Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs - The Other End of the Leash

This book is so interesting! It doesn't exactly give you quick answers to dog training, but it offers so much information in a really easy to ready sort of way. I certainly thought I knew a lot about dogs, but this book makes you see how we communicate so differently. I highly recommend this to anyone. Even if you're an experienced dog owner, it's very interesting.

The dog rescue organizations in NY that we approached for a dog both "strongly" recommended that we read this book if we wanted to get dogs from them. We enjoyed it and are recommending frequently to other people who love dogs.. It teaches you a new dog-centric perspective while also showing you how to maintain an easy companionate life with your pet. Patricia B. McConnell is a wonderful writer.

unlike many books on "dog training", this book forces you to confront your own simian behavior which is confusing to your dog. Once you learn to speak "dog", life becomes so much better. I had read other books to little avail, and this one really opened my eyes to my own behavior in relation to communicating effectively with my dog. I have recommended in person to many other dog owners and all have thanked me for doing so. Do yourself a favor, if you have a dog, get this book NOW.

I love Patricia McConnell's training because she has a firm knowledge base, loves dogs, and has a wonderful sense of humor. I often rent her training DVDs and have learned a lot that is valuable in working with our dog, Regal, as well as the Belgian Malinois puppy we are presently fostering for the military. This book and the DVD by the same name explain how we as primates are similar to our dogs, how we are different, and how these things impact on the relationships we form together. There are many things we do instinctively that are not considered polite in the canine world. For example, dogs generally do not enjoy being patted on the head. Who knew? Most people will pat a dog on the head at first meeting. I know I did; I didn't know that it was rude. Regal will tolerate it, but he often ducks away. I thought he had been abused by his previous owner before landing in the shelter where we found him. That is probably not the case. He just doesn't enjoy being patted on the head, period, so I try not to do it. (I still forget sometimes. I'm only human, after all.) This book enabled me to see myself and other humans in a sympathetic but humorous light. We are pretty funny when you think about it. Yet this book also deals with the tragic scenarios that occur with people and their dogs such as aggression and dogs damaged by puppy mills. McConnell is frank in explaining that sometimes these things can be dealt with and have a positive outcome, but not always. in order to clarify each of the problems she covers in the book, this author gives specific examples from her experience as a dog owner and as a behaviorist working with clients. She provides a great deal of information but in terms easily understood by lay people--dog owners who simply want to have a more positive, meaningful relationship with their dog(s). I enjoyed reading this book and certainly learned a lot while doing it. I recommend it to novice dog owners, people considering dog ownership, and those with significant dog experience.

We just rescued a beautiful Aussie and because he is so intelligent I had no idea, what to do with all of his energy other than exercise. I have had dogs all of my life, but this is the first book that helped me understand my dogs. She uses positive reinforcement, just like I do with children, and it works every time. In myopinion, humans are the ones who require patience to learn what is truly effective.

Excellent material from one who should know (not me - the author!). Material is presented in a clear and meaningful way. Puts an end to the "alpha dog" nonsense that has been spewed for so long. Dogs are our companions; in some cases, our servants. Never our slaves! Lot of scientific background presented in layman's language. Thank you, Patricia! =:o)

Awesome book! Ellen Archer is a Masterful Orator. She draws the listener in. Content is wonderful and most helpful. The guy on the other end of the leash is making great strides. And the Canid is doing well too!

I recently started fostering for a local rescue and have a challenging dog. After reading this book I've been able to make some changes in how I communicate with her to make sure my requests are clear. I like how the author writes in a way that's easy to understand and shares real, relateable stories.

Even if you think you know dogs this is a great read to help improve how you communicate with them. It also provides great examples to help non-dog savvy people understand how to and not to approach dogs and what it would be like if they experienced greetings the way we are inclined to greet new dogs.

This book provides some very basic understanding of the psychological and social differences between human primates and their canine partners. The most valuable thing I learned was how dogs approach each other to socialize and show affection (kind of sideways) vs. how humans do (full-on frontal to hug or shake hands). This alone has made me a better owner.

This book provides some very basic understanding of the psychological and social differences between human primates and their canine partners. The most valuable thing I learned was how dogs approach each other to socialize and show affection (kind of sideways) vs. how humans do (full-on frontal to hug or shake hands). This alone has made me a better owner.

