Understanding Your Dog

In This Chapter Discovering how a good leader communicates Understanding why every dog needs a trusted leader Leaders do more than boss their underling around; they set an example of good behavior and maintain a sense of calm authority, even in the face of excitement. If you’re eager for more respect, try the simple steps…

In This Chapter Knowing what hugs, kisses, and tail wags mean to dogs Understanding the expression of guilt and spite in dogs Exploring what leadership and control mean in the dog’s eyes Recognizing how your stress affects your dog It seems that everyone believes that they understand dogs and dog behaviors — at least well…

In This Chapter Using your body posture, eye contact, and signals to direct your dog. Bonding with your dog through silence and serenity If your goal is to share your life with a dog who enjoys minding you and prioritizes your opinion, you can influence your dog’s behavior in many ways — all without saying…

In This Chapter Understanding the signs and causes of canine aggression Assessing whether your dog has aggressive tendencies Discovering the importance of breed differences Controlling and retraining the aggressive dog Most people misunderstand the fact that the primary purpose of canine aggression is usually not to hurt and maim, but rather to change the behavior…

In This Chapter Knowing how to recognize fear Dealing with submissive urination Curing separation anxiety Treating your dog’s fears and phobias Fear, anxiety, and stress are the big three ingredients when it comes to psychological problems in humans, and they’re equally important in the psychology of dogs. Sometimes it’s quite clear that your dog is…

In This Chapter Understanding the psychology of dealing with a dog’s bad behaviors Crating your dog Correcting excessive barking Teaching a dog not to jump on people Housetraining a dog Problem behavior is a very subjective thing. Of course, chewing on the carpet is a universal issue, as is housesoiling, but many people enjoy a…

In This Chapter Adding levity to your training approach Discovering the best approach to suit your dog’s age and personality Incorporating the directions into everyday life Trusting your dog off-lead In this chapter, you not only discover how to teach your dog basic directions, but you find out what each exercise conveys from your dog’s…

In This Chapter Creating consistency Highlighting responses through repetition Identifying a good correction Letting your dog teach himself Dogs and people really do want the same thing: They want to get along and spend time together. Unfortunately, no one can enjoy an ill-mannered dog, which leads to a vicious cycle: left at home or corralled…