The Rosetta Bone: The Key to Communication Between Humans and Canines (Howell Dog Book of Distinction) [Hardcover]

Cheryl S. Smith (Author)

Book Description

Series: Howell Dog Book of Distinction | Publication Date: January 13, 2004

Far too often, we humans expect our dogs to understand what we say to them. Though we may spend a lot of time talking to them, we're really not communicating. And without proper communication, it's impossible to train a dog properly-- let alone make your human/canine relationship a rewarding one.

Packed with unique insights and gentle training advice, The Rosetta Bone provides average dog owners with the know-how they need to decipher canine meanings, communicate effectively, increase training success, and share a deeper bond. Focusing on the behavioral basis-- the "silent" symbols-- for learning, understanding, and communicating, expert dog trainer and competitor Cheryl S. Smith reveals how you can use your own body language to send a message and even teach a dog what specific words mean. She reveals how a dog's breed can affect his personality and explains how to decode-- and correct-- common behavior problems. With the knowledge and solutions this book provides, you will train more effectively, enjoy your dog more, and ease your own stress. What's more, you'll apply what you've learned immediately, with solid, practical advice on:
* Learning the As, Bs, Cs, and Ds of human-canine communication
* Teaching English to your dog-- and, in turn, understanding "Doglish"
* Using body language to assist in communication and help your dog learn
* Incorporating various kinds of touch to tighten your bond
* Making rewards and reprimands real, relevant, and reliable
* Understanding the relationship between kids and dogs


Supplemented with enlightening, easy-to-do exercises with your dog, as well as quotes from trainers, behaviorists, veterinarians, and humane society workers, The Rosetta Bone is a revealing guide to making life better in your human/canine household.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Far too often, we humans expect our dogs to understand what we say to them. Though we may spend a lot of time talking to them, we’re really not communicating. And without proper communication, it’s impossible to train a dog properly–– let alone make your human/canine relationship a rewarding one.

Packed with unique insights and gentle training advice, The Rosetta Bone provides average dog owners with the know-how they need to decipher canine meanings, communicate effectively, increase training success, and share a deeper bond. Focusing on the behavioral basis–– the "silent" symbols–– for learning, understanding, and communicating, expert dog trainer and competitor Cheryl S. Smith reveals how you can use your own body language to send a message and even teach a dog what specific words mean. She reveals how a dog’s breed can affect his personality and explains how to decode–– and correct–– common behavior problems. With the knowledge and solutions this book provides, you will train more effectively, enjoy your dog more, and ease your own stress. What’s more, you’ll apply what you’ve learned immediately, with solid, practical advice on:

• Learning the As, Bs, Cs, and Ds of human-canine communication
• Teaching English to your dog–– and, in turn, understanding "Doglish"
• Using body language to assist in communication and help your dog learn
• Incorporating various kinds of touch to tighten your bond
• Making rewards and reprimands real, relevant, and reliable
• Understanding the relationship between kids and dogs

Supplemented with enlightening, easy-to-do exercises with your dog, as well as quotes from trainers, behaviorists, veterinarians, and humane society workers, The Rosetta Bone is a revealing guide to making life better in your human/canine household.

About the Author

CHERYL S. SMITH is a trainer, a successful dog sports competitor, a global lecturer, and a well-respected pet writer whose work has won the prestigious Maxwell medallion from the Dog Writers Association of America.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (January 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764544217
• ISBN-13: 978-0764544217
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #583,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

