Deepening Our Relationships with Dogs - Bones Would Rain from the Sky

Suzanne Clothier gives wonderful insight to the importance of understanding our dogs and creating a respectful relationship with them. As a puppy raiser for guide dogs I have found her insight to be VERY helpful

the store,
You are a great company. The book came through quickly in excellent shape and the price was very reasonable. Thank you very much. I've just finished reading this book and it is worth reading for all dog owners.

This book is great--but understand that it is more about theory than step-by-step instructions. That said, I wouldn't approach step-by-step instructions without having first digested this book. This is the big picture.

Page 51. That's where I stopped. After 3 separate attempts to read this book I gave up at page 51. The author just meanders around and I found myself skipping paragraphs and whole pages searching for where the book started again. Deepening our relationship with dogs is a great title and I was interested in that subject but I'd say 80% of what I had read up to page 51 was not about that at all. Just not my style, it might be yours.

Unreasonably and unnecessarily sentimental. After 15% nothing has happened. Literally the only message was, 'do only stuff that does not jeopardize your relationship'. It is like a novel, it is far from being practical on any level. I usually put down 1 of every 10 books, this might become one...

Yep, I agree with the other reviewers who gave this book one star and I most definitely do not agree with the professional review at the top which says this book is light years ahead of another book, The Secret Life of Dogs. The Secret Life of Dogs is what any dog book should be: it's about dogs! This book, Bones Would Rain from the Sky, is about the author and that's the problem with this book. Even though Suzanne Clothier claims she learned to train dogs "without ego," tisk, tisk, I'm afraid she's not quite there yet. I quit this book at page 106. For only about five of those pages was she telling me about any dog she met; the rest of the pages she goes on and on and on and ON with, let's see, what was it? some kind of a plea for us to take dogs seriously and see things from their point of view, mixed in with huge pictures of her lifestyle on her farm and her condemnation of other dog trainers. I wonder how we can get it across to these people who write dog books that we readers who buy dog books want stories about dogs! By the way, the book The Secret Life of Dogs, that somebody went out of their way to slam? That is an excellent book.

I’ll be real here. I requested this audiobook because of the cover. I had a vague idea that this was a book of dog stories and had seen the title around for years (yikes, I just realized this is likely because the hardcover is sitting in my tbr pile!) but I had to have it because that cover called out to me.

Come on now, don’t tell me you aren’t tempted by that lovely cover because I won’t believe you.

Dog trainer and author Suzanne Cloutier loves animals.

“To travel in the company of animals is to walk with angels.”

If you feel the same, you’ll benefit in some way from reading this book.

So what’s it about? Well, the author is an experienced dog trainer and here she shares stories and lessons that she has learned over the years while working with dogs. This isn’t a book about how to train your dog to sit or heel or down-stay. This is a book on how best to deepen your relationship with your dog and how to learn to look at life through their eyes. I found that advice and those vignettes the most important take-away from this book. It’s easy to get stressed and irritated when your dog misbehaves and ignores your commands/demands/frantic pleas but taking a moment to calm yourself and see things from their perspective (and the author shows several examples which were so incredibly helpful) may help improve both their behavior and yours. I am totally guilty of being impatient and anxious and giving my poor dogs mixed signals and then I’m left wondering why they’re not doing what I think they should be doing. It also made me more aware of being present, instead of being all up in my own head (hey, I’m a Pisces) and then wondering why my dog has nearly taking my fingers off to get to the chicken in my hand. This book opened me up to my behavior and has made me stop and pause on several occasions.

The author comes across as human, sprinkling in some humor and admits to some of the terrible mistakes she’s made. She owns them and she’s learned from them and she is not perfect. She goes into in-depth discussions about aggression and the mislabeling of aggression that often results in tragedy and how to read warning signs before things escalate. I learned more about aggression and reading signals from this book than I did from any of the training manuals I’ve read in the past.

