Sometimes she poses a question, and then lays the answer out set in a dog's perspective of his behavior, and not in the terms of any hard and fast answers. For example, when she gets involved in leadership, there is no list of rules to follow to establish that leadership; in fact, she pokes at some of the longstanding behaviors we have heard for years (letting dogs sleep on beds and sofas or go through doors first are examples she has a great time with). Instead she offers alternative behaviors to use instead in dealing with the problem.

Her chapters on aggressiveness are well worth reading, and she does not treat the matter lightly at all; in fact, stresses heavily that it is an extremely serious matter, but then reminds us of the number of dogs who lose their lives due to being labeled agressive, while at the same time talking clearly about why the dog may be doing it.

Through the whole book runs one theme - it is our responsibility as dogowners to learn to "read" what our dogs are trying to tell us.

Although she uses non-confrontational methods, she does not state her case in terms of what many of us think of as PPT, but neither does she weigh in in favor of force methods of the past.

Contact: Irma Shanahan

Recommendations/Comments : I think that this is the first "training" or "relationship" book I have read that I feel applies to anyone who takes dog ownership seriously. It is just as appropriate for a one-dog couch potato house as it is for mine, where there are four performance dogs (all bitches). It cerainly may not be for everyone, including those who wants a 1,2,3 step program for living with dogs, and it may not have all the answers, but it will sure get you thinking about what you and the dog are saying to each other.