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Dog Talk: Lessons Learned from a Life with Dogs
 
 
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Dog Talk: Lessons Learned from a Life with Dogs [Hardcover]

Harrison Forbes (Author), Beth Adelman (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)


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Book Description

0312378734 978-0312378738 September 30, 2008 1st

DOG TALK chronicles Harrison Forbes's life with dogs, from the first bond he formed as a boy with a Belgian Tervuren named Sabina, to the story of Lex, a police dog who attacked his owner’s wife, and was redeemed by Harrison’s intense love and respect for the breed.  Forbes also offers practical aspects of understanding and dealing with whatever type of dog the reader may have.  In DOG TALK, the pet owner will find fascinating insights into behavioral problems, as each chapter addresses a different situation or issue.

Here are some of Harrison's trademark insights into dog behavior and training:

*Energy management is the basis of behavior management : unwanted or aggressive behavior, is often the result of pent-up, frustrated energy

*Dog behavior should always be taken in context; a dog that is housetrained in its home isn't necessarily so everywhere else

*Every dog's make-up is individual and distinct--:a combination of nature and nurture

*Non-verbal communication, structure and clearly delineated limits, and the human-canine bond are basic building blocks in a good relationship

*Reasonable expectations are key to an enjoyable pet experience

DOG TALK is at times funny, irreverent, insightful, and touching, and it will deepen the reader's understanding of dog behavior and as a result will enable him to approach his own dog in a fresh and motivated way to begin, improve, mend, or strengthen a relationship that can last a lifetime.



Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the newest life-with-dogs memoir, veteran dog trainer and radio show co-host Forbes forgoes the maudlin for some genuine insight into dog behavior and psychology. Beginning with Lex, a German Shepherd that attacked its owner's wife, Forbes chronicles the challenges and victories of rehabilitating and living with aggressive dogs that others would have given up on. Forbes doesn't offer a program for dog training, but readers will benefit from his insights on the importance of a consistent training regimen and his approach to managing aggression. Arguing that dogs' behavior is 75 percent genetic and 25 percent environmental, Forbes doesn't offer any pat answers to handling a challenging dog besides a lot of patience and hard work. Still, those interested in the hows and whys of dog attacks and aggression will find the book useful, and Forbes' tone of love and respect for his charges is itself both instructive and encouraging.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“An anomaly of recent publishing is dog books written by writers who don't know much about dogs and don't seem to like them all that much. Mr. Forbes book is happily different. Harrison Forbes is modest about his own accomplishments but introduces us vividly to the minds and spirits of some fascinating, extremely difficult dogs (How many of us have a dog that has put 11 people in a hospital?). Dog Talk is deeply and importantly about dogs and those humans who understand and love them. I gladly pay Mr. Forbes the highest compliment one dog man can pay another: I would trust him with my dogs.”--Donald McCaig, New York Times bestselling author of Nop's Trials, Eminent Dogs, Dangerous Men and A Useful Dog
 

"Harrison Forbes talks 'dog' fluently. As one of this country's leading dog trainers and behaviorists, he truly understands canines and can solve any doggy dilemmas in his unique, no-fuss style. Whether he's importing and training German Shepherds for high security police work or schooling Chihuahuas to cope with apartment-style living, he has some great stories to tell. If you love dogs, you'll love this book."--Sandy Robins, Pet lifestyle expert, author and regular  pet contributor to MSNBC.com and DogCentral.MSN.com

“Harrison Forbes is a treasure for the pet-loving public. He has the combination of experience and intelligence that cuts to the essence of those topics that matter.”--Rolan Tripp, DVM, veterinary content consultant for Animal Planet and Founder of Animalbehavior.net

"In a compelling and engaging style, Harrison Forbes has recounted experiences with dogs throughout his life.  In doing so, he reminds us of the extraordinary power of the human-animal bond and the special relationship we have with dogs in modern American culture."--Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO, The Humane Society of the United States

“Harrison Forbes is who I use for all my dog advice.”--James Gandolfini, actor

 

 


Product Details

  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (September 30, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312378734
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312378738
  • Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,811,967 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.6 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars I did NOT like this, June 6, 2009
This review is from: Dog Talk: Lessons Learned from a Life with Dogs (Hardcover)
I agree with some other poor reviews here. I did not think this was good advice. This guy (famous or not) had his dogs get run over, disappear, attack people in the face, get beaten by others to the point they were mentally deranged (which is acceptable in "eastern bloc" countries, supposedly), bite him regularly, and get beaten and choked to unconsciousness while they were inappropriately attackng someone. This guy goes into a puppy store and is throwing bowls around to get the "startle test" results - IN A PET STORE. Then buys a poorly bred, ill, puppy mill dog. Not to mention getting a pure wolf from an unethical breeder and subjecting the thing to a life of unfulfillment. HOW DID THIS GET PROMOTED AS GOOD ADVICE? This guy is the most irresponsible person I've ever read about. It annoyed me that he doesn't miss an opportunity to put his wife and family down OVER AND OVER for how useless they were in training his lhasa apso. I wish I never read this book. The only good he does is tell a few stores about how pit bulls aren't neccesarily going to kill the neighbor. Is this for real? I am very sad thinking someone who doesn't have a lot of dog experience is going to read this. HOW TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE! I was really let down by this book.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars less testosterone please !!, November 13, 2008
This review is from: Dog Talk: Lessons Learned from a Life with Dogs (Hardcover)
Found the content to be lacking. Not much about training. Reads more like this guys diary. I found the tone to be self serving and not in the best interest of these animals. I stopped thinking I would get anything useful out of it when this guy glorified how a poor sick dog went off into the night never to return. Made it seem like some kind of hero death. More likely the animal suffered a nasty fate in the woods. Lets call it what it is, and not some Disney boy and dog ending. I respect and admire service animals and this just made me feel sorry for some of them.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I thought, November 4, 2008
This review is from: Dog Talk: Lessons Learned from a Life with Dogs (Hardcover)
This book was not what I thought it would be. I was hoping it would give me insight into the minds of dogs who displayed signs of having been abused or mistreated in the past, and propose strategies of how to help them overcome their fears or insecurities. I hoped it would give me insight into the connection between past experiences, current behaviors, and suggested ways to bridge the gaps. Instead, I found it to be about a man who trained dogs for aggressive actions, albeit sometimes necessary for police work, and extolling his own virtues of how macho he was in taking on and training and working with extremely strong-willed and potentially and actually dangerous dogs. I learned about how fearless and competent dogs are trained for police work, but frankly, I grew weary of the author tooting his own horn about his own greatness and competence. It should have been marketed differently to appeal to that aspect of the population that wants to read a book of this nature. It did not help me at all in dealing with a so-called normal dog with idiosyncracies. I donated my copy to the library as it was no source of future reference for me.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
bite suit, bite work, fight drive, pack behavior
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Ivan the Terrible, United States, Lex's Last Days, Diane Whipple, Great Dane, Prey Drive
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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