The Well-Adjusted Dog: Dr. Dodman's Seven Steps to Lifelong Health and Happiness for Your BestFriend (Hardcover)

by Nicholas H. Dodman (Author)
Key Phrases: physical health concerns, healing potions, dog speak, Basic Needs, Saint John, Hard Place (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Dogs, like humans, need a well-rounded life for happiness and health, says author and animal behaviorist Dodman (The Dog Who Loved Too Much, Dogs Behaving Badly) in his latest. Many of his seven steps-enough exercise, the right diet, proper corrective measures-will be familiar, but Dodman's clear delivery and insight make this a worthwhile cover-to-cover read. A strong advocate for positive reinforcement (nixing measures like choke chains and shock collars), Dodman's techniques may strike some as coddling, but his supporting arguments and anecdotes are strong and sensible. The latter half covers topics like conflict resolution and unwanted behaviors (anxiety around strangers, compulsive tail chasing), giving dog lovers multiple suggestions for each problem point-with the notable exception of storm phobia, a multifaceted fear-generating experience that's almost impossible to defuse (though the new static electricity-blocking Storm Defender cape offers promise). Dodson refrains from sweeping pronouncements, frequently pausing to explain that different breeds have different needs, enabling readers to fine-tune their regimens. While this handbook isn't the be-all end-all (and of course doesn't replace regular trips to the vet), it's thorough and informative enough to benefit any dog owner.
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Review
Dogs, like humans, need a well-rounded life for happiness and health, says author and animal behaviorist Dodman (The Dog Who Loved Too Much, Dogs Behaving Badly) in his latest. Many of his seven steps-enough exercise, the right diet, proper corrective measures-will be familiar, but Dodman's clear delivery and insight make this a worthwhile cover-to-cover read. A strong advocate for positive reinforcement (nixing measures like choke chains and shock collars), Dodman's techniques may strike some as coddling, but his supporting arguments and anecdotes are strong and sensible. The latter half covers topics like conflict resolution and unwanted behaviors (anxiety around strangers, compulsive tail chasing), giving dog lovers multiple suggestions for each problem point-with the notable exception of storm phobia, a multifaceted fear-generating experience that's almost impossible to defuse (though the new static electricity-blocking Storm Defender cape offers promise). Dodson refrains from sweeping pronouncements, frequently pausing to explain that different breeds have different needs, enabling readers to fine-tune their regimens. While this handbook isn't the be-all end-all (and of course doesn't replace regular trips to the vet), it's thorough and informative enough to benefit any dog owner.
  (Publishers Weekly )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1 edition (July 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618833781
• ISBN-13: 978-0618833788
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #84,358 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Practical, Compelling Recommendations for Your Dog, November 9, 2008

By	Maureen Harmonay (Sterling, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When dogs are behaving badly or inappropriately, their people often don't know where to turn, or what to do.

Sometimes, an animal communicator can help to assuage a conflict, ease an anxiety, or curb a bad habit by discovering exactly why the dog is doing what he's doing, from his perspective, and that "direct from the source" input can often be extremely helpful in restoring a sense of normalcy.

But for the chronic offenders, it can be useful to consult an animal behaviorist, and Dr. Nicholas Dodman, Director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University's Cummings School, is one of the best.

One of the most important contributions of his new book, "The Well-Adjusted Dog," is that it dispels prevalent myths and misconceptions about what works and doesn't work to curtail unwanted or destructive behavior patterns. Dr. Dodman's philosophy is simple and straightfoward:

"Your job as a dog owner is to try to understand your dog's life from his point of view, and to lead and protect, not to dominate, punish, and force a dog into submission. . .Real leaders do not dominate; they listen, think, and often defer. Real leaders do not intimidate; they instill confidence. . .

"The human-companion animal bond is not forged through the metal of the choke chain or prong collar but rather through mutual trust and respect."

Even compassionate, well-intentioned, and experienced canine caretakers may be astonished to learn that some of their assumptions about what their dog requires for nutrition, exercise and training are just plain wrong. For example, the amount of exercise a dog really needs may really blow your mind. Let's just say that a stroll around the block twice a day isn't enough.

When it comes to dogs who display territorial aggression, Dr. Dodman's pioneering research has been able to prove that there is a direct correlation between the amount of protein in a dog's diet and his tendency to lash out. In his controlled study, there was a demonstrable reduction in aggressive behavior when dogs were fed a low-protein (17%) diet:

"Territorial aggression was significantly reduced on the lower-protein diets. The decrease in aggression was almost linear when plotted against protein level--less protein equaled less aggression and the finding was statistically significant. A subset of territorially aggressive dogs motivated by fear or anxiety responded particularly well."

There are excellent chapters on "The Fearful Dog" ("The first rule of desensitization is not to expose the dog to whatever he fears"), "Environmental Enrichment" ("The worst-case scenario for a dog is to be raised alone and live alone"), and "Healing Potions" (When pharmacological intervention becomes the last resort).

You may disagree with some of Dr. Dodman's prescriptions (he's skeptical about the efficacy of Rescue Remedy, for example), but all in all, The Well-Adjusted Dog is a practical, compelling set of recommendations for anyone who puts a premium on her dog's well-being, and I'm glad it's part of my library.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Dodman's latest book does alot for dogs (and people), September 25, 2008

By	rabsparks "rabsparks" (MD USA) - See all my reviews

With many dog owners having behavior problems with their 4 footed friends, it's no surprise that the shelters end up with too many dogs. And with the economy struggling, shelters even get more abandoned or "give up" dogs.

Dr. Dodman has authored chapters on understanding your dog, what constitutes proper behavior when on a lead, and how to deal with fear-producing situations. There's also a section on medical problems, that may have an adverse effect on the dog's behavior.

The advice in the Dodman book will aid dog owners in training their dogs, ensure that the dog is getting adequate exercise, and is on the right diet-all of which are crucial to making their pet a "well adjusted dog".

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource book for new dog owners, July 17, 2008

By	L. Blum (Camden, ME) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found Dr Dodman's book very helpful in my search for a new puppy and the first weeks of training him. I think every new dog owner should read this book!