cover image Think Dog!: An Owner's Guide to Canine Psychology

Think Dog!: An Owner's Guide to Canine Psychology

John Fisher. Trafalgar Square Publishing, $14.95 (176pp) ISBN 978-0-943955-46-9

In a British import that delivers yet more than its title promises, Fisher, a founder of the Association of Pet Behavioursic Consultants in the U.K., stresses that dog training is not just a matter of asserting human will over its animal counterpart, but of learning to express oneself accurately, communicate aptly and scope out a dog's reaction to it all. His compact chapters explain the canine mind and offer sound educational strategies (both positive and negative reinforcement) sure to enlighten even accomplished trainers. Among the novel features: detailed analyses of dog foods; a plausible consideration of homeopathic and other alternative veterinary approaches; a deceptively brief ``A to Z'' of common problem-solving, which includes a spectacularly simple method of teaching puppies to hold back on biting; and a sympathetic view of canine aggression (``Dogs do not cause dogfights; people do''). Don't be deterred by Briticisms; all recommended products are available on our shores. (Nov.)