It’s not a read in one sitting kind of book, unless you’re really into this kind of thing, because some of this information needs to be digested and given a little time to sink in. At least that was the case with me. The ending made me weepy, as she recalls some of the stories of illness and death which is inevitable when you love any living creature but it’s not of the dragged out “Marley & Me” variety. There are beautiful insights about animal and human behavior inside the pages and it basically comes to down to treating those you love with kindness, empathy and sharing all of your love in order to strengthen your relationship. That’s advice the world needs to hear. This book will be a yearly reread for me, for sure.

The version I read was narrated by Pam Ward who has a strong, clear, accessible voice that fills with emotion when the words call for it. If you dig audio, Buddy, Bailey and I highly recommend reading this version.

I received a copy of this audiobook from Tantor Media. Thanks Tantor!

Absolutely loved this book! As another reviewer stated, it does meander a bit - but if you stick with it, there are priceless gems to be had. This is not a How To book. It's not a quick, easy guide to training. It IS a loving, thought provoking treatise on our relationships with dogs. You will begin to understand how things might look and sound from a dog's perspective. And you can never go back....thankfully. I wish every single dog owner would read this book. It should be required reading before adopting or purchasing any dog. I do wish she had included more stories about dogs she has worked with - perhaps in the next book??? The stories that were included here really drove home some of the points she was making.

I started off deeply relating with SC's strong love of animals from early childhood. Her personal struggle to train without ego (or in my case, without crippling self-doubt) also rung deep. She lost me after a couple of chapters, though, as I found myself wishing for more substance and less free-flowing emotional exploration.

As I understand it, the author's objective was to present her perspective on a balanced dog-owner relationship in a thought-provoking way. And that it does. It does not, however, offer much in the way of verifiable facts or tangible suggestions, which is what I am always on the look out for. To be fair, it does not claim to.

I also found that the author could lose herself in flights of lyricism and (from my perspective) New Age philosophy.

Finally I found the standards of the ideal dog-owner relationship suggested in this book depressingly high. It left me feeling that my up-till-then satisfying relationship with my dog was somehow insufficient. It also made me temporarily judgemental of other dog owners.

So all in all, I did not really enjoy reading that book, but it remains critically acclaimed in the field so it may well be just a matter of personal taste?

I was so excited about my new golden retriever puppy. I was going to be the perfect pet owner and everyone said that they are so easy to train and so pleasant. Imagine my surprise when my beautiful pup had a few hiccups. I read dog books and dog training books voraciously, but Ms. Clothier's book managed to make me stop in my tracks. It changed everything for me. I now see Rocky as a relationship that must be nourished and understood. Therein lies the trick to a better situation. Once I changed my point of view, I wasn't so caught up in "training", rather it was about the communication and opportunities to practise in a patient , steady manner. It has worked. This book made me stop and think so many times. It is a wonderful book. I cannot say enough about it.

This book describes, through subjective stories and sometimes rather overly sentimental and repetitious narrative, how to relate to a dog as a thinking, feeling being with a soul of his own, rather than as a furry domestic "object" to be systematically molded by force to man's will.

There's an upside and a downside to this approach. The upside is that Suzanne is clearly a person who deeply loves and cares for her animals, and she desires to inspire others to adopt a similar approach and thus obtain a closer connection with their dog on a deeper and more meaningful level. Based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews of the book here, she is largely successful in this effort. The downside is that this approach is difficult if not impossible to quantify, and as such the book is neither a manual of training nor technique, which Suzanne openly admits. If you have an interest in a specific "behavior problem", this isn't the book you're looking for. However, if you have an interest in the underlying issues and human-canine dynamics that may very well be the source of the "behavior problem", then you'll at least be well on the road to finding your answer here. And given the fact that many "behavior problems" in dogs actually arise because of our own incompetence or misunderstanding of dog psychology, many people (and dogs) would benefit tremendously by our learning to get in touch at some level with "the canine soul".

The one small criticism that I have about the book is that I think Suzanne is rather disingenuous and over-the-top in her blasting of Vicki Hearne. Given the opposite ends "A" and "B" on the scale of approaches to dog training -- with Suzanne at "A" and Vicki at "B", Suzanne's pendulum clearly swings too far to the left at times.