This was a wonderful, informative book. I love the way she writes, almost like sitting with a knowledgeable friend discussing a favorite subject. I learned a lot and have a better understanding of my wonderful dog's behavior.

Such a fantastic book for those that are looking to understand the canine species and how we as humans are usually the ones to create confusion and bad behavior. If you didn't already have compassion for our furry friends, you will after reading this book. Lots of helpful tips, advice, and anecdotal stories to remind you that no creature is perfect be it a dog trainer, dog owner, or dog.

Patricia McConnell is certainly one of, if not the, leading behaviorist right now. This is an excellent book, second only to Dr Sophia Yin's "How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves". If you have a problem dog, or just want to learn about dog behavior, this book is for you.

This is an excellent resource to help us learn how much importance our human body language plays in training dogs- and also how to understand what the DOGS body language is conveying to us as well. This is a valuable tool for any dog owner who wants to have better communication with the beloved canine species that share our homes and lives.

A classic that should be part of any serious canine enthusiast's library. Were I reatricted to only ten books about dogs, this would be in my collection. McConnell is hard to match in knowledge, application, and presentation.

Wonderful. The body language understanding and understanding of how our dog think - priceless. He's already doing so much better with our calm and confident lead. She has humor and personal stories, not even the experts are perfect all the time. IF you need help wondering why your dog does the opposite of what you ask for, this can help.

This book is fascinating and surprisingly helpful although not meant to be a do it yourself training manual. After several years of having my 3 dogs fight nastily when morning comes I now use the author's techniques of calming down resource aggressiveness and have had zero problems. It is an informative and fun read.

In this book I learned many details about dogs that I've never read anywhere else or been told by a trainer. The section about teaching your dog to "Come" is invaluable.

I still have a ways to go with my Coton dog but this book seems to be a reasonable guide.

We all love to personify our pets. Doing so, however, is to do a disservice to our dogs since they don't learn or see the world as we do. This book clearly presents the wonderful relationships possible & the ways to go about developing those relationships with our canines if we pay attention and are willing to learn how to work with our dogs - properly.

LOVED this book...great insight on the zoological and evolutionary perspectives on our behavior and dog behavior. Also purchased The Puppy Primer to read before we brought our puppy home (use it daily).

I found the book extremely helpful in my search for ways to raise an already great dog. Especially valuable were the sections on how to use my voice and body when communicating with our dog. Some of the scientific background could get boring at times, but the many anecdotes were fun to read. Her approach to and differentiation between social status, dominance, and aggression is thoughtful and sensible, an interesting complement to TV's The Dog Whisperer.

Patricia McConnell is the best author on this subject, my favorite subject lately, dogs. Another book out there, Inside of a Dog, is not so good. That one has been as a nice term paper with fluff added, and that description is apt. Other End of the Leash tells you, in an interesting way, what you really want to know about your canine.

Enjoyed this book, and I liked the author's style and her sense of humor. Great book for someone new to dogs, or who hasn't read much about them. I've read a lot of dog books, so there wasn't a lot of new information for me, but I still recommend the book.

Excellent book. Does a great job of breaking down an understanding of how dogs interpret our actions and speech...all with humor and wit, too. Demonstrates that your relationship with your dog can be made easier & rewarding with just some basic knowledge of a dog's point of view. I highly recommend this book to even the "seasoned" dog owner, but for first time dog owners it should be a requirment!

Very interesting insight into the differences between humans and dogs ways of thinking. Explains why they perceive the things we do in a whole different way from what we actually meant. Useful for anyone who has a dog or works with them. I enjoyed this book and felt like I learned from it too.

Dr McConnell is an expert. Her first hand experience are exceptional when dealing with doggie issues. Imagine, it's not them, it's what we humans are doing (or not doing) that makes them act the way they do. Great advise, great format. Easy to read. Get it, it will help you understand your four legged friend.

This book is packed with great information about dog psychology and how humans fail to understand what dogs are trying to tell us. I'm an animal assisted therapist and have found the information it contains very valuable.

This wonderfully written, engrossing book explains differences in human and canine communication, without using confusing scientific jargon. Even someone who spends a considerable amount of time with dogs can gain insight from this book. Nor does it only work on puppies, like your average training book -- dogs of any age understand their own language! My 7-yr-old is responding beautifully to my attempts to communicate with her better.

