The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs
Selected Book Details
- Paperback
- Author: Patricia B. McConnell
- Publisher: Ballantine Books
- Release Date: April 2003
- ISBN-10: 034544678X
- ISBN-13: 9780345446787
- List Price: $14.95
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Summaries and Customer Reviews provided by Amazon
SummaryThe Other End of the Leash begins with an eloquently simple premise: "All dogs are brilliant at perceiving the slightest movement that we make, and they assume each tiny movement has meaning." With that in mind, all of Dr. Patricia McConnell's recommendations for communicating with your canine make immediate sense. Don't we all automatically bend forward when coaxing a dog to come and play? Break eye contact when we wish to avoid a confrontation? While these instinctive behaviors are right on target, a number of other habits aren't so positive, and McConnell helps us break them with both humor and common sense. Chapters are categorized by senses such as sound, sight, and smell; specific pack behaviors such as dominance and play also merit their own sections. McConnell uses the same humor and patience she recommends with dogs on her readers. Whether she's referring to maggots as "a value-added commodity in canine economics" or ruminating on attempts to verbally cue her dogs to exit the house one at a time, her wise and gently self-deprecating book brings training--of both dogs and humans--to new levels. Jill Lightner |
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
The Other End of the Leash
Rating: 
I got some good information I could use so that was favorable. I was hoping for more training help rather than background (comparing humans to apes) vs. dogs. This is not a criticism but rather it was boring.
Facinating read about human and canine behavior
Rating:
I recently adopted my first dog and ever since have been reading books on dog behavior and training. So far this book is one of my favorites along withReaching the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About All Animals. I tend to like books that do not just tell you what to do with your animal but explain the biology and psychology behind why that is the right way to do things.
This is done very well in this book. The one difference between it and so many dog training books I have read is it talks not just about animal behavior but also about human behavior and how the way act and how we are wired affects the response we get from our dogs. She uses both personal antedotes from her vast experience as an animal behaviorist as well as hard science to craft her story and the result is very effective. It is credible and well researched while still being approachable and entertaining. I think she also did a good job of pointing out the things that we humans tend to do wrong in dog training without being preachy and putting the reader on the defensive. She is quick to use examples of mistakes she herself has made, which made me more excepting of her suggestions.
The only area the book is a little light is on the recommended actions owners should take as a result of these learnigns. She does provide some suggestions but even more would be appreciated. They can also be a little buried within the narrative so if you are ONLY seeking out this information you may find the book inconvenient or lacking. I did think though that the tips she had were spot on and reflective of what has worked well for me in dog training as well as some things I had hoped to try. The book is also very focused on positive reinforcement as a means of training. This is my preferred method, but if you prefer more force or discipline you won't find it here.
Overall, I think this is a great book. I love that she has expanded the conversation to talk about the influence of human behavior on dog training and the owner dog relationship. I definitely learned a lot and enjoyed the process of reading the book. Thanks to her I feel like I am going to continue to learn more about my dog.
BORING!
Rating:
I am truly disappointed after reading all the great reviews on this book. The main point she tries to drive home is that canids and primates communicate differently, hence our trouble in communicating with our dogs. Fair enough, however this could have been done in the first chapter instead of ad nauseam throughout the entire book. I GET IT...we communicate differently. Quit telling me why and tell me step by step how to communicate with my dog correctly!
Most of her personal examples relate to her own dogs and sheep herding. This is great if you are trying to get your dog to herd sheep but for me these were just a tedious stories I had to muddle through in an attempt to get to something worthy for me to learn. I never got there. After getting tired of her anecdotal explanations and constant references to her PHD, I put down the book half way through it. The first book by Caesar Milan was much more interesting and informative.
Excellent
Rating:
Excellent book. Does a great job of breaking down an understanding of how dogs interpret our actions and speech...all with humor and wit, too. Demonstrates that your relationship with your dog can be made easier & rewarding with just some basic knowledge of a dog's point of view. I highly recommend this book to even the "seasoned" dog owner, but for first time dog owners it should be a requirment!
I'm glad I read it first!
Rating:
This book was recommended to me by a Invisible fence trainer. I started reading it right when I got my Aussie pup at eight weeks. This book has really help me understand things from the dogs point of view and so far has made our ( my pup and I)life a lot easier. I actually have had several dogs over my life time and this Book has helped me become closer to this pup than any of the others! If you really want to understand your dog this book is for you!
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