The Dog Who Would Be King [Hardcover]

John C. Wright PhD (Author), Judi Wright Lashnits (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 1999

In these witty and entertaining stories about misbehaving dogs, John Wright, one of the country's top behaviorists--and probably the only one who's been making house calls for 16 years--takes you with him on his rounds to show how he helps beleaguered dog lovers come to terms with their misbehaving pets. Wright has used his intimate knowledge of animal psychology to solve behavior problems ranging from the serious to downright funny. A great storyteller, Wright shares hilarious and insightful first-person anecdotes to help clients understand and appreciate why their dogs act the way they do, and to solve some unusually knotty problems--and, of course, to keep Fido out of trouble in the future!
With the skill of a seasoned mystery writer, Wright gets to know the families and their lifestyles first, even the layout of their homes, before analyzing all the vexing doggy clues. He sheds expert light on topics such as coping with puppies and new dogs, right and wrong ways to discipline a pet, and specifically canine behavioral problems like aggression, having "accidents," phobias, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What would you do if your dog was terrified of your new lover? Or if she ate her way through your new kitchen cabinets to hide from a thunderstorm? Applied animal behaviorist Wright's (Is Your Cat Crazy?) latest book tells how he helps exasperated owners solve these and other shaggy dilemmas, including the dog who left "voodoo" drawings on his owners' white carpet while they were away at work and the family that couldn't eat at home because their German shepherd would swipe their food from the table. Wright also covers more ordinary cases of doggy phobias, separation anxieties and aggression. In between cases histories, Wright donates valuable advice on topics such as choosing and training puppies, merging pet households and reading your hound's body language (hint: not every wagging tail is friendly). Best of all, Wright demonstrates inspired, and sometimes humorous, insight into the motives of mischievous canines and their befuddled owners. Agent: Jim Frenkel. Author tour.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Wright, a professor of psychology and certified applied animal behaviorist, shares entertaining stories about misbehaving dogs from his personal case histories. Meet King, who wouldn't let his owners get out of bed at night. Then there's Wizard, who was so worried that his owner would abandon him that the owner had to leave for work every morning through the bedroom window. After 16 years of making house calls, Wright has learned to know the families and their lifestyles first before analyzing the dog's problem. This is not a "how to" bookAthe treatments described are all custom-tailored for one particular animal in its home. Instead, Wright focuses on altering behavior rather than the pet's personality. Drawing from his experiences, he provides insight on topics such as coping with puppies and new dogs, the right and wrong ways to discipline a pet, and specific canine behavioral problems like aggression (biting) and phobias (fear of thunderstorms). This work nicely complements Nicolas Dodman's The Dog Who Loved Too Much (LJ 8/97). For large public library collections.AEva Lautemann, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Clarkston
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books; 1st edition (February 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579540023
• ISBN-13: 978-1579540029
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #357,917 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #97 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Animal Behavior & Communication

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming, very informative read!, March 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dog Who Would Be King (Hardcover)

I have three dogs, all far from perfect, and this book gave me so many ideas to build on. I have tried some of Dr. Wright's techniques with my dogs and have experienced almost immediate results. He gives easy to understand treatment options in the form of wonderful, heartwarming stories. This book is a joy to read since it is not written in "how to" fashion. Dr. Wright seems so personable in his writing, it makes me want to tell him all about my dogs. I give this humorous, entertaining and informative book my highest recommendation.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every dog owner should read this book!, June 18, 2002

By 

C. Thomas "cct816" (Overland Park, KS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dog Who Would Be King (Hardcover)

Even if your pup's behavior isn't as "bad" as these dogs' behaviors are, every dog owner should read this book! It explains the positive way of training dogs to behave themselves. It tells you exactly how the thought process works for each trouble behavior the doctor encountered and the end result of the training of both dog and owner(s)! Excellent!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And another great dog book to add to your collection!, May 15, 2001

By 

Nunya Business (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dog Who Would Be King (Hardcover)

This is one impressive book! The stories make the book fun and easy to read, and the information is very helpful in understanding your own dog. Not a book to get if you're looking for help in training your dog, but definitely a book for those interested in understanding their pets.