Dog Behavior [Paperback]

Ian Dunbar (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 223 pages
• Publisher: T.F.H. (1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876666713
• ISBN-13: 978-0876666715
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,002,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Consulting Editor Ian Dunbar, Ph.D., MRCVS, is the founder and an ongoing member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Consulting Editor Pamela Leis Higdon, an aviculturist of long standing, was an associate editor for Bird Talk magazine and the first managing editor of Birds USA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Want to understand your dog better?, June 19, 2001

By 

Robin G. Sowton "rsowton" (Plano, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dog Behavior: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet (Hardcover)

Many dog behavior books seem to focus more on dog obedience/training rather than on dog 'behavior.' As the owner of 2 chihuahuas, I'm interested in dog obedience to some extent, but I've always wanted to know more about why my dogs behave a certain way. What do they really mean when they do certain things? So, I was pleasantly surprised to find this wonderful little book!

The author explains such behaviors as why dogs wag their tails... why dogs know how long to continue to view another dog as still being a puppy... how dogs develop their hierarchies... and yet, the author doesn't overgeneralize about these behaviors either. He describes the stages of a dog's development from puppy to adult, and he dispels some myths about dog intelligence and dog training.

I found the author's attitude very refreshing and I think this is another reason that I enjoyed this book so much. He genuinely likes dogs and he portrays them as the intelligent, emotional, and social creatures that they are.

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and entertaining, February 22, 2000

By 

Laura C. Hooper - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dog Behavior: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet (Hardcover)

This is a very thin book, but it is just packed with insight and information. The author clearly loves dogs and understands them. My favorite thing about the book is the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) humor that he uses to make his points. I loved his turns of phrase and his abhorence for cruelty in any of its disguised forms. It is a fact that often what we think we are training the dog to do is the opposite of what we are really teaching. Dr. Dunbar is not afraid to point this out.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST BUY For Any Dog/Puppy Owner!, January 17, 2000

By 

Heather Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dog Behavior: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet (Hardcover)

This is an EXCELLENT book to help you understand your dog and how to head off any behavior problems that may occur as the dog matures. I would suggest reading it BEFORE you get a puppy/dog and learn how and why it is SOOO important to properly socialize it at a very early age. Dunbar makes total sense and his recommendations have always worked with my dogs and others whom I have loaned my book to. It is fun and easy to read.