Understanding Our Dogs by Understanding How They See the World

Delighted by not only the content, but the videos(on Kindle version)and the heart and soul that were put in this book.More people should pay attention to how Jennifer is able to demonstrate how much dogs feel and want to be part of our lives...same goes for babies and children...give them LOVE,everything will fall into place after that.Woderful stories,great suggestions lots of heartfelt pages...Kudos to author and publishers!BRAVO!

Jennifer Arnold writes passionately and descriptively about something she knows extensively. As the founder of Canine Assistants, a non-profit that has been growing out of Atlanta for the past twenty years, you could say she has learned a thing, or maybe more than a millions things, about dogs. In this debut book, she weaves stories from her experience and provides insight from her Own findings as well as her in-depth research.
She takes you through the history and evolution of dogs, making a case for man's best friend through the ages. She describes the inherent nature of dogs backed by moving first-hand accounts. She packs twenty years of proven training into a concise training manual based on positive re-enforecement, proving there are better ways than the unfortunate dominance-based methods made popular by certain individuals. She gives plenty of examples of what people, including herself, can overcome when faced with what can seem like life's toughest obstacles, including illness and loss of physical abilities. Most incredibly, she shows how dogs can help people overcome such things. And to take it a step further, she proves how dogs can sense the slightest emotion or even something awry, able at times to prevent an impending disaster.
Whether you own a dog or not, you will enjoy reading this book. You get the sense that you know the author and will trust what she is writing. Her stories will make you laugh and make you cry, her research will leave you feeling like you couldn't have learned nearly as much if you googled "dogs" for a year, and certainly not as comprehensively if you tried. And, if you have a dog, the training tips and manual will surely prove essential. That being said, more than ever I wanted (and still want!) to become a dog-owner (for so many reasons) after finishing Through a Dog's Eyes.

I am incredibly disappointed that Text to Speech is disabled for this book. This seems ironic considering that the book is about service dogs for the disabled. I for one will be more careful when I make Kindle purchases in the future and only select eBooks with TTS turned ON!

The author worships dogs and endows them with god like super natural powers...saving lives, detecting cancer....I love my dog ...but this is ridiculous. I learnt nothing. I thought the book would help me understand my dog better......I was just irritated with her sanctimonious attitude.

I expected an informative, data based, scientific treatment of the subject given the supportive hype this book has received. Looking back I see that positive critiques from authoritative sources are actually non-existent (does Publisher's Weekly EVER give a negative review of anything?). I absolutely do appreciate and indeed follow the author's gentle, reciprocal philosophy to communicating with dogs. However the book is largely an anecdotal, biographical feel good infomercial for the author's company ( the school is referenced on virtually every page in the book). The text is sprinkled with enough references to the research of others, an occasional graphic similarly borrowed and pasted (B.F. Skinner? Really?) to make it, well, a "book", but you'd do better to look for something more authentic if you and your dog want to learn anything meaningful.

[This review is based on an Advanced Reading Copy]

"Through A Dog's Eyes" is an insightful, humane and knowledgable journey through the mindset of man's best friend. The author, Jennifer Arnold is the founder of Canine Assistants, a service dog school based in Milton, Georgia. At Canine Assistants Jennifer and her team rescue, rehabilitate and train dogs to become service dogs providing aid for children and adults who have physical disabilities, epilepsy and other special needs. Spending her entire life with dogs the author clearly has a compassion for them that transcends all boundaries of emotion. Although sometimes her feelings border on odd there's no denying her passion for animals, especially those within her care. Here are my feelings on this thought provoking book;

Pros

+ Empathetic and passionate view on how to train, teach and understand your dog.

+ Author clearly outlines and explains the basic behaviors, senses and emotions of dogs in an easily understandable and common sense way.

+ Believes the popular dominant/alpha male role of the owner is incorrect. Arnold explains that trust and positive reinforcement through training should be the foundation of the relationship between owner and dog, not fear and submission. She further explains that the alpha male role should be reserved for wild animals (wolves) and not domesticated dogs and their human partners.

+ Speaks out against the use of physically and emotionally harmful training devices such as shock, choke, citronella collars and invisible fences.

+ Quick and informative read with its heart in the right place.

+ Great cover art

Cons

- Author's message can sometimes come across as condescending and overly emotional. This commonly happens when someone is as compassionate about something as Arnold is for dogs. This is especially evident if someone doesn't understand or see her exact point of view.

