How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves [Paperback]

Sophia Yin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 14, 2010

How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves takes a scientifically sound yet practical approach to explaining dog behavior and training theory, and then shows you how to apply these concepts so you can train your dog to be well behaved. Written by one of the leading veterinary behaviorists in the country, this revised and expanded edition of the original bestseller features brand new chapters that provide the most up-to-date science of dog behavior and explains key concepts in clear, straightforward language. The user-friendly, full-color instructional drawings enhance the informative text, while the all-positive training advice helps you change undesirable behaviors without resorting to aversive corrections such as yelling, hitting, pushing, or other outdated forms of punishment. Good behavior and problem solving exercises are broken down into easy-to-read “5 Minute” sections, while “Spot” quizzes throughout the text help reinforce your grasp of the material. Science-based methods for observing, understanding, and modifying behavior are applied to everyday situations, offering numerous examples of how training exercises can be turned into fun games for both dogs and owners.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...I find this book so uniquely valuable, it will be front and center in my bookcase. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Veterinary contributor to ABC TV's Good Morning America, Knight Ridder Tribune Pet Columnist, Coauthor Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, 2002 Veterinarian of the Year

Dr. Yin knows how---and why---to train, and how to convey the finer points to the average dog owner... -- Leslie Larson Cooper, DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists

Dr. Yin's book includes just about all you need to know to get the most enjoyment from your pet... -- Edward Price, Professor Emeritus of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, author of Animal Domestication and Behavior

Sophia Yin's approach to dog training is a perfect meshing of the scientific theory and practical application. -- Raymond Coppinger, PhD, Professor of Biology, Hampshire College --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

Although you may not be aware of it, every interaction you have with your dog is a training session--with each pat on the head, cluck of disapproval, or offer of a treat, your dog is learning something. Whether he is learning something you want him to learn is another matter. If you want a well-behaved dog, you're going to have to modify your own behavior in order to modify his. The best way to achieve this is to understand how dogs think and learn.

Dr. Sophia Yin, a respected animal behaviorist, provides an in-depth approach to not only understanding dogs, but also understanding how to effectively communicate with them. As you read about the practical aspects of learning theory, you will realize what motivates your dog, then apply Dr. Yin's scientifically-based training methods to get the results you want. Exercises for training and problem solving are broken down into short, easy-to-read sections, and friendly, instructional illustrations enhance the techniques.

The positive approach to correcting and training your dog's behaviors will help you see the world from your dog's perspective and provide the necessary training tools to effect amazing behavioral changes. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 271 pages
• Publisher: TFH Publications; 2 edition (July 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793806445
• ISBN-13: 978-0793806447
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,543 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Pets & Animal Care > Dogs > Care & Health

More About the Author

Dr. Sophia Yin knows what it's like to have a problem pet and nowhere to turn for professional help. And she has witnessed countless fractured relationships between misunderstood pets and their frustrated humans companions.

As a result, her mission in life is to improve our understanding of animals and their behavior so that we can care for, appreciate and enjoy our time with them better.

Sophia learned that every pet needs a human who can lead. Not like a boss, but like a partner in a dance--someone who gives clear signals, rewards desirable behavior as it occurs, removes rewards for inappropriate behavior immediately, and sticks to the plan consistently until the new, good behavior is a habit.

Sophia's dedication to helping people communicate with pets in a positive, scientifically sound way has led her to create a variety of exceptional books and products for pet owners and pet-care professionals who also aspire to bond with their pets on a whole new level.

Dr. Sophia Yin currently sees behavior house calls, works at San Francisco Veterinary Specialists (www.SFVS.net), writes for several veterinary and popular magazines and has consulted for several zoos. She also lectures and teaches workshops internationally on animal behavior and low stress handling and has served as a behavior expert for shows such as Dogs 101 on Animal Planet. She is also on the executive board for the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) Handling Guidelines Committee, and the American Humane Association (AHA) Animal Behavior and Training Advisory Committee.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Intelligent Guide for Dog Owners July 30, 2008

By E. Kathryn Meyer

Format:Hardcover

How To Behave So Your Dog Behaves--A practical and intelligent guide for dog owners

by E. Kathryn Meyer, VMD
President, American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior

The first thing that engaged me in Sophia Yin's How To Behave So Your Dog Behaves was its title. As a veterinarian who treats behavioral problems in dogs and cats exclusively, I strive to teach my clients that we can't use a magic wand to eradicate unwanted behavior in dogs. We have to first understand the behavior and then devise methods of changing the behavior in a positive way--usually by giving the dog a good reason to engage in an acceptable alternative behavior. If we read our dogs correctly, we can teach them what is desired and then use motivators specific to our individual dog and situation to reinforce the right stuff. Dr. Yin's book is aptly titled and provides a wealth of science-based information translated into witty and easily understood language, accompanied by helpful and charming illustrations.

