The Dog Behavior Answer Book: Practical Insights & Proven Solutions for Your Canine Questions

298 Pages·2006·3.13 MB·English

by  Arden Moore

The Dog Behavior ANSWER BOOK
Practical Insights & Proven Solutions for Your Canine
Questions
ARDEN MOORE
ILLUSTRATED BY MATT AMBRE
FOREWORD BY JOHN GROGAN
The mission of Storey Publishing is to serve our customers by publishing
practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with
the environment.
Edited by Lisa H. Hiley
Art direction by Mary Velgos
Cover design by Kent Lew
Text design by Jessica Armstrong
Text production by Jennifer Jepson Smith
Illustrations © by Matt Ambre
Indexed by Christine R. Lindemer, Boston Road Communications
© 2006 by Arden Moore
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written
permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief
passages or reproduce illustrations in a review with appropriate credits; nor may
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in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or other — without written permission from the publisher.
The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our
knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the
author or Storey Publishing. The author and publisher disclaim any liability in
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Printed in China by Regent Publishing Services
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Moore, Arden.
The dog behavior answer book: practical insights and proven solutions
for your canine questions / by Arden Moore; Illustrated by Matt Ambre.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-58017-644-6 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Dogs—Behavior—Miscellanea. 2. Dogs—Training—Miscellanea. I.
Title.
SF433.M64 2006
636.7’0835—dc22
2006020472
DEDICATION
I dedicate this book to my delightful friends Cindy and Flo; my dog-adoring
siblings, Deb, Karen, and Kevin; my wonderful niece Chrissy and nephew Andy;
my cool dog Chipper; and our favorite canine play pals, Buddy, Cleo, Stella, and
Gracie.
CONTENTS
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
PART I: The Nature of Being a Dog
Find out what makes a dog behave like a dog. Learn about canine senses,
emotions, and instincts. Discover fascinating facts about dog intelligence,
puppy love, and breed-specific behaviors.
PART II: What Are You Talking About?
Dogs and people have lived together for eons, but we don’t always
communicate well with our canine companions. Brush up on barking, learn
about body language, and sharpen your ability to speak “canine-ese.”
PART III: Why Does My Dog Do That?
Our dogs often have habits that we find puzzling, amusing, and
sometimes downright disgusting. Find out more about canine quirks and
foibles and learn how to change the ones you can’t live with.
PART IV: Unleashing a Dash of Doggy Discipline
Life with a badly behaved dog is no fun for anyone, including the dog.
Explore training and behavioral issues and discover ways to raise a
mannerly pup or to teach an old dog some new tricks.
PART V: Achieving Harmony at Home and Away
We love our dogs, but sometimes they drive us crazy. And sometimes it’s
hard to tell who’s the top dog in the house. Figure out a more peaceful
existence with your best friend.
PART VI: Changing Lives, Parting Ways
Life is full of changes and choices, some of them difficult. Here are some
tips for coping with death, divorce, moving, and more.
Professional Consultants
Resources
Index
FOREWORD
As dog owners, my wife Jenny and I were — I won’t mince words here —
totally clueless. We picked out a puppy without first researching breeds or their
personality traits. We didn’t insist on meeting the sire. We went on curb appeal
alone, choosing looks over temperament. We ended up falling in love at first
sight with an adorable yellow Labrador retriever pup who quickly morphed into
a 97-pound steamroller of unbridled energy. We named him Marley and spent
the next 13 years trying to get him under control, never quite succeeding.
I, only half jokingly, dubbed Marley the world’s worst dog, and in many ways
he was. He crashed through screens, dug through drywall, gnawed furniture,
swallowed jewelry, stole food off the kitchen table, and rooted through trash. He
yanked at his leash and drank from the bathtub. He joyfully lunged at guests,
leaping up on them with muddy paws to plant wet kisses on their faces. He
sniffed crotches and flung drool through the air. Not even dog lovers appreciated
it.
What I now realize is that Marley wasn’t the worst dog, only one of the worst
trained dogs. Jenny and I ran our house like a democracy, and Marley soon
learned he had an equal vote. Obey orders? No way! He never did quite get the
whole chain-of-command thing.
That’s where Arden Moore’s The Dog Behavior Answer Book could have
helped us in a big way. Had we had Arden’s commonsense expertise then, we
would have better understood what motivated Marley’s bad-boy behavior and
been able to formulate a strategy to change, or at least temper, it. Good, solid
advice from knowledgeable experts is the first step to having a reliably well-
behaved pet who will bring joy and pleasure to its owners, not frustration and
heartache.
Then again, had I followed Arden’s wise advice in this book, Marley might
have been so good I never would have been tempted to write a book about him.
No doubt about it, bad dogs make for good reading. But good dogs are what
every pet owner wants — and deserves. Arden and her team of animalbehavior
experts can show you the way.
— John Grogan
Author of Marley & Me: Life and Love
with the World’s Worst Dog