- Not everyone will feel or comprehend the author's instense bond with dogs and could perceive it as "strange."

- Can read like a research paper at times.

- Can be confusing differentiating between the names of the dogs and their owners as the dog was mentioned much more frequently.

- Too short considering the cover price.

"Through A Dog's Eyes" educates and inspires owners to train their dog appropriately. With 20 years of dog training experience, she shares her stories of canine sensitivity and body/vocal language comprehension. She offers numerous but brief examples of canine intelligence and heroism in efforts to aid their human partners. Arnold emphasizes choice-based, positive-reinforcement-only teaching methods and shares valuable insights that every dog owner should know. Arnold is extremely outspoken regarding the "alpha male - dominance" training/belief taught by many trainers today. While she never says, "I'm talking about you Cesar Millan" you could easily draw the comparison. Arnold balances dog science and observation admirably while elevating our respect and basic understanding of our canine companions to a new level. She gets a thumbs and paws up from me and my dog.

I found this totally useless, claiming things which have been proven not to be true, and with no evidence to back it up. It is made out as though this is a non fiction book, but it is simply a work of fiction. There are no references to back up anything she says about anything at all. Very dissappointing, something I very regret buying.

I first heard about this book listening to NPR on the radio as I drove to an appointment. When I arrived to my destination, I stayed in the car until the program was finished, I was that captivated by what she had to say.

If you work with dogs, or have a dog who is rescued, or having issues with your dog,you must read this book. If you want to get a dog from a shelter but think they are less shiny than a brand new $800 one...... think again, and read this book!

The author writes about all dogs, rescued dogs, shelter dogs and what they go through, how their minds work, how they love us and how you can love them back. How you can help them, train them..it's just so full of everything we need to know, it should come strapped to every dog upon arrival into your life. Yes, I love it that much.

I work with animals in my healing practice, and have had experience and a deeper knowing of their thoughts, emotions and their energy. I highly recommend the information in this book just based on what I have gleaned in my practice.

Jennifer Arnold also gets deep into the heart of dog training and the misconceptions on how to do that. She talks about how a dog's one goal in life is to love and to please you. She has trained many dogs, including those who go to rescue work and to people with special needs.

Her method of training is based on the belief that you teach dogs through kindness and encouragement, not with "I'm bigger than you and you must listen to me or be intimidated or shamed." I think we have all seen that kind of training. She is very much against the use of physically and emotionally harmful training and her results are amazing. If you have trained your dog through those other methods, you can still heal what was done and rework the relationship through Jennifer's methods.

This book will change the way you relate to your dog in so many ways, or the dogs you work with. Truly understanding and communicating with your dog.

I am incredibly disappointed that Text to Speech is disabled for this book. This seems ironic considering that the book is about service dogs for the disabled. I for one will be more careful when I make Kindle purchases in the future and only select eBooks with TTS turned ON!

The author worships dogs and endows them with god like super natural powers...saving lives, detecting cancer....I love my dog ...but this is ridiculous. I learnt nothing. I thought the book would help me understand my dog better......I was just irritated with her sanctimonious attitude.

I expected an informative, data based, scientific treatment of the subject given the supportive hype this book has received. Looking back I see that positive critiques from authoritative sources are actually non-existent (does Publisher's Weekly EVER give a negative review of anything?). I absolutely do appreciate and indeed follow the author's gentle, reciprocal philosophy to communicating with dogs. However the book is largely an anecdotal, biographical feel good infomercial for the author's company ( the school is referenced on virtually every page in the book). The text is sprinkled with enough references to the research of others, an occasional graphic similarly borrowed and pasted (B.F. Skinner? Really?) to make it, well, a "book", but you'd do better to look for something more authentic if you and your dog want to learn anything meaningful.

[This review is based on an Advanced Reading Copy]

"Through A Dog's Eyes" is an insightful, humane and knowledgable journey through the mindset of man's best friend. The author, Jennifer Arnold is the founder of Canine Assistants, a service dog school based in Milton, Georgia. At Canine Assistants Jennifer and her team rescue, rehabilitate and train dogs to become service dogs providing aid for children and adults who have physical disabilities, epilepsy and other special needs. Spending her entire life with dogs the author clearly has a compassion for them that transcends all boundaries of emotion. Although sometimes her feelings border on odd there's no denying her passion for animals, especially those within her care. Here are my feelings on this thought provoking book;

Pros

+ Empathetic and passionate view on how to train, teach and understand your dog.