It's all my parents' fault. For reasons that will be forever unknown, they refused to let me have a dog (or a horse, but that's another story). I adopted neighborhood dogs as much as I could, but I hungered for my own dog.
As soon as I was out of school and had a job, I bought a tiny construction trailer and a dog, a Keeshond I named Sundance. There was barely room for the two of us in the trailer, but I didn't care. I had a dog!
Fortunately, Sundance was a princess among dogs and more than made up for my woeful lack of knowledge on the subject of dog care and behavior.
I had a series of regular jobs, but also began writing, long distance, for television, starting out at the top with M*A*S*H.
Over the years, I added more dogs. Spirit was bought from a pet shop (which I subsequently helped close by enforcing their health guarantee -- Spirit was dying from various diseases and parasites when I took over her care), undoubtedly from a puppy mill. Though I loved her as I loved all my dogs, she was a real challenge both physically and mentally. She had hip dysplasia and allergies, and upon reaching puberty, decided that she hated humans other than her limited family. So my dog education had to grow quickly.
By now, my writing had switched to travel and food writing for newspapers and magazines.
Serling was a sweetheart, chosen because he was a big black dog in a shelter and didn't stand much chance of being adopted. He was named in honor of Rod Serling of The Twilight Zone, and he was my entry into the world of competition, stepping into the obedience and agility rings and excelling at water work. And those experiences swung my writing to dogs. My first paid articles recounted our misadventures in the obedience ring -- Serling had a fine sense of humor and tortured me regularly until I learned to loosen up and have a good time.
The dog writing progressed, I left the world of regular work and became a freelancer, and the dogs continued. I wrote my first books, early entries into the now popular genre of descriptions of where to walk or hike with dogs. I started clicker training. Serling got a part in a movie (a small part -- one day's work). We won talent competitions regularly (this was way before Pet Star, or even Animal Planet).
Nestle came along, a lovely gentle boy with his own set of insecurities. I kept writing and won quite a wall-ful of awards. And we now live happily on the Olympic Pensinula in Washington state, along with sheep, chickens, llamas, and a litter of feral cats.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST DOG BOOK EVER, May 26, 2004

By 

L. Allen (Carbondale, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rosetta Bone: The Key to Communication Between Humans and Canines (Howell Dog Book of Distinction) (Hardcover)

The Rosetta Bone is the best dog training, dog communication, human/pet love stories book I have ever read (and I have a shelf full to which I often refer). Learning to read my dogs' body language and gaining an awareness of how they read mine, has opened a new dimension of fun and sharing in our relationship. They and I are more responsive to each other and take more joy in the time we spend together each day. This book is a must read for the person acquiring their first dog, experiencing behavior problems with a current animal, or wanting to communicate with their dog on a deeper level. Cheryl Smith's insights into how dogs communicate (top dogs give a disdainful look--they don't jerk misbehavig subordinates or roll them on their back) turns training into play time and enhances the dog's life with its people. Thanks to the Rosetta Bone the time I spend with my dogs is more relaxed and joyful. Thanks Cheryl Smith--you've done the dog loving world a great favor with this great book!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Communication is the key, March 23, 2007

By 

Sandy (Monrovia, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rosetta Bone: The Key to Communication Between Humans and Canines (Howell Dog Book of Distinction) (Hardcover)

This book raised my consciousness about the two way communication between dog and owner. It doesn't give many step by step directions about training but that can be found in reference books at the end of the book. Perhaps understanding the relatiionship with our pets is a bigger step before attempting specific training. I found myself much more sensitive to my dog after reading this.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Guide, March 4, 2007

By 

Krys - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rosetta Bone: The Key to Communication Between Humans and Canines (Howell Dog Book of Distinction) (Hardcover)

This was a superb book. It confirmed so many things I knew about dogs...the very same things I had a difficult time convincing "expert" trainers about! It also taught me quite a few things by clarifying the subtle differences between several canine messages, by explaining the different behaviors of certain breeds of dogs, and by clearing up the issues of common misinformation.

This is a beautifully structured book. I was comfortable enough to read straight through it in two sittings. The sidebar exercises were fun and informative. The gentle training methods used in this book work with the dog's natural behaviors, easing stress on both species. Not to be forgotten, the book was a lot of fun, too.

Included in the index is a nice resource section packed with websites, mailing addresses, and telephone numbers of noteworthy organizations. There are even sections in the book that touch briefly on canine massage techniques and the possibility of telepathic communication with dogs. Chapter 12 deals solely with various events and competitions dogs can enter and enjoy.

This is a great book for anyone interested in strengthening the bond they share with their canine companion(s).