I say this because, all deference to doggie souls aside, they are *still* and will always be dogs. As such, their neurological systems are designed so that they learn MOST EFFECTIVELY through methods that utilize operant conditioning. As Jean Donaldson so appropriately points out in her excellent book "The Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way to Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Domestic Dogs", training methods based on operant conditioning are the widest window that is open to us in this regard and thus, the ones we should use.

This is not to say that one should not also listen to what Suzanne Clothier has to teach us. Because in the end, the absolute best that you can do for your dog is to understand him not only as a thinking, feeling being in his own right, but also how to teach him in ways that he'll best understand.

The Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way to Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Domestic Dogs

A thoughtful and poignant book from the eyes of trainer and dog owner, Suzanne Clothier, and the levels of connection, we as humans have with our dogs. This book helped me better understand my two lovable rescues, and why they react and love, trust the way they do. One of the best books I've ever read. Suzanne's way of drawing you in, the deep relationship she had with dogs as a child, and her growth and insight as a trainer made me cry, laugh, and say to myself, "Wow, so that's why my dogs do that." What a prolific writer. I wished she lived near me because I've love to know her.

Beyond training sit, stay & heel ... beyond the slip chain or clicker ... beyond praise and treats, Suzanne Clothier encouraged me to explore with fresh eyes and a clear heart - the relationship (or the lack) between my dogs and I ...
A warm & wonderful book ... windows into the author's life, her love for dogs, her enduring compassion for animals and her heartfelt search for an understanding of the soul both human & canine ... Ms. Clothier uses episodes from her own life to help us appreciate what the relationship with our dog can and should be ...
Almost autobiographical, the book tells of one person's quite extraordinary journey, a sharing of mistakes and lessons learnt not just of the mind - but the heart and soul.

Although Ms. Clothier addresses issues of training, dealing with seemingly problematic dogs, issues of aggression and the sadness that comes with the passing of a loved dog, she does not do so in any conventional manner. She offers no methodology or training style save that of daring to listen to our own hearts and learning to hear the heartspeak of our dogs. More than just explaining dog psychology she dares us explore and extend the boundaries of communication between our dogs and us.
She writes of how, if we extend grace to our dogs, we also receive profound and nurturing grace in return, one that enhances not just the relationship with our dogs, but enriches our friends, family ... our lives in a quite magical way.
More than just a book about dogs, it is a book about living with dogs, and with ourselves.
She writes "... Coursing through our veins as surely as our own blood are the lessons we have mastered through effort, and through no small measure of grace gifted us by the animals who serve as our teachers."

Possibly, no probably, the best book on relationships with animals ever written! I personally think it is the greatest book about dogs ever written, and I know many would agree. In fact, after I read it, as a dog trainer, I knew Suzanne Clothier was a person I needed to meet and learn more from, and I have! If you love dogs, you will love this book! If you live with a dog, this book will deepen your understanding and change how you communicate with her/him in ways that will make your heart sing! You will laugh out loud and shed a tear or two, but you will forever see your dog in a new light!

Suzanne Clothier has written a masterpiece!
While this is a beautifully written book whose main theme seems to be about "deepening our relationships with dogs", it actually encompasses a much more important body of thought. It is really a book about developing a richer more fulfilling and effective life in all relationships. Suzanne Clothier provides us the opportunity to learn that what we perceive as happening may very well be perceived differently by those in our lives, be they dogs, children, a spouse or friends, or foreign nations
There are many implications concerning leadership, not just as it applies to animals or even children but leadership overall.
Clothier states,"In the end, our personal philosophy is also our best protection against cruelty. When we know what we believe and who we are, we stand stong and sure about what we will and will not allow."
Clothier quotes Goethe-"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do."
"One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it become an emergency." she quotes Arnold Glasglow.
"As ever, a small investment of our full selves reaps rewards without measure.",another quote from this book!
Don't let the title fool you, this is not really just about dogs ,but about people and how we live in this world and how we touch other's lives. It compels one to take an honest look at our relationships and then to proceed through this process, to enriching our lives by making positive changes in our dealings with those around us. Clothier quotes Thomas Jefferson,
"Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." We can only be wiser if we are honest with ourselves first.