+ Author clearly outlines and explains the basic behaviors, senses and emotions of dogs in an easily understandable and common sense way.

+ Believes the popular dominant/alpha male role of the owner is incorrect. Arnold explains that trust and positive reinforcement through training should be the foundation of the relationship between owner and dog, not fear and submission. She further explains that the alpha male role should be reserved for wild animals (wolves) and not domesticated dogs and their human partners.

+ Speaks out against the use of physically and emotionally harmful training devices such as shock, choke, citronella collars and invisible fences.

+ Quick and informative read with its heart in the right place.

+ Great cover art

Cons

- Author's message can sometimes come across as condescending and overly emotional. This commonly happens when someone is as compassionate about something as Arnold is for dogs. This is especially evident if someone doesn't understand or see her exact point of view.

- Not everyone will feel or comprehend the author's instense bond with dogs and could perceive it as "strange."

- Can read like a research paper at times.

- Can be confusing differentiating between the names of the dogs and their owners as the dog was mentioned much more frequently.

- Too short considering the cover price.

"Through A Dog's Eyes" educates and inspires owners to train their dog appropriately. With 20 years of dog training experience, she shares her stories of canine sensitivity and body/vocal language comprehension. She offers numerous but brief examples of canine intelligence and heroism in efforts to aid their human partners. Arnold emphasizes choice-based, positive-reinforcement-only teaching methods and shares valuable insights that every dog owner should know. Arnold is extremely outspoken regarding the "alpha male - dominance" training/belief taught by many trainers today. While she never says, "I'm talking about you Cesar Millan" you could easily draw the comparison. Arnold balances dog science and observation admirably while elevating our respect and basic understanding of our canine companions to a new level. She gets a thumbs and paws up from me and my dog.

I found this totally useless, claiming things which have been proven not to be true, and with no evidence to back it up. It is made out as though this is a non fiction book, but it is simply a work of fiction. There are no references to back up anything she says about anything at all. Very dissappointing, something I very regret buying.

I first heard about this book listening to NPR on the radio as I drove to an appointment. When I arrived to my destination, I stayed in the car until the program was finished, I was that captivated by what she had to say.

If you work with dogs, or have a dog who is rescued, or having issues with your dog,you must read this book. If you want to get a dog from a shelter but think they are less shiny than a brand new $800 one...... think again, and read this book!

The author writes about all dogs, rescued dogs, shelter dogs and what they go through, how their minds work, how they love us and how you can love them back. How you can help them, train them..it's just so full of everything we need to know, it should come strapped to every dog upon arrival into your life. Yes, I love it that much.

I work with animals in my healing practice, and have had experience and a deeper knowing of their thoughts, emotions and their energy. I highly recommend the information in this book just based on what I have gleaned in my practice.

Jennifer Arnold also gets deep into the heart of dog training and the misconceptions on how to do that. She talks about how a dog's one goal in life is to love and to please you. She has trained many dogs, including those who go to rescue work and to people with special needs.

Her method of training is based on the belief that you teach dogs through kindness and encouragement, not with "I'm bigger than you and you must listen to me or be intimidated or shamed." I think we have all seen that kind of training. She is very much against the use of physically and emotionally harmful training and her results are amazing. If you have trained your dog through those other methods, you can still heal what was done and rework the relationship through Jennifer's methods.

This book will change the way you relate to your dog in so many ways, or the dogs you work with. Truly understanding and communicating with your dog.

I disagree with the store comparing this book to "Marley and Me" or "The Dog Whisperer." This book is better than both (and I did thoroughly enjoy "Marley"). John Grogan is not even a dog trainer and Cesar Milan is all about taking control over the dog and at times using negative reinforcement. Arnold is an experienced, talented dog trainer and very much for positive reinforcement and tenderness. Her love for dogs oozes throughout this book.

This touching book is a little bit of memoir of Jennifer Arnold's creation of Canine Assitants, short stories about her Golden Retriever Nick, facts about dogs and their physiology, their history, and experiences she and friends and families have had with dogs. Her writing style is smooth and passionate without talking down to the reader. She doesn't tell her readers that they must follow her examples. She only uses her examples and her examples are so straightforward, noone has the choice but to agree because her methodology makes sense.