Profoundly incisive, beautifully written, McConnell's study of the differences and similarities between primates and canids is a must for anyone who lives with dogs and wants to communicate with them more successfully."The Other End of the Leash" is not exactly a how-to book, although it does contain many helpful suggestions for eliciting desired behavior in dogs. Rather, it's a well-thought-out and sometimes very moving introduction to canine versus human behavior. The "why" in the title says it all. Highly recommended.

Should be required reading for all dog owners. Speaking dog vs human with my own new puppy has made a huge difference. Additionally this book has helped me much better understand how my older dog and new pup are communicating with each other.

VERY ENJOYABLE AND HAS HELPED ME WITH UNDERSTANDING SOME OF MY DOG'S BEHAVIOR. I THINK THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE "STARE" PROBABLY AVERTED A DOG FIGHT IN THE PARK. I HAVE RECOMMENDED IT TO OTHERS AS WELL.

Excellent resource and reference for better understanding of all of our dogs. We learned quite a bit of new information on sharing our lives with our four legged furry friends.... our dogs. Would have loved more in-depth knowledge about under-dogs who fight against the pack leader. Overall an enjoyable read containing wonderful information

I absolutely loved this book. I have two dogs and learning more about canine behavior and human behavior continues to fascinate me. Ms. McConnell's writing is inviting and engaging and she takes you on a journey of her career as well as her personal life with dogs. While this is not an "instructional" manual of any kind, I felt that it contained a lot of useful information by way of explaining canine behavior and human interpretation of such in a way that led to many "ah ha!" moments. I found myself looking at my dogs and laughing many times while reading this book because the stories within bore so much resemblance to aspects of their doggy personalities. Any dog lover would find joy in reading this book and it truly does warm the heart.

VERY ENJOYABLE AND HAS HELPED ME WITH UNDERSTANDING SOME OF MY DOG'S BEHAVIOR. I THINK THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE "STARE" PROBABLY AVERTED A DOG FIGHT IN THE PARK. I HAVE RECOMMENDED IT TO OTHERS AS WELL.

Excellent resource and reference for better understanding of all of our dogs. We learned quite a bit of new information on sharing our lives with our four legged furry friends.... our dogs. Would have loved more in-depth knowledge about under-dogs who fight against the pack leader. Overall an enjoyable read containing wonderful information

I absolutely loved this book. I have two dogs and learning more about canine behavior and human behavior continues to fascinate me. Ms. McConnell's writing is inviting and engaging and she takes you on a journey of her career as well as her personal life with dogs. While this is not an "instructional" manual of any kind, I felt that it contained a lot of useful information by way of explaining canine behavior and human interpretation of such in a way that led to many "ah ha!" moments. I found myself looking at my dogs and laughing many times while reading this book because the stories within bore so much resemblance to aspects of their doggy personalities. Any dog lover would find joy in reading this book and it truly does warm the heart.

Wowee, I just absolute drooled over this book. Patricia is an excellent writer and has so many amazing stories to go along with all she is trying to explain about dogs. The stories are poignent and emotional and relatable for all dog owners. It's fascinating to read such a wonderfully educated dog person explain so much in such clear and elegant words. I'll be re-reading this again soon because as our puppy grows up his behavior and interactions change with the world, and she's also great and writing about all of that too. Our dog had a minor food bowl/object aggression issue, which really stressed me out at first, but reading books like this (and The Other End of the Leash) makes me feel much more confident in dealing with and appreciating his behavor (human approved or not). A major eye opener in understanding that a little bit of food aggression is totally and incredibly normal for dogs and very "fixable". She talks about what is serious behavior issues and what's garden variety that is easily dealt with. She also talks about how its so so so so so so important it is to catch behavior problems as puppies or when they first present because the longer the dog presents that human disapproved behavior the harder it is to figure out solutions.

Dr. McConnell really knows her dogs. I learned a lot about dog communication and behavior. It doesn't always work for my dachshunds -- she's more familiar with large dogs -- but with some adaptation, I've been able to train them in a way that works for all of us.

best "dog training" book ever. If you want your dog to listen to you out of fear or to avoid pain, DO NOT buy this book. If you want to learn how to communicate with your dog and get them to happily do what is asked of them, this is for you

I loved this book, and it taught me soooooooooo much about why we do what we do with our dogs.

More importantly, it taught me how to be the Alpha dog in the family,and how to handle unknown dogs when I walk.

It does read a little bit like a college text book, but gives fascinating information that no dog lover will want to miss. I highly recommend this book!