The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs

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 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 show more 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 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 show more 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

This is the book I should've started with. It's not about training dogs, it's about communicating with dogs: how to read their body language, how we primates misinterpret a lot of what they do, how they misinterpret a lot of what we do. I had no idea that petting a dog on the head or hugging a dog are often perceived as aggression/punishment. It had never occurred to me that if you run after your dog when he grabs the remote he sees that as a fetch game - i.e., as a reward for grabbing the remote. It had never occurred to me that if your dog is running away from you at the park the way to make him come back is to move away from him, not toward him. It all sounds pretty obvious *after* Dr. McConnell explains it, but it's actually a lot show more of counter-intuitive knowledge. So, this book is not about how to housetrain your dog or how to teach it "sit" or "fetch"; it's about all the foundational knowledge you need to have before you even think about training your dog. It's essential knowledge that I didn't even know I didn't have ("unknown unknowns"). Also, Dr. McConnell writes in a superbly engaging style, which is pretty amazing for someone in academia; there is zero jargon and the sentences are short and to-the-point. show less

This is a amazingly well written and informative book. Dr. McConnell's writing style is easy to read and enjoyable. I have to admit (somewhat shamefacedly) that prior to reading it I would have thought of Applied Animal Behaviourist as one of those 'you do what' kind of jobs. What do we really know about animal psychology anyway, and what makes you or anyone else more informed on the matter than me? Well I would have been wrong. Dr. McConnell's book is well researched and based on more than simple anecdotal evidence. I learned a lot from it.

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 show more 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. show less

I've read many books about dogs but this is the first one that I remember reading that is focused as much, if not more, on the human in the equation. Slightly dated, but still very relevant. I discovered a number of explanations for what I have done both right and wrong with my dogs, and several ways to improve things right now. I began reading with the Introduction and that, in hindsight, was a mistake for me - it is not written in the same conversational tone that the book itself displays. It was more like a lecture and almost put me off the whole thing. I would suggest skipping it and maybe returning to it at the end. Highly recommended and one that I will reread the next time I adopt a dog into my life.

Flawless. One of the best books I’ve ever read, dog behavior or otherwise. I love the way she describes her relationships with her own dogs and the place she comes from when she’s working with clients’ dogs. So much practical advice, logic, philosophy, and love all in less than 230 pages.

Every person with a dog should read this book! It’s been on my TBR pile for far too long, and I’m glad I finally got to it. It’s so good I’m going to buy it to keep as a reference and reread.
McConnell discusses primate instincts versus canine instincts in relation to how we interact with our dogs. It’s based on the author’s own research, as well as that of many others. Her writing style is warm, engaging, instructive, and interspersed with stories about her own dogs and clients she’s worked with for behavioral problems.
Fascinating and helpful book—read it read it read it.