How To Speak Dog: Mastering the Art of Dog-Human Communication

This is a very useful book that will, I promise, help you make positive changes in the way that you interact with your dog, even if you already have a great relationship. Author Stanley Coren writes clearly and compellingly and provides a wealth of specific and helpful information in a modest number of pages. I read the Kindle version on my iPhone and sometimes missed stops on the train because I was so deep into the text.Coren not only describes typical situations where people misconstrue a dog's behavior (growling, barking, etc.) but offers up a lot of interesting tidbits about the co-evolution of dogs and humans and the probable reasons that motivate dogs to do what they do. It's all very interesting and at times quite surprising.I searched out this book because I have a rescue dog who is sometimes aggressive and I couldn't figure out how to deal with his behavior, nor could I determine what was causing it. Coren explains a good deal about the things dogs see as threats and how they communicate their feelings to us. And he also explains how we, in turn, can respond to our dogs so as to defuse negative situations.Many canine behaviors stem from a dog's understanding of dominance within his family, a substitute pack. And these behaviors are often misinterpreted by people. One example that Coren gives is of a dog that consistently leans against a person. While the person may think the dog is signaling affection, in truth the dog is attempting to make the person shift position, which is a sign that the dog is dominant. This amazed me because my dog does that very thing. I thought he was loving me up, but it turns out he is merely trying to make me give him my place on the sofa!Similarly, when my dog stared at me while I was eating, I thought he was just being cute, trying to gain my sympathy. In fact, his stare is a challenge and if I give him some of my food he interprets that gesture as me being submissive. This is a slippery slope because it seems that in being generous I have been telling my dog that he is in charge of our household. This only furthers his aggressive tendencies. Now that I am armed with the information from this terrific book, things will be changing around my house.

This book will explain a lot about what your dog or any other dog is saying by their actions. Will give you an appreciation of the intelligence of dogs. Every dog owner could benefit by reading this book. The author has done his research!

Very entertaining book, solid information.

Actually haven't started this yet but eager too. Highly recommended to me by fellow Doberman dog breeders

...a little more action"... was the pleading mantra that I found my subconscious playing back intermittently throughout the book. The ratio of 'The stuff I wanted to know' vs 'The argument that dog's have a language' tipped the scales into the annoying for me.There are pages upon pages (scattered throughout) devoted to this and I was left feeling either the author is on some personal endeavour to prove a point or filling the book out. Dogs communicate with each other and us - we get that. Is it a language per se? Define language - and (unfortunately) thats exactly what the author attempts to do to at a brainwashing level of repetitiveness. A little harsh I know, but this very subjective and philosophical argument will no doubt annoy those who already know dogs can 'talk' and just wish to enhance their communication. It need not be formally acknowledged that dogs have a language for us to already know.There are some interesting things to learn about our four legged friends from the beginner to the advanced, you'll surely find something. There is some fascinating musing on the history of how and why we adopted dogs into our lives, lots of well detailed and explained gestures that you'll find yourself nodding along to. If you are a dog owner and have any kind of respect for it, you owe it to yourself to learn how to communicate with it or at least understand the meanings of their communications, because as you will learn, their vocabulary (of gestures and sounds) is far more populated than most give them credit for.I'm just saying - there is excess here - the sort that one wouldn't hope to find in a 'How To' or educational piece, but if you've always dreamt of being dragged through a subjective war on linguistics that at best is swings and roundabouts, you may find yourself blissfully smiling through those pages instead of clinching your teeth as I did.

There is no doubt that Dr. Stanley Coren is a seasoned expert on canines. His insight, gleaned from years of working with and studying man's and woman's best friend, provide a wealth of information and suggestions for anyone who has a dog...and even someone who might encounter a dog! Just excellent information. To some people, Dr. Coren might be a bit academic, but his writing style is engaging. The illustrations also are very informative. All in all, a terrific resource. Worth purchasing...and more importantly, well worth reading and absorbing! Inspiring. And doggone...how I wish my dog and I could meet Dr. Coren, if for no other reason than to demonstrate how we have benefitted from what he has graciously, effectively put together and shared in this book!

Stanley Coren nos vuelve a impresionar con uno de sus mejores títulos. Coren explica de forma concreta y entendible la evidencia científica sobre la comunicación canina y nos comparte muchas anecdotas de su trabajo en mejorar la comunicación entre humanos y Perros y como comprender en sí la comunicación de los Perros domésticos.Definitivamente el Libro es ideal para cualquier persona que desea entender la comunicación de los Perros, y que mejor que de la mano de un autor que es de los máximos científicos en el área de comportamiento y cognición canina.

Very good book as an intro to doggie world. Coren writes well and the book is both entertaining and educational.

Me recomendaron el libro y de momento vale mucho la pena. La entrega fue muy rápida!

Aponta erros comuns que fazemos ao tentar entender nossos cães. Muitas vezes esperamos que eles se comportem de maneira similar em relação aos nossos cuidados e nos decepcionamos ou atrapalhamos com comportamentos muito diferentes. Este livro ajuda a estabelecermos uma melhor relação com os pets.

It is very difficult to convey you my feelings about this book. I did not like it very much, because the author always refers to alpha wolves, packs and dominant traits to explain our modern domesticated dog's behavior; dog that has nothing to do with wolves any more since 15.000 years or so; dogs that have been reshaped and remodeled by humans, not by the wild nature. It is as if he would explain our actual human way of thinking and acting based on that of the Neanderthals. On the other hand he clarifies with great precision how the dogs evolved in different ways. Should a professor base his arguments on obsolete theories? Besides this, I have to admit that I agree completely with the book's cover where it is written: " ... gives dog lovers the skill they need to improve their relationship with their dogs", because novices and amateurs will benefit a lot reading it. The subject, the dog-languages and the way their understanding improves dog-human relationship and behaviour, is uttermost interesting. The cover also says: "This could be one of the most important literary purchases ever made." Excuse me!A book with false theories is worthless. So why a five star quotation? Because a book with pinpoint accurate and practical clues is invaluable. If the reader forgets the theory and sticks to the practical aspects described in it, he will learn a lot. Furthermore, he will be enchanted by the very interesting and lively anecdotes and by the author's attractive writing.The author knows what he is talking about when he speaks about language, knowing quite a few himself and he knows what it means dogs' behaviour. His love for dogs is obvious and transpires throughout the whole book.All this deserves a five star quotation.As one can expect, there is some kind of overlap between the author's books, which is not a handicap, on the contrary: repetition is a good way to learn and to memorize. Furthermore, it cannot be otherwise since the author's main concern is dog-human interacts, behaviour and psychology, all subjects concerning the dog's brain and its human atrophic counterpart. As he quoted: "Never say: My dog is almost human! I know of no greater insult to the canine race to describe it as such!"