After years of being dissatisfied with the type of books put out by so-called "behaviorists," I must sing the praises of Suzanne Clothier's latest book, Bones Would Rain from the Sky. With her natural, down-to-earth approach to behavior modification and training, Clothier points out what we are doing to make our dogs love us and sometimes hate us. Her unique approach to the human-canine bond will lead the way to a deeper relationship with your dog... I could not put this book down until the end, and after finishing it, I must say that it has changed the way I view dogs, behavior, and our relationship with man's best friend.
Book's greatest pros:
*very inspiring
*great stories/examples
*down-to-earth (at one point, the author even admits to mistakes she's made and how it impacted her relationships)
*easy reading, yet challenging and informative
*a book that "makes you want to go out and do something"
Book's cons/flaws (negative comments):
*for people who expect a how-to book, this is NOT it! There is nothing how-to about this book. You read it, you learn from it... but there are no "10 easy steps to a better dog." That is not her approach (nor is it mine, so I personally was fine with it!)
*can't think of anything else! I wish there were more books like this!
Just had to comment: after you finish this book, be sure to read her free online articles!!!

Outstanding book! She manages to tell you all about her dogs as well as how she trains them after trying many other ways and deciding that a gentle way is the best! If I were to get a dog again in the future, I would get her book first and refresh myself on the best way to treat a dog as a companion - not a slave or lower minion. Well worth reading for anyone who now has a dog too as you can change your ways and make life easier for both you and your dog.

This book is part biography, part training philosophy--Suzanne shares her life experiences that have led her to develop this unique and respectful approach to sharing life with dogs. For anyone who has cringed at administering a "leash correction," this book provides a relationship-based approach that forms the basis of working together with a dog. Don't buy it if you're looking for a training cookbook--this is not what it's about. This book is an exploration of human attitudes about "dog training," with a humane alternative based on positive communication between living beings--no "pop and release" methods in these pages. For those who have read "Purely Positive Training" by Sheila Booth, this book kind of picks up the relationship side of that outlook.

Our training club recently hosted a two-day semimar with Suzanne, and she is indeed phenomenal--truly practices what she preaches. I have read the book twice so far and totally enjoyed it both times. Suzanne Clothier is an amazing woman whom I hope will revolutionize the way we think of, and live with, our canine companions. This book has certainly changed my worldview, and for the better!

I brought home a human- and dog-reactive (aggressive) adult border collie about a year and half ago. He came from an unknown background, had been in shelters on and off for 5 months, and was a mess. I had no idea what to do.

After about a month of wading through countless training books, all of whose philosophies seemed to tout some other "miracle system," I was fortunate enough to stumble onto this one. Clothier's take on my dog's reactions to a frightening world gave me the perspective I needed to help him, rather than frighten him more. Most enlightening was her section about "friendly" dogs who charge at other dogs "just to say hi." Once I could interpret the other dogs' behavior and body language through my own dog's eyes, I could finally help him. I realized that a charging dog - regardless of intention - looked like an attacking dog, at least to Buddy. Knowing this, I could step in, intercede, to protect my dog. This was crucial in giving him the faith that I could handle the tough situations we meet in our day to day walks. Trusting me, he let down his guard, and has become a dog who looks "normal" to those who meet him. We even get "Oh, he's sweet" comments from people on our walks now! He may never be as easy-going as a lab, but I'd say he's 90% of the way to "normal."

"Bones Would Rain from the Sky," along with "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell, should be on every dog owner's bookshelf. The more challenging your dog, the more you need to read these books. And once you've read these, you'll be able to filter out the mush in the other books.

I admit I expected a nice, hopefully enlightening, certainly informational book on dog behavior and training, another one of many in that genre I've read over the years. The title seems frothy enough, cute and catchy, hardly implying much by way of literary depth.

