Patricia B. McConnell

Patricia McConnell has to be one of the best dog behaviorists writers in the US. This book is both funny, thought provoking and advanced enough to keep the interest of those of us who have read many, many dog books and worked with hundreds of dogs. It focuses on human and dog brain functions and emotions. Don't let that technical description scare you though. It is written in a very accessible style though so would not be inappropriate for the casual dog owner who wants to have a better show more relationship with their dog. show less

Maddie McGowan understands dogs. She has a PhD in applied animal behavior, and has a practice treating dogs with an excess of anxiety, aggression, or other problems. She also has a flock of sheep and Jack, a border collie to herd them. Together, they compete in sheepdog trials, having been schooled in the sport by her mentor and friend, George, whose training skills are legendary. On the day she greets him at a trial where she hopes Jack will put in a good showing, he seems unusually tense. show more After he tells his dog “away to me” – a command to start rounding up sheep, as they begin the competition – a rifle shot rings out and he falls to the ground. His dog, confused, herds the sheep to his body as George’s friends try to revive him, to no avail.

Did a hunter make a terrible mistake? Surely nobody would shoot George on purpose. But there are reasons to doubt this was an accident. Maddy is devastated by the loss, but soon has her hands full with another puzzling situation. The head of a local animal shelter asks her for advice about a dog that was brought in half dead. The German shepherd won’t eat or drink, and even in its weakened state tries to attack anyone who comes near. Intrigued, she agrees to help. It’s only when a staff member approaches and the dog feebly sits up that she realizes he’s alerting. He must be a trained K9 dog. But how could a dog that costs police organizations thousands of dollars end up in a vacant lot, nearly dead from neglect and abuse?

Away to Me is an absorbing story, well told in a conversational voice by an author who is, like her protagonist, knowledgeable about dogs and their behavioral problems. Though this is her first work of fiction, she does an excellent job of braiding together elements of a complex plot while keeping up the pace and developing characters, including Maddie who has a dark past that threatens to invade her peaceful existence on a farm in rural Wisconsin. In many ways, the small mysteries of why the dogs in the story behave and how Maddie decodes the things they are trying to tell her is as absorbing as the murder investigation.

In addition to a solid plot and a complex, compelling heroine, the setting is brought to life beautifully, including Maddie’s observations of nature and her vivid depiction of her work with animals. For example, she describes how sheep behave at a sheepdog trial: “imagine playing chess with all the pieces alive and full of their own opinions, moving at twenty miles an hour.”

Whether or not you’re a dog person, you’re likely to enjoy the company of this intriguing narrator and the dogs in her life.

Reposted from Crime Fiction Review - https://crimefictionreview.com/away-to-me-by-patricia-b-mcconnell/ show less

This is a perfectly delightful little book, and not just about training dogs, but about loving them and recognizing how important the dog-human relationship can be. An animal behaviorist, McConnell obviously knows all the scientific studies and the physiological stuff about dogs, but I especially loved the way she was also willing to get down and dirty in the interest of understanding - crawling around on the floor of her house and sniffing all the nooks and crannies, trying to get a sense show more of what her dogs were smelling down there. And I also appreciated - from harsh experience - how grief-stricken she was when she lost a dog, whether through 'rehoming' or death.

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. show less

Dr. Patricia McConnell is an applied animal behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years experience. The Other End of the Leash is a fantastic read for dog owners or those interested in animal-human interaction. Dr. McConnell very practically illustrates the differences between primate and canid behavior and mannerisms, and explains why many things we as humans do can be difficult or impossible for dogs to understand. She also presents ways that humans can alter their behavior to show more increase communication and understanding between the species (talk less and be very aware of and intentional with your body language/movement).

One month prior to reading The Other End of the Leash, I had been experimenting with my puppy, using mostly hand signals and drastically cutting down on vocal commands. I noticed that my dog obeyed far faster with hand signals without the hesitating look of “Um, let me make sure I understand what you’re trying to say.” A lot of the things I had been learning through experimentation and observation were confirmed in McConnell’s book with an explanation as to why it worked. Everything I tested from her book worked on the first try (such as getting my dog to come right away using solely body language and movement). As an introvert, I love not having to chatter at him, and he doesn’t miss it (dogs’ primary means of communicating aren’t vocal, and I am finally speaking his language).

I highly recommend this book to dog owners. There is so much practical, applicable information, and it may just give you a new paradigm through which to view some of your dog’s “problem” behaviors with great advice for effective interventions. show less