovers.

Really gives the answeres to all of your dog questions. I have it on loan to many of my friends.

I checked this book out at my library. Loved it so much I bought it for myself and my students. Book was in perfect condition.

This book is right up there with their cat one. Both have great stories and info to relavant behaviors and what these behaviors mean from the dog perspective. This book has helped me resolve quite a few issues very quickly. Highly recomended.

This portable little guide is jam-packed with good advice. Each Q&A is like an enjoyable short story (plus adorable illustration!) worth reading even if you don't experience that particular issue with your own K9. But if you do have some behavior questions or are looking for proven, dog-friendly & people-practical tips, Moore provides excellent ideas on a whole gamut of topics - even those typically overlooked in training books.

The handy pocket size and sturdy paperboard cover allow you to grab-and-go, making this a great tool for bringing to the dog park or anywhere advice will come in handy. Moore believes in redirection not correction, so you don't have to worry about anyone misapplying her instructions and creating an aggressive (or fearful) dog.

My one small gripe is the organization - you certainly can't hop to a topic area and get your answers. You can and will make good use of the nice index. Too small an inconvenience for me to deduct a star.

With so many pet-related books out there, I didn't know which one would really help me out. Amazon's customer reviews on this book led me to buy it. Am I glad I did. It's sooo informative. There's so many different issues covered in the book, and covered so well. Ms. Moore really knows her stuff, and makes "user friendly" suggestions. You really think you know what's best for your dogs until it's as if she says, "You MIGHT want to try this...." AND IT WORKS! So many of the issues the author addresses are those I really needed to read. The best part of getting this book is how MY DOG reacted to my reading it. We are better friends than before....maybe because I'm a better parent??? - THANK YOU Arden Moore!