Dogspeak: How to Learn It, Speak It, and Use It to Have a Happy, Healthy, Well-Behaved Dog [Hardcover]

Bash Dibra (Author), Mary ann Crenshaw (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 1999

"Sit!"
(Huh?)
"Come!"
(What?)
"Get off the @#! sofa!"
(Duh...)

Are you and your dog suffering from a failure to communicate?

Whether trying to command obedience, control a destructive habit, or teach simple good manners, all dog owners know the frustration of trying to communicate with man's best friend. "DogSpeak" will help every dog owner to become the undisputed Alpha leader of the pack by using the revolutionary "DogSpeak" technique to train dogs "in their own language." It's the same revolutionary technique that has made Bash Dibra the most sought-after dog trainer in the world today and Dibra-trained dogs celebrities in their own right.

In "DogSpeak," Bash shares with average dog owners the $300-an-hour secrets he offers famous clients such as Henry Kissinger, Matthew Broderick, and Sarah Jessica Parker. Drawing on his uncanny ability to think like a dog, Bash shows the reader how to transform the most intractable canine into a well-behaved, happy pet.

Using the genetic language of dog's ancestor, the wolf, Bash explains the Eight Central Factors of Pack Behavior, those hard-wired instincts that control every dog's behavior, from dominance and aggression to chase behavior, socialization, and vocalization. Working from an understanding of the wolf/dog heritage, Bash teaches dog owners how to interpret the clear and unmistakable signals that make up the basic grammar of DogSpeak, the language every dog understands, including:

Facial Expressions -- Facial expressions clearly convey a dog's emotions, state of health, and intentions. Bash shows you how to interpret canine facial expressions, from the narrowing of the eyes to the wrinkling ofthe muzzle, to know exactly what your dog is telling you and what unwanted tricks he may be about to try!

Body Language -- Used as eloquently among dogs as by humans. Bash guides the reader to a complete understanding of the body stances and tail positions that state, "I'm top dog around here, don't mess with me!" or "I'm feeling low today," or "I'm ready for a run," and shows how to use that information to ward off aggression, correct bad habits, prevent potential illness, or simply develop a closer relationship with a pet.

Vocalization -- Bash shows why dogs bark and when, and explains how each and every bark has its own clear meaning, from a deep-throated warning growl to the yip that says, "Let's play!" and how to prevent the unwanted barking that makes a pet a problem.

From basic training to graduation, Bash offers foolproof advice on selecting a dog, housebreaking a puppy, choosing a veterinarian, providing a proper diet, avoiding unwanted chewing and barking -- even introducing a new baby to an "only dog." Filled with Bash's inimitable warmth and humor as well as fascinating facts about man's best friend, "DogSpeak" turns dog-training into a game that owner and dog alike will enjoy.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Noted trainer Dibra here takes the ideas presented in his first book, Dog Training by Bash, one step further. He discusses the social, or pack, nature of dogs and explains eight factors important to pack dynamics: the dominance hierarchy, aggression, territorial behavior, food guarding, flight behavior, chase behavior, socialization, and vocalization. Throughout, Dibra provides examples of how these factors come into play when training the family dog. Yet while teaching us to "speak dog" is ostensibly his purpose for writing, his main focus is actually on general care and training. Sections are included on selecting a dog, preparing to bring the puppy home, housebreaking, learning to read the dog's body language, and basic training in things such as heel, come, sit, and stay. Some problem behaviors are touched upon. While Dibra's style is readable and geared toward the average pet owner, DogSpeak presents little new material. His first book is still a better choice for libraries.AEdell Marie Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Dibra, a New York^-based dog trainer who has a number of celebrity clients, distills the basics of his training techniques in this breezily written new guide. The heart of the book is chapter seven, wherein the author describes dog behavior and explains the meanings of the facial expressions, body language, and vocalizations of dogs--the "DogSpeak" of the title. Chapter 8 shows the reader how to integrate this newly learned language into a training program for the dog, using the concepts to promote the proper responses in the dog. Understanding the dog's language and its reactions to the behavior of other dogs (or humans) will help the reader to understand why these specific training methods work. The other sections of the book cover choosing a puppy or dog, housebreaking, and general care. A liberal sprinkling of useful Web sites is a nice touch, and a number of boxed sidebars give further advice on various subjects, completing an extremely readable book that is a good primer on the psychology of dog training. Nancy Bent

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First Printing edition (September 20, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684824175
• ISBN-13: 978-0684824178
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,033,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive book on understanding how a dog thinks, November 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dogspeak: How to Learn It, Speak It, and Use It to Have a Happy, Healthy, Well-Behaved Dog (Hardcover)