I was in for a wonderful surprise: This book blew me away.

It is so much more than a "dog book". It is so beautifully and evocatively written that I was frequently both awed by the prose and moved to tears by the philosophy this writer defines--with subtlety and heart--on every page.

Information? Yes, lots of it, useful and logically presented. Facts, experiences, stories and parables...oh, yes. She writes like a poet, with smooth fluidity, and depth. And throughout, Ms. Clothier demonstrates and defines a philosophy that puts "humane" back in humanity.

Read this book. Dogs can and do 'talk' to us...we need only to listen. Suzanne Clothier's work shows us how to listen, and how to understand.

Blown away.... Who would have guessed such pleasure was awaiting the turn of the first page?

I bought Suzanne Clothier's newly released "Bones Would Rain from the Sky" because I love, own, & train dogs. I'm not sure what I expected to find in this book, but I got a great deal more than I could have possibly anticipated.
I thought to read yet another well respected trainer's viewpoint on dogs, perhaps. What I got was a mind and soul expanding journey. Suzanne writes with startling self-honesty, but with great wit and a beautiful ability to communicate via the written word. What I found was page after page of pointers toward Truth (with a deliberate capital 't').
If you love animals ... be prepared with kleenex box on hand for she surely can move you to tears. But, also be prepared for many more occasions of smiles and outright laughter.
Most of all, be prepared to find your own philosophy toward dog training, as well as dog-human and human-human relationships challenged to be the best you can be.

As an animal behaviorist, wildlife biologist, and former dog (and dolphin, sad to say) trainer, my endorsement does not come easily or cheaply. I can even say I am very much opposed to breeding and selling purebreds, which the author does, but since that is not what she is writing about, I can endorse her book 100%. I read a couple reviews here that say they have mixed emotions because the author is poignant, yet does not give cut and dried methods or "how to" train your dog. Let me tell you what it is they just don't get: I assume by the time you pick this book up, you have read more than one "how to book" on training dogs. If so, then go ahead and read a dozen more, they will all tell you they know exactly how your dog should be trained, and they will all be a little - or maybe a lot - different. When you are done with all of those, do yourself and your dog - and your kids, or you husband, or wife - a big favor, and read this book. It is is just as informative about dealing with people as it does dogs, and that is no mistake, that is key. The reason the author does not give you a 5 step program, spelled out with no room for imagination, is because just like every dog is different, every training challenge situation is different. Therefore, what Clothier does is tap into the one thing all real dog lovers have in common: a love for dogs and desire to improve their lives in a way that we can make our lives more livable by having a well trained, content and happy dog. She uses that commonality to explain which path to take when confronted by different doggy-human problems.

If you are looking for a 12 step program for your dog, don't. This is not doggy AA, and dogs are not humans nor are they a cookie recipe. They have a simple language that needs to be learned, but like us they have individual desires, feelings, and personalities; and likewise respond differently to different aspects of training, not to mention to different people. Just as parents need to develop a relationship with their child that will assist them in determining their best practices as a parent, so do dog lovers. An understanding of HOW to develop this relationship with an animal that speaks canine is what Clothier does in her book, par excellence. It is not only hugely informative, it is beautifully written, I thank the author for writing it, and I'm envious I didn't pen it myself. You won't be disappointed if you read it, too.

It was so refreshing to read a book about communication with dogs that involved listening to them rather than always expecting them to do what we want them to do, no matter what they happen to be feeling. I find myself going back to read sections over again.
I was especially moved by the story of Chance in chapter 2, "A Black Dog's Prayers." I was moved to tears reading of Wendy's determination to try and reach this dog, and of their setbacks, and then, finally, of the building of a bridge of trust and communication between the two of them.
I have become very dubious of so-called training methods used by many people for some time now, and have only been using positive reinforcement techniques with my dogs. Even so, I have felt something lacking, and Ms. Clothier has hit the nail on the head when she says that dogs are more than just conditioned responses. There is a lot more going on there. We just have to take the time to see it.
Thank you, Ms. Clothier, for a great book. I will be looking forward to reading more of your work in the future.

