|
Fogle has taken a fairly typical approach to this topic. He starts with a thorough review of literature on canine senses and builds to a discussion of how dogs use these sometimes far inferior senses (like close vision) and sometimes far superior senses (like sense of smell) in communication and learning. He discusses the various ways dogs learn including observation, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and what types of reinforcement and punishment works best. There is an interesting discussion of puppy personality testing, including, something I wasn’t aware of, what it may be able to can tell you and, even more importantly, what it can’t tell you.
He provides some great material on puppy’s early learning from fellow siblings and from Mom with emphasis on its importance and the potential for problems if this critical early learning doesn’t happen at all or at the proper time in the short puppy stage of the life. Before he finishes, Fogle wraps up with a discussion of how these senses change as dogs age.
There are many books on the market that cover much of the same material, but Fogle distinguishes himself in two sections. One is a useful discussion of how to deal with the different types of canine aggression which he discusses in some detail. This section is a great place to start if you ever have to face that problem. Second, he gives us an equally thorough treatment of canine social and eating disorders as well as fears, phobias, and anxiety.
|
The book concludes with a brief appendix (almost a checklist really) summarizing basic skills training Fogle advises to always train these behaviors in the following order: come, sit, stay, down, and down-stay. It’s disappointing that this recommended training sequence does not match their sequence in the appendix. And to make it even easier to miss, this advice is hidden back on page 110. As a result, we’re left wondering whether the sequence is important, and, if so, why.
Major Author’s Message: When we breed for show we bring unanticipated and undesirable traits along for the ride.
Minor Author’s message: A dog doesn’t expect democracy or equality because neither concept exists in the pack world. He doesn’t expect to be treated like a human. Instead, he is more likely to expect his people to act like dogs.
Bottom line: I enjoyed the book, it’s written well and there is definite value there for those who are willing to seek it. But if you’re not seeking info on the two distinguishing section listed above, there are other places to get it such as Stanley Coren’s How Dogs Think which is probably easier to locate.
Bob and Hannah, January 15, 2006.
Also published at
Amazon.com
|