Dog Speak not only shows you how to train your dog, but clearly and quickly explains why it works. Instead of just giving you lessons to blindly follow - it explains the logic behind the dog's actions, so you can in effect think like the dog and relate together. The dog naturally wants to please its master. Dog Speak shows you how to clearly signal to the dog and communicate one to one - to make your dog eager to please his master - and of course making the master extremely pleased with the dog.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, July 25, 2000

By 

Barbara - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dogspeak: How to Learn It, Speak It, and Use It to Have a Happy, Healthy, Well-Behaved Dog (Hardcover)

I enjoyed reading this book. More than the half explains everything about dog language, how to understand what your dog is trying to tell you, how to understand aggression, playfulness, fear etc, and how to reply to those signs once you 've understood them. The last chapters of the book deal with training (sit, stay, down), general information about the health of your dog, how to groom them, how you can improve an old dog's life and make those last years as comfortable as possible. You can see in almost every line Mr Dibra's love for dogs. It is truly wonderful! I was also amazed when I read that the author got a puppy wolf, as a pattern, in order for him to understand better the ancestors of our dogs and their behaviour.

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Never rely on an author's "credentials"!, April 13, 2004

By 

Amanda Eaton "Jack Russells rule!!!" (Custer Park, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dogspeak: How to Learn It, Speak it, and Use It to Have a Happy, Healthy, Well-Behaved Dog (Paperback)

I had heard of this book, and being on a neverending quest for better canine health, wellbeing, and communication (as evidenced by my other reviews!) I decided to add it to my "stack" of read-and-rates.

There is nothing new, novel, or remotely remarkable about this book. But less than average writing, poor illustrations, and out-of-date techniques are among some of its numerous flaws. I approached this book initially because it was listed under "Dogs -- Behavior" AND "Dogs -- Training." But really if anything, it falls under choosing and caring for a new puppy!

There are 10 chapters in this book. The first is more of an "extended intro," second is Dibra's 8 Fundamental Pack Behaviors (nothing any reading/thinking person wouldn't know *yawn*), and chapters 3-6 are all about choosing and caring for a new puppy! WHOA! Wasn't this listed under "Dogs -- Behavior"? Just wait, it gets better!

Chapter 7 finally gets to the "behavior" portion I crave. But I was severly dissappointed. The illustrations are terrible, if not incomplete, and the description of basic doggy body language is less-than-adequate. He doesn't even BEGIN to go into the complexities of certain types of dogs, or "dialects" as we like to call them! But all in all, if you have never read any texts on behavior, it may possibly be a wee bit helpful to you.

Unforgivable Sins in this book:
· Dibra's puppy-buying guide relies HEAVILY on AKC as a "starting point," saying you can use them for breed research, breeder referral, and a reference point. Not so. AKC offers generalities like breed standards (useless when matching a dog to your lifestyle!) and a list of breeders who may or may not produce quality dogs. This generally wouldn't bother me so much, but he KEEPS referring to it!

· Dibra recommends that at 6 months a dog be fitted with a "control collar"... which is a lame way of saying "choke chain." He says in chapter 8 (pg 143) "It goes without saying that training can't begin without the proper equipment: training control collar and leash ... Otherwise you have no control of your dog." Oh really? hmmm... I've never used a correction collar and I compete in agility, which takes a high degree of focus and control.

· I was disgusted by his use of the choke collar in general, such as when teaching heal, continually pop the collar at intervals to remind your dog to stay with you. What, is it a reward now? He also mentions that it is not punishment, it is correction, and that punishment makes a dog "shut down." I'm here to tell you, I have a dog that "shuts down" when you tug on his nylon martingale accidentally! I know several others who shut down when you correct them verbally! How do you deal with that?

· He is against any other training device and doesn't even cover them except to say they "backfire." Please be open minded! Even I teach methods for equipment I don't agree with!

· A minor fault: he refers to the veterinarian as the ultimate reference for doggy health. I'm here to tell ya (as a vet tech student and natural raiser) vets don't know everything! And above all else, who knows your animal better than YOU!

I was severely disappointed with this book to the point that I wrote down the things as I found them (hence the quote). There are way more "red flag" quotes in the book. I can't believe this man teaches celebrities how to handle their dogs for $300 an hour. I know I will do without his help...

Want a better book which is REALLY about behavior?
...read Stanley Coren's "How to Speak Dog"

Want a better book which is REALLY about communication?
...read Suzanne Clothier's "Bones would Rain from the Sky"