Ever look into those pleading brown puppy eyes and wonder just what your dog is thinking? Holistic dog trainer Suzanne Clothier knows and she shares her secrets in this empathetic, humorous, and down-to-earth book. No cookbook on how to get your dog to sit, Ms. Clothier instead suggests examining the dynamic between a human and a canine. Dogs, she believes, are completely honest and tell their own truth at every minute. Our job is to learn to read their signals and communicate better with them. A simple shift of thinking makes a world of difference: from "walk the dog" to "walk with the dog," from "dominate alpha" to "leader" can open up a world of possibilities. Ever practical, Ms. Clothier does not suggest that house manners and training are in some way a betrayal of dogkind. Rather, she emphasizes that since living in an civilized setting is unnatural for a dog (the ancestral wolf never had to deal with apartment living and busy streets!), it is our duty to give them the training and social skills they need to coexist with us in our modern world. Her insights into canine behavior, thought processes, and language truly can help "deepen our relationships with dogs." Whether you are pondering getting a first puppy, or are welcoming your 20th, Bones Would Rain from the Sky will refresh your enthusiasm for understanding and loving a canine partner. On a scale of one to five, Bones gets five kibbles with gravy on top!

Suzanne Clothier's latest book, Bones Would Rain From the Sky, is perhaps the best single book on the nature of the relationship between dogs and people I have ever read. But saying just that does not nearly encompass the entirety of the book. It is about much more than "just" our relationship with dogs. It is about relationships of all sorts. What we bring to a relationship, what the other party brings to the relationship, and how we can and must learn to read ourselves and our partner.
I am by no means a new age type. In fact if I am anything, I am very much a nuts and bolts type. I have worked most of my adult life as a race car mechanic and a designer of performance parts. I am a freelance technical writer for automotive magazines and a hobbyist race car driver. I am also a dog lover and have been since my earliest memories. I have trained and handled dogs professionally off and on since I was 10 years old. My approach to working with dogs is pragmatic and results oriented. I tend to look more at the how and less at the why. I currently run a rescue that works only with deaf Great Danes. I relate this only to assure you that anyone can find value in, and learn something from Bones.
While Bones is not your typical "users manual" for dog ownership and training, it is a profoundly important work and should be required reading for anyone who owns or works with dogs. It will help you see an entire new side of your relationship with your dog and the dogs you work with, and will help you to better understand how and why they behave the way the do.
Suzanne is one of the best trainers in the business, and in Bones she gives us an insight not only into how she lives and works with dogs, but also how dogs live and work with her, and with all of us.
Buy this book, even if it is the only book on dog ownership, behavior, or training you ever buy. The nuts and bolts stuff you can find in a dog training class in most areas. What Bones can teach you comes only from a select few and at the astronomical hourly rates that a behaviorist would charge.

This is a thoughtful, beautifully written, in fact almost poetic look at the mutually nurturing, mutually enriching, mutually edifying relationship that has existed between dog and human since before recorded time began. And it comes so very close to being right on the money about what makes that homo sapiens/canis familiaris relationship work that I was hungrily turning the pages, hoping and wishing that Clothier would finally hit the nail on the head, which, unfortunately, she never quite does. How so?

There are so many instances in this book that echo almost exactly what I would do when personally training a dog, or that state almost verbatim what I routinely and quite adamantly recommend that my clients' do with their dogs. Yet the underlying reasons Clothier gives for doing the exercises are slightly off the mark (in my opinion). She's so frustratingly close to really understanding dogs but she doesn't quite make that final leap that would stick the landing, that would earn her a 9.9, that would totally make sense to dogs AND humans.

For instance, Clothier's explanation of how she trained her client's dog Angel how to walk on the leash is almost word for word what I would tell a client: a taut leash will make the dog want to pull so make sure the leash is never tight. And instead of punishing the dog for pulling, why not play a game where you run away and get him to chase you around? This makes him want to connect to you.

