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Nature. Nonfiction. HTML: The Other End of the Leash shares a revolutionary new perspective on our relationship with dogs, focusing on our behavior in comparison with that of dogs. An applied animal behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell looks at humans as just another interesting species, and muses about why we behave the way we do around our dogs, how dogs might interpret our behavior, and how to interact with our dogs in ways that bring out the best in our four-legged friends. After all, although humans and dogs share a remarkable relationship that is unique in the animal world, we are still two entirely different species, each shaped by our individual evolutionary heritage. Quite simply, humans are primates and dogs are canids (like wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Since we each speak a different native tongue, a lot gets lost in the translation. The Other End of the Leash demonstrates how even the slightest changes in your voice and the way you stand can help your dog understand what you want. Once you start to think about your own behavior from the perspective of your dog, you'll understand why much of what appears to be doggy-disobedience is simply a case of miscommunication. Inside you will learn How to use your voice so that your dog is more likely to do what you ask. Why getting dominance over your dog is a bad idea. Why rough and tumble primate play can lead to trouble and how to play with your dog in ways that are fun and keep him out of trouble. How dogs and humans share personality types and why most dogs want to live with benevolent leaders rather than alpha wannabees! In her own insightful, compelling style, Patricia McConnell combines wonderful true stories about people and dogs with a new, accessible scientific perspective on how they should behave around each other. This is a book that strives to help you make the most of life with your dog, and to prevent problems that might arise in that most rewarding of relationships..… (more)
User reviews
McConnell takes a great deal of time to explain the science behind how dogs learn, and this then informs her own strategies
That said, there are certain aspects, where she's describing how to analyse dogs' posture, and thus predict their intentions, where it's abdundantly clear that you can't simply assimilate this kind of knowledge simply from reading a book.
The emphasis here is on positive training, and 'dominance theory' is given pretty short shrift - this, as you might suspect, tallies with my own preferences, but don't expect everyone to have the same view.
A thoroughly excellent, informative and compelling read.
I suppose I could have given this book five stars, except parts of it made me feel guilty for being needlessly - heedlessly? - stupid about how I spoil my dogs. Because I know I do. Fortunately they are both nearly as laid back and forgiving as the author's near-perfect dogs, Luke and Lassie.
Written a dozen years ago, THE OTHER END OF THE LEASH is still relevant, and a welcome addition to my ever-growing collection of "dog books." (My favorite one remains Hal Borland's classic memoir, THE DOG WHO CAME TO STAY.) Highly recommended.
It isn't a training book per se, though there are a decent number of training tips, how to redirect unwanted behaviours for example. This is primarily a book about what makes people people and dogs dogs. The main message is that we aren't the same. We are different species, with different needs and wants, and different interpretations of the same behaviours. Understanding this can make a world of difference in the lives of dog and their humans...or humans and their dogs. This should be required reading of all new dog owners.
Her writing style is easily accessable. Although she approaches the subject from a scientific standpoint, she doesn't write in the elitist way of many PhDs that I have encountered.