How to Talk to Your Dog

It saddens me to think of children using the advice from this book, published in 2000, with their beloved pets.

Excerpts like, "How do you say 'I'm the boss'? The most effective way is to put your mouth on his muzzle." Wait...what? Did I fall back into the 1960s, when we believed we had have domination over our pets lest they control us. And there's also "Keep telling your dog you're in charge." Yes, because that's the foundation of all strong relationships. (Eye roll.) I wonder how many human-dog relationships have been damaged because of these expert "tips".

The one thing this book has going for it is the amazing illustrations by Sue Truesdell. Too bad they don't make up for the badly misinformed "guidance" that make up the text of show more this book! show less

I thought this was a wonderful book, really a delighful read, but also very instructive which I feel children don't see often enough in easy books. The book is all about how to communicate with your dog, but it is written in a way that children can understand and use. It talks about a dog's body language and what certain movements, postures, and facial expressions mean to dogs. It then tells a child how to use this knowledge not only to interpret what their dog is "saying" but also how to communicate to the dog what they (the child) are trying to say. I also really liked how the dogs were cartoons, but the trainer was portrayed using an actual photograph of the author. Combining art and photograph is really quite eye catching in my show more opinion. All in all a great book, especially for a child who is ready to face the responsibility of owning a dog. show less

(easy, picture, non fiction) This book is an easy, fun to read, informative book. Described in the book is the various ways that dogs communicate: through sound, visuals, chemical(odor & taste), and physical contact. We are also given several suggestions on how to communicate to them in ways that dogs can understand. Especially clever is how the book is illustrated. Rather than using real pictures of dogs, all the dogs in the book are cartoon type dogs. However, the dog whisperer (a photo/still of the author) is inserted into the illustration and shown interacting with the cartoon dogs. It makes for an appealing contrast and is one that I think would appeal to children. The instructions for dog communication are simple and basic enough show more for children to try on their own with their dog. I must admit that I did call my dachshund over and try some of the tools of the trade on her. I don't know if it actually worked or not, but she did roll over on her back and show me her tummy, a sign of true submissiveness according to the book. A fun activity, albeit a noisy one, would be for children to imitate several of the dog sounds described in the back of the book. Maybe you can even hold a "howling" contest. Whoever has the most melodic and interesting howl wins! show less

This book demonstrates how to understand what you dog is trying to tell you with his different ear positions and facial expressions. His tail position can let humans know how he is feeling. It also instructs dog owners how to let the dog know who is the alpha pack leader. Different ways to understand your dog and different ways to speak to your dog are learned from this book.

I love my great dane and this book really taught me a couple of things on how to train my puppy as well as understand him.

After reading this book in class, I would begin a lesson over animals and how their language allows them to communicate with one another and with species other than their own.

A fun and informative book for doglovers of any age. The whimsical illustrations will bring a smile to your face, even as you're learning how to interpret the signals and actions that will help you communicate more effectively with your pet.

Jean Craighead George wants to teach pet owners how to talk to their dog. The story mentions how to say hello, goodbye, and I am the boss in "dog talk". The book clearly shows that the author is knowledgeable about dogs. She states that dogs communicate by smell, sound, and movement. If a person goes on their arms and knees like a dog while hitting the ground with their hands, the person is saying," let's play". Dogs know so many things about their owners without the owner realizing. The book states dogs know who are friends entering the house and who are enemies. A dog will walk with their legs stiff towards a stranger/enemy. A dog will lower his head to a friend. This book illustrates so many unique things about dogs.

This book is meant for elementary school readers who love dogs and/or have dogs as pets. It teaches the reader about the different ways dogs communicate with their people and other animals. The reader learns how dogs greet each other and say good bye, how to teach your dog that you are boss, and how dogs communicate that they want to play. Dogs pay attention to your body language and use body language to communicate with you as well. The way they hold their tails and the way their ears lay down or stand up communicates different messages.