Ah, but connect to you how? I would say that he wants to connect to you through his prey drive (since that's the organizing principle behind all canine social behavior), and that the "Chase Me" game she plays with Angel mimics the way dogs (and wolf pups) play together as a way of preparing themselves for the hunt. (Dogs love to chase things.) Unfortunately, Clothier never quite puts two and two together and falls back on the old myth that the pack instinct is about who is and who ISN'T the pack leader. She doesn't get that the most recent research on canids--wolves and wild dogs--shows that there IS no pack leader. Dogs do not relate to us because they instinctively need a TOP DOG to show them the way to do things. They relate to us because their social instincts, which are solely geared for hunting large prey, nothing else, give them an instinct for group harmony and cooperation which essential for the success of the hunt, and, therefore, essential for their own survival.

Admittedly, Clothier DOES mention the cooperative aspect of the dog/trainer dynamic, which she's absolutely right about. But she unfortunately still believes in the old myths about pack social structure -- leaders and followers, which are mythical beings that cannot possibly exist in a dog's mind.

Still, other than NATURAL DOG TRAINING by Kevin Behan, and to a limited extent PLAYTRAINING YOUR DOG by Patricia Gail Burnham, no one comes closer to getting it right than Clothier. (And she's a better writer than Behan or Burnham). It is extremely rare for me to give a dog training book four stars. Even with my criticism I think this is an absolutely essential book for anyone interested in dog training.

Bones may not really be raining from the sky, but the prayers of dogs are answered in another way by the arrival of Suzanne Clothier's book 'Bones Would Rain from the Sky'.
Clothier not only helps us understand our dogs, but with striking and often humbling clarity shows how our dogs view and understand us. At the heart of this book is the insight that a healthy two-way dog-human relationship is essential to living happily with a dog. Not an "I command, you obey" relationship, but rather one of mutual understanding, trust and love. Through anecdotes, analogies and analysis Clothier unveils for us the nature of such a relationship, and, encouragingly, illustrates its desirability and demonstrates its possibility.
Whenever one speaks of "relationships" with animals, the natural reaction may be a shudder at the thought of flaky anthropomorphism and a lovey-dovey glossing over of the vexing issues of obedience and temperament. Be assured, however, that 'Bones' quite on the contrary both recognizes dogs as the unique beings they are and recognizes relationships as the complex, often painful things they are. It is only by coming to grips with the way those unique beings tick, and with the implications for how we relate together, that we can begin to address issues of obedience and temperament. 'Bones' is thus philosophical yet highly practical, intellectual yet full of deep emotion.
If you don't yet own a dog, read 'Bones' before you get one. If you do have a dog, you will probably find both your dog and yourself somewhere among the pages of 'Bones' and smile, sigh or, if like me, more than once smack your forehead with the palm of your hand in a sudden dawning of new understanding. Either way, you and your dog will be glad you did.

Even for the most dog-dedicated of us, 'Bones' offers "soul opening" thoughts to be held precious in our life's journey with our animal and human companions. Clothier's wisdom nourishes our convictions and determination to do right by our dogs and life as a whole. What she graciously shares with us fills a void that we may not have known was there, then leaves us grateful for the opportunity to embrace the challenge of living with dogs with a philosophy that promises a more fulfilling life. A book that holds wisdom and treasures for our relationships with dogs and humans alike.
The profound lessons in 'Bones' emerge from a style that is humble, entertaining, and "to the bone". Clothier's writing is deeply empathic, yet stands firm in disclosing her convictions, which so obviously reflect real life wisdom. After reading the last word, what is left to say is "Thank you".

This book was recommended by someone on a Border Collie list I frequent. Suzanne Clothier is not your ordinary trainer. How do I know that? I had a purebred German Shepherd who went through two different dog schools" and I still didn't know how to handle him. Granted, this was 30 years ago, but reading Clothier's book, not much may have changed.

