This book is your ultimate guide to understanding your furry friend. Learn how to talk to your dog, understand their body language and decode their strange or bad behaviour. From training them as pups to finding out how to keep them happy throughout their lives, you’ll not only get to know your pooch better, but you’ll also discover the benefits of owning one of these clever canines.
WELCOME
What Your Dog Is Trying To Tell You - 7th Ed
WHERE DID IT START? • Humans and dogs have had a close relationship for many thousands of years
DOG AND MAN • Humans and dogs have long proven to be the very best of friends
WHY DOGS? • Humans and dogs are great at living together, creating a very special and unique bond
HOW DOGS ARE ASSISTING DISADVANTAGED HUMANS • Therapy and guide dogs are helping millions of people every year
DO DOGS UNDERSTAND US? • When we talk to our dogs, they really can decipher what we are trying to say to them
SERVING DOGS: DOGS WHO HELP SOCIETY OR SERVE THE LAW • Some dogs prove their mettle in the call of duty
HOW SMART IS YOUR DOG? • From puzzle-solving to people-pleasing, dogs have evolved a unique set of skills, perfect for life with humans
BODY LANGUAGE EXPLAINED • Tune in to your dog’s body language and learn how to read their thoughts just by looking at them
TAIL • Your dog’s tail is a furry mood barometer, signalling how they’re feeling every second of the day
HAIR • Keep an eye on the back of your dog’s neck for an early warning that they’re winding up for fight or flight
HEAD • Subtle changes in the tilt of your dog’s head, eyebrows, and ears can reveal what’s on their mind
EYES • When puppy dog eyes turn into a cold, hard stare, it’s a sure sign that something’s up
EARS • Your dog’s ears are like satellite dishes, broadcasting their mood to everyone around them
POSTURE • If you’re ever in doubt about how your dog is feeling, take a look at their stance
MOUTH • Dogs use their mouths to communicate almost as much as we do, but the meaning of their expressions isn’t always easy to decode
HOW TO APPROACH A DOG • Whether a dog is oozing confidence or skulking away, the way you greet these amazing animals is incredibly important
LOOK WHO’S TALKING… • If you listen carefully to your pooch’s varied vocalisations, you’ll be Fido fluent in no time…
DECODING YOUR DOG’S BEHAVIOUR • You don’t need to be a dog whisperer to read your pet’s mind – you just have to look out for the tell-tail signals
PAWS FOR THOUGHT • How a dog’s feet come in handy for pointing us humans in the right direction
HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES AND MOUTHS • When paws don’t cut it, other parts of your dog’s body can be used to get the point across
Q&A WITH SEAN O’HARA • Dr Sean O’Hara is lecturer in Wildlife Cognition & Behaviour at the University of Salford and is co-author of the 2018 study into canine referential signalling
STRANGE BEHAVIOURS EXPLAINED • Dogs might not appear to be as inscrutable as cats, but every dog owner will agree that sometimes our beloved pets can exhibit the most perplexing behaviour
BAFFLING BREED-SPECIFIC BEHAVIOUR • Certain breeds of dog just stick out from the rest with their strange habits
BAD BEHAVIOURS EXPLAINED • Is your pet barking at night, peeing behind the sofa, and tearing your favourite shoes to shreds? Don’t despair!
QUICK-FIRE BEHAVIOUR QUESTIONS • Discover what’s driving your dog’s bad behaviour in these common situations
WHO’S A GOOD BOY? • A puppy training masterclass
FIRST THINGS FIRST • Before taking the plunge, here are some key things to consider when inviting a dog into your home
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