Reading The Dog's Mind: Learning to Train from the Dog's Point of View [Paperback]

John Holmes (Author), Mary Holmes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 1998

The dog occupies a unique place in our world, having adapted itself to become our companion par excellence. But do we ask too much of our pet dogs, expecting them to subdue their instincts in order to live in our world? Using their unrivaled knowledge of canine behavior, John and Mary Holmes examine this question by looking at the world from the dog's point of view. They examine the five senses sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste and the instincts that rule all dogs the pack instinct, the hunting instinct and the guarding instinct to find out why dogs behave the way they do, and how their behavior can be influenced. Using this information, they offer expert advice on choosing the right dog to suit your lifestyle, the most effective training methods for your individual dog and what to do when things go wrong. Finally, there is a special section on how the dog's instincts and behavior patterns can be specifically channeled to help us. The work of guide dogs for the blind, dogs for the disabled, sniffer dogs and police dogs is analyzed to discover how instinct, intelligence and training interact to produce such widely varying skills.

Award-winning authors John and Mary Holmes are professional dog trainers, well-known for their film and television work. Previous books include Pet Owner's Guide to Puppy Care and Training.
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you consider your dog to be a "furry human," this is not the book for you. But, if you see yourself as the leader of the pack, then Reading the Dog's Mind is the perfect choice.

Authors John and Mary Holmes do an excellent job of describing the inner nature of dogs and the instinctual traits that dictate their behavior. Key to the Holmes's approach is the basic premise that by understanding your dog's natural instincts, namely the five senses (sight, sound, smell, hearing, and touch), you can better train and control your dog. For instance, it's good to know that when training your puppy--whose underdeveloped senses of smell, hearing, and sight led him to rely on touch to keep in contact with his mother and siblings--physical contact (petting, hugging, snuggling) is of utmost importance if you want to raise a happy, healthy pet.

Other topics covered include choosing the best type of dog for your needs, finding the right breeding mate for your dog, and identifying those dogs that are best suited for service work. Black-and-white photos accompany the text and provide a visual illustration of the Holmes's expert advice. --Jennifer Pugh

From the Back Cover

The dog occupies a unique place in our world, having adapted itself to become our companion par excellence. But do we ask too much of our pet dogs, expecting them to subdue their instincts in order to live in our world? Using their unrivaled knowledge of canine behavior, John and Mary Holmes examine this question by looking at the world from the dog's point of view. They examine the five senses?sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste?and the instincts that rule all dogs?the pack instinct, the hunting instinct and the guarding instinct?to find out why dogs behave the way they do, and how their behavior can be influenced. Using this information, they offer expert advice on choosing the right dog to suit your lifestyle, the most effective training methods for your individual dog and what to do when things go wrong. Finally, there is a special section on how the dog's instincts and behavior patterns can be specifically channeled to help us. The work of guide dogs for the blind, dogs for the disabled, sniffer dogs and police dogs is analyzed to discover how instinct, intelligence and training interact to produce such widely varying skills.

Award-winning authors John and Mary Holmes are professional dog trainers, well-known for their film and television work. Previous books include Pet Owner's Guide to Puppy Care and Training.
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (December 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876050348
• ISBN-13: 978-0876050347
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #527,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Completely agrees with my philosophy of working with dogs!!!, June 11, 2002

By 

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

This review is from: Reading The Dog's Mind: Learning to Train from the Dog's Point of View (Paperback)

This book represents everything I truly believe one should and should not do regarding dog training/communication. I haven't found a book like it in all of the research and reading I've done on the topic. Also of great benefit is the fact that they don't heavily recommend feeding kibble (this is just briefly mentioned in the book), which I advocate strongly. This clear-cut, easy format book is enjoyable and extremely educational without faddish training methods or too soft or too hard viewpoints on the treatment of dogs. I highly recommend it to everyone considering or interested in learning about how dogs think!