I was fascinated by her gentle and understanding approach. While I wished for more personal dog stories, the end of the book more than made up for it. I cried for an hour.

The best I can say for Clothier is that she thinks like a dog -- coming from a dog lover, that's the best compliment this two-footer can give her.

This book goes beyond anything that I've ever read about dogs.
If you want a better understanding and relationship with your animal companion, this is the book to get.
Not only did it help me understand my dogs, but it has open the door to understanding myself!
It made me laugh as well as touched my heart. Very clear, direct and well written. I was very impressed!!!

In my opinion, no one should ever even think about owning a dog before owning this book. For me, the main thrust was this: when trying to get our dogs to behave in certain ways, we keep expecting them to think like we do, when in fact, the key to success is learning how to think like they do. It's the difference between creating harmonious relationships with them or frustrating ones. This book will get you into your dog's head.

Susan, nailed the relationship between dog and man! Her writting style is amazing, her insight into dogs unbelievable.

I cried and laughed and had aha moments in almost every chapter.

I read about 4 books a month and have since I was 12 years old, this is one of my favorite books, not just my favorite dog books but all time favorites.

If you have a dog in your life you owe it to the dog and especially to yourself to read this book, and if you don't have a dog, be very careful, you will want one, but you will love this book anyway.

"Bones..." is a treasure. It achieves more than other books I've read on human-dog relationships. It is recommended to every dog owner, novice or advanced. As a veterinarian and dog enthusiast, I wish to highlight the scholarship in "Bones...". The breadth and depth of knowledge demonstrated by Suzanne Clothier is rare in this genre. It is clear that Ms Clothier wrote "Bones..." from the heart. She also wrote it from a perspective of well-researched science melded with her hands-on experience and insights, creating a masterpiece.

This book was easy reading as S.Clothier described her own pack of dogs as well as the clients she delt with. As I read, I almost could picture the dogs/clients in my head. I often go back and re-read a chapter to either laugh or learn again as I help a puppy get his berings straight with the world. Awesome, recommended to anyone who loves dogs and wishes for more understanding/respect with them. I would love to meet her pack as well.

I think Suzanne Clothier's makes some great points is also deeply flawed. She is a good person who loves animals and she has a lot of insight into their behavior. Years ago she wrote a brilliant short booklet on training dogs to jump correctly using methods developed for horses. Her book is correct in emphasizing that a great trainer will read and interpret the reactions of the animal they're working. I was glad to see her debunking of nonsense like alpha rolling and emulating wolf behavior to establish your "dominance in the pack." Great trainers make it hard for the animals they're training to fail at a task.
However, I do think in some ways Ms. Clothier is a little dishonest. I didn't care at all for the attack on Vicki Hearne or some of the methods she advocated. I was a good friend of Vicki's and I saw her work with many dogs that were slated for death (Vicki also used Ms. Clothier's book and had a set of jumps up all the time in her training area). I read the book carefully and I realize that it is not a training manual but I didn't see Ms. Clothier offering an alternative to stopping destructive behaviors like hole digging, chewing, dog fighting, cat killing, Etc. Dogs are spiritual but like us they have some behaviors that are not desirable and need to understand that we can and do place limits on them. I believe that the book is definitely worth reading but unfortunately I can only give it 3 stars.

There's a lot of misinformation out there among the many books on dogs, much of it subtle and presented very authoritatively.
Flawed and harmful notions have insidiously worked their way into the collective perspective, and have detrimentally shaped training philosophy and behavior-problem advice.
Suzanne Clothier's eloquent text is the real thing: Deep and accurate insight. A correction of popular misconceptions.
Jeff

No, This is not just another dog book. "Bones", in fact, reads more like a novel than like the usual dog text, good as the latter might be. The story begins as Suzanne describes her childhood life as a dog, licking the knees of guests from under the dining room table. Written with great humor, the reader is hooked. The story just gets better and better and deeply engrossing as Suzanne delves into her relationships with dogs. Always full of anecdotes to be remembered, this book is one to be treasured and read more than once.