Decoding Your Dog - by Amer Coll of Veterinary Behaviorists & Debra F Horwitz (Paperback)

About the Book

The top dog behaviorists in the country - the top researchers, scientists, and veterinarians - have teamed up with a renowned media personality to create the most cutting-edge, scientifically accurate, definitive book on the most popular behavioral issues that dogs face.

Book Synopsis

The board-certified specialists of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists are here to decode how dogs think, how they communicate, and how they learn.

More than 90 percent of dog owners consider their pets to be members of their family. But often, despite our best intentions, we are letting our dogs down by not giving them the guidance and direction they need. Unwanted behavior is the number-one reason dogs are relinquished to shelters and rescue groups.

The key to training dogs effectively is first to understand why our dogs do what they do. And no one can address this more authoritatively than the diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, whose expert and researched work analyze problem behaviors and correct common misconceptions.

With veterinary-approved positive training methods, expert advice on socialization, and remedies for behavior problems such as OCD and aggression, Decoding Your Dog is the must-have behavior guide that will challenge the way we think about man's best friend.

From the Back Cover

Although this book has a scientific basis, it was written in a manner that is easily understandable for laypersons. Decoding Your Dog will be a valuable addition to the library of any small-animal practitioner or dog owner. Angela Bockelman, DVM, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Unwanted behavior is the number-one reason dogs are relinquished to shelters and rescue groups. Dog owners face a plethora of trainers offering a bewildering variety of advice. From rewards to dominance training, from to shock collars to clickers, there are too many theories peddled by too few trained experts. Finally, the board-certified specialists of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists are here to decode how dogs think, how they communicate, and how they learn.

Combining cutting-edge science with accessible and adaptable real-life examples, this is a must-have dog behavior guide showcasing the latest veterinary-approved positive training methods. Decoding Your Dog will resolve the complaints, answer the curiosities, and, ultimately, challenge the way we think about our dogs.

[The] authors nimbly craft a basic primer for grasping dogs demeanor and in the process offer up the best life insurance policy you can buy for Fido. Ranny Green, coauthor of Good Dogs, Bad Habits

Decoding Your Dog is an important addition to the canine canon, one that will go a long way toward increasing your understanding of your best friend. Bark


Drs. DEBRA F. HORWITZ and JOHN CIRIBASSI are experts and leaders in the field of veterinary behavior, with decades of combined experience. Dr. Horwitz is a past president of the ACVB, and Dr. Ciribassi is a past president of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

STEVE DALE is a nationally syndicated pet journalist and radio host who has written numerous books.
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Review Quotes

"Kudos to the Veterinary Behaviorists! Decoding Your Dog is a welcome addition to the voices　supporting science-based and benevolent dog training. Read this book and your dog will thank you for it!" -- Patricia B McConnell, PhD, CAAB, author of The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs "Behavioral problems often risk damaging the canine-human bond. Veterinary behaviorists are uniquely qualified to consider potential medical explanations while also understanding how to appropriately treat a wide array of behavior problems. This wonderful, practical book can help dog owners to insure that their relationship lasts a lifetime. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a dog." -- Dr. Doug Aspros, 2013 president of the American Veterinary Medical Association "The very best information to help your best friend from top veterinary behavioral experts. A must buy for the caring dog owner. Two paws up!" -- Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman, Director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and author of The Well-Adjusted Dog "What makes your dog tick? Do you wish he could talk? You don't have to! "Decoding Your Dog" is all you need speak the language, thanks to a Dream Team of top veterinary behaviorists. This is one book every dog-lover needs to have, for better-behaved companion who's as tuned in to you as you can be to him." -- Dr. Marty Becker, veterinary contributor for Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show and author of Your Dog: The Owner's Manual and Your Cat: The Owner's Manual "Well edited...Decoding Your Dog is an important addition to the canine canon, one that will go a long way toward increasing your understanding of your best friend."--The Bark "The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists is an organization of veterinarians with advanced training and experience in the field of applied animal behavior. More than 90 percent of pet owners feel
that their dog is part of the family so the need for good communication between dog and owner becomes obvious if that familial relationship is to be positive for both species. Behavior problems in pets can erode that relationship, and without successful training or treatment, the result may be the loss of the dog to a shelter or to euthanasia. In 14 chapters, veterinary behaviorists walk dog owners through the stages of dog ownership. A basic chapter on learning to speak "dog" starts us off, followed by essays on choosing a dog, house training, behavior training, and training tools. Chapters on common issues, such as separation anxiety, aggression, sound phobias, and compulsive behaviors, teach how to retrain the dog, and a final chapter on the aging canine rounds out the book. Boxes defining terms used in the chapter or containing in-depth coverage of a behavior fill many sections, and each chapter ends with a "What Did We Say?" summary. Libraries and dog owners may have found the holy grail with this title."--Booklist, STARRED review --

About the Author

Drs. DEBRA F. HORWITZ and JOHN CIRIBASSI are experts and leaders in the field of veterinary behavior, with decades of combined experience. Dr. Horwitz is a past president of the ACVB and Dr. Ciribassi is a past president of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. STEVE DALE is a nationally syndicated pet journalist and radio host who has written numerous books.