To build a foundation of basic dog knowledge, Dr. Yin first educates the reader about the origin of dogs, their social behavior, and body language. Then, she introduces and explains the science of learning, its potential and its limitations. But the real gold mine for dog owners lies in the Five-Minute Guides covered in the last two sections of the book on Basic Good Dog Behavior and Solving Common Canine Problems. The first section gives the reader explicit instructions on how to teach very specific behaviors that are incredibly important to having a well-behaved, well-adjusted dog. The recommendations for "Say Please by Sitting" and "Walk Nicely on Leash" are the most effective tools I've encountered for creating a well-mannered dog--substituting specific and acceptable behaviors for unruly behaviors that are often unknowingly reinforced by owners. (Do you look at, speak to, and/or touch your dog when he jumps up on you? Bingo--you're rewarding that behavior!) Methods to train other very important basic behaviors, such as learning to focus on the owner with "Watch Me," coming when called, staying, and going to "your place" are also thoroughly described.

In addition to covering the prevention of problems, Dr. Yin also devotes a section to solving some common behavioral issues encountered by dog owners. The problems are briefly described and recommendations are outlined for such topics as Housetraining, Chew Training, Food Possessiveness, Aggression Toward Non-Family Members, and Barking.

For the intellectually curious, this book provides the reader with a goldmine of information about the natural behavior of dogs, learning theory, and applied animal behavior. Of particular note is the inclusion of two landmark scientific papers on animal learning by Keller and Marian Breland (1951, 1961), in their entirety, in an Appendix. Dr. Yin prefaces these articles by giving a brief historical perspective of "How the Science of Learning Made it to Animal Trainers" and then whets the reader's appetite by providing an interview with Marian and her second husband, Bob Bailey. I would encourage anyone with even a flicker of curiosity about animals and how they interface with their environment to read this section--paying particular attention to how the 10 years of experience training thousands of animals changed the outlook of the authors in terms of the role of instinct and limitations to learning.

If you are more utilitarian in your approach to reading this book, it will still be of great use to you. The reader can simply consult the "Five-Minute Guide" section on common behavioral problems to learn about a specific issue. A glossary is also provided, which will help the reader understand terms that may be unfamiliar. However, I would strongly urge the reader to review the entire Guide to Basic Good Dog Behavior section prior to addressing specific problems for best results.

"How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves" is a fabulous resource for every dog owner. All of the tools you need to allow your dog to be the best dog (and best behaved dog) he can be are at your fingertips. These approaches are truly a "win/win" for dog and owner alike.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has everything November 14, 2005

By Ami

Format:Hardcover

This book is great. If you've ever read a training book that bored you to death, you need this book. Dr. Yin's writing is easy to read. I never got lost in technical talk; whenever she talks about science she makes sure to define the terms or give the background so that anyone can understand it. If she wrote fiction books, she'd have best sellers, she's so funny. I never felt like reading this book was a chore. The illustrations will make you laugh, and you'll never forget what they're trying to teach you. The content of this book is right-on. You learn the basics of animal behavior, how to train, why it isn't working for you and how to fix it. I've read other books on dog behavior, and this one answered the questions those left me with. She lists resources when you need them so you don't have to flip back and forth searching for them (though flipping the pages is fun and worth another laugh). And if the book isn't enough, you can download exercises and videos from her website. Get this book, and a second one too, to loan to all your friends.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you own a dog - get this book !! November 16, 2005

By Jeff Jay

Format:Hardcover

"How to Behave" is packed with useful information on everything from how dogs learn to reading a dog's expression to what you can do if your dog barks too much. The material is presented in a style that is easy to understand and use to successfully train your dog. The exercises were very effective and easy to follow. Illustrations in the book are often funny and aid in conveying the large amount of information. I found the secton on reading and understanding a dog's posture and body signals especially valuable not only for my own dog but also when I meet unfamiliar ones. My only criticism is that if this book had been written a few years ago, my favorite dress shoes may not have become doggie chew toys.