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How To Speak Dog: Mastering the Art of Dog-Human Communication

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Description

“A must read for all dog owners.” —The Washington Post “The best key to what dogs are thinking.” —The Seattle Times How to Speak Dog is one of the few books today that show us what dogs are trying to tell us, not just how we can control them. Parlez-vous Doggish? At long last, dogs will know just how smart their owners can be. By unlocking the secrets of the hidden language of dogs, psychologist Stanley Coren allows us into the doggy dialogue, or “Doggish,” and makes effective communication a reality. Drawing on substantial research in animal behavior, evolutionary biology, and years of personal experience, Coren demonstrates that the average house dog can understand language at about the level of a two-year-old human. While actual conversation of the sort Lassie seemed capable of in Hollywood mythmaking remains forever out of reach, Coren shows us that a great deal of real communication is possible beyond the giving and obeying of commands. How to Speak Dog not only provides the sounds, words, actions, and movements with which we can effectively communicate with our dogs, but also deciphers the signs that our dogs give to us. With easy-to- follow tips on how humans can mimic the language dogs use to talk with one another, original drawings illustrating the subtleties of their body language, and a handy visual glossary and “Doggish” phrasebook, How to Speak Dog gives dog lovers the skills they need to improve their relationships with their pets. Read more Read less

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atria Books (April 17, 2001)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 074320297X


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 78


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.44 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #99,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #12 in Rabbit Pet Care #84 in Dog Breeds (Books) #166 in Dog Training (Books)


#12 in Rabbit Pet Care:


#84 in Dog Breeds (Books):


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Top Amazon Reviews


  • It will change the way you relate to your dog
This is a very useful book that will, I promise, help you make positive changes in the way that you interact with your dog, even if you already have a great relationship. Author Stanley Coren writes clearly and compellingly and provides a wealth of specific and helpful information in a modest number of pages. I read the Kindle version on my iPhone and sometimes missed stops on the train because I was so deep into the text. Coren not only describes typical situations where people misconstrue a dog's behavior (growling, barking, etc.) but offers up a lot of interesting tidbits about the co-evolution of dogs and humans and the probable reasons that motivate dogs to do what they do. It's all very interesting and at times quite surprising. I searched out this book because I have a rescue dog who is sometimes aggressive and I couldn't figure out how to deal with his behavior, nor could I determine what was causing it. Coren explains a good deal about the things dogs see as threats and how they communicate their feelings to us. And he also explains how we, in turn, can respond to our dogs so as to defuse negative situations. Many canine behaviors stem from a dog's understanding of dominance within his family, a substitute pack. And these behaviors are often misinterpreted by people. One example that Coren gives is of a dog that consistently leans against a person. While the person may think the dog is signaling affection, in truth the dog is attempting to make the person shift position, which is a sign that the dog is dominant. This amazed me because my dog does that very thing. I thought he was loving me up, but it turns out he is merely trying to make me give him my place on the sofa! Similarly, when my dog stared at me while I was eating, I thought he was just being cute, trying to gain my sympathy. In fact, his stare is a challenge and if I give him some of my food he interprets that gesture as me being submissive. This is a slippery slope because it seems that in being generous I have been telling my dog that he is in charge of our household. This only furthers his aggressive tendencies. Now that I am armed with the information from this terrific book, things will be changing around my house. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2012 by B. McEwan

  • educational and detailed information for dog owners
This book will explain a lot about what your dog or any other dog is saying by their actions. Will give you an appreciation of the intelligence of dogs. Every dog owner could benefit by reading this book. The author has done his research!
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2023 by Pat Pfeiffer

  • Good dog book.
Very entertaining book, solid information.
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2023 by Judy Stone

  • Highly recommended
Actually haven't started this yet but eager too. Highly recommended to me by fellow Doberman dog breeders
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2024 by Bryant

  • "A little less conversation...
...a little more action"... was the pleading mantra that I found my subconscious playing back intermittently throughout the book. The ratio of 'The stuff I wanted to know' vs 'The argument that dog's have a language' tipped the scales into the annoying for me. There are pages upon pages (scattered throughout) devoted to this and I was left feeling either the author is on some personal endeavour to prove a point or filling the book out. Dogs communicate with each other and us - we get that. Is it a language per se? Define language - and (unfortunately) thats exactly what the author attempts to do to at a brainwashing level of repetitiveness. A little harsh I know, but this very subjective and philosophical argument will no doubt annoy those who already know dogs can 'talk' and just wish to enhance their communication. It need not be formally acknowledged that dogs have a language for us to already know. There are some interesting things to learn about our four legged friends from the beginner to the advanced, you'll surely find something. There is some fascinating musing on the history of how and why we adopted dogs into our lives, lots of well detailed and explained gestures that you'll find yourself nodding along to. If you are a dog owner and have any kind of respect for it, you owe it to yourself to learn how to communicate with it or at least understand the meanings of their communications, because as you will learn, their vocabulary (of gestures and sounds) is far more populated than most give them credit for. I'm just saying - there is excess here - the sort that one wouldn't hope to find in a 'How To' or educational piece, but if you've always dreamt of being dragged through a subjective war on linguistics that at best is swings and roundabouts, you may find yourself blissfully smiling through those pages instead of clinching your teeth as I did. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2012 by mecan

  • Well worth reading...and absorbing!
There is no doubt that Dr. Stanley Coren is a seasoned expert on canines. His insight, gleaned from years of working with and studying man's and woman's best friend, provide a wealth of information and suggestions for anyone who has a dog...and even someone who might encounter a dog! Just excellent information. To some people, Dr. Coren might be a bit academic, but his writing style is engaging. The illustrations also are very informative. All in all, a terrific resource. Worth purchasing...and more importantly, well worth reading and absorbing! Inspiring. And doggone...how I wish my dog and I could meet Dr. Coren, if for no other reason than to demonstrate how we have benefitted from what he has graciously, effectively put together and shared in this book! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2021 by K Dacha

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