The chapter on Dog ESP, "The Canine Mystique" is especially fascinating. So is Chapter 4, "Do you See What I See?"
Anyone who has shared her/his life with a dog can recall moments like the ones Arnolds mentions in these chapters. I choked a bit reading about her stories of dogs grieving for their deceased owners. "It is the very wisdom of humans that makes love so difficult for us and the relative simplicity of dogs that makes their love so intense" she writes. Who can disagree with that?

What really touches me is Arnold's love and passion for dogs. She really knows them. And unlike Cesar Milan from the Dog Whisperer, she is all about positive reenforcement. Her training tips come out in the stories she tells about various incidents with dogs who assist people. She she writes about how Canine Assitants came about, and obviously her life has evolved from that experience, but she doesn't get too pushy with her training philosphy. She adds a helpful appendix in the end with some great tips for typical misbehaviors of dogs.

I had a Golden Retriever years ago. Reading this book made me miss him. Reading this book also makes me grateful that there are people out there who truly care for dogs and cry when even one dog gets killed at a shelter for "Behavioral problems." Reading this book has also made me understand my own dogs more, too.

This is a great book for the dog lover, and especially lovers of Goldens.

Jennifer Arnold is the founder and executive director of Canine Assistance (CA) a service dog school in Georgia that rehabilitates and trains service dogs for people with physical disabilities, epilepsy and other special needs.
The heroic and heartwarming stories in Arnold's book "Through A Dogs Eyes" educate and inspire us to better appreciate our dogs and train them appropriately. Through trial and error over 20 years Arnold discovered choice-based positive reinforcement was far more effective than punishment and the popular alpha-male dominance training. She says positive relationships are built on love not fear. It's much easier to teach your dog what is acceptable behavior than to teach them what is inappropriate. There are a gazillion things you would want your dogs to do and a mere handful you would not want them to do. She also recommends we find the underlying problem. Dogs don't deliberately tear up sofas to frustrate us. They tear up things because they are anxious, need to chew or are bored.
When Canine Assistants recipients cannot speak or make hand signals she teaches dogs thirty-two different behavior cues by eye-movement only. For example, if they want a dog to sit down they look at the dog's eyes and then at the floor. A reward of praise and enthusiasm lets the dog know they made the correct decision. Arnold applies the same principle to more complex behaviors such as tugging open doors, flipping a switch or retrieving a TV remote. She says when people and dogs become bound together by loving trust a beautiful fluent language of their very own often develops.
Arnold, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 16, examines the history and the many unique qualities of dogs such as emotion, personality, language, character, play and canine mystique.
She also has several appendices that provide overviews on choice-teaching specifics, common behavior problems, grooming, tips for keeping your dog happy, healthy and safe and a personality impressions survey for matching human and canine partners.
Arnold inspired me to see Dixie, our golden retriever, with new respect, appreciation and responsibility. She's right in saying sometimes our dogs love and think more of us than we do.
PBS featured Arnold and CA in an April 2010 one-hour special titled "Through A Dog's Eyes" based on her book and will launch a TV series with the same title in January 2011.

Jennifer Arnold is the founder of 'Canine Assistants', a remarkable and successful service organization, training special pups for companionship, assistance, nurturing and insuring safety of disabled chidlren and adults.

Her own personal history and family encouragement inspired her journey to create 'Canine Assitants.' Training these pups for their special service has been an ongoing discovery of the hearts, souls and minds of these special human animals. It is a labor of love.

Jennifer's book details a to z about dogs and the methodology she and the organization employ. It is adaptable to all pet dogs as well, no matter the circumstances of the home they shine in.

I have had wonderful dogs all thru my life and they have become part of my and my family's heart.

Each of them had unique characteristics and as years passed, I learned more and more as to how best communicate with them and entwine them into social beings along with family and friends.

Every since the death of our last special pup, my husband and I have not been able to get past our grief for our beloved Shelby. Instead we are the first to puppy watch, dog sit, spoil our grandpups and most recently have been using some of Jennifer Arnold's wonderful advice in working with them all.

Amazingly, with so little stress involved, even adult dogs assimilate new directions.

I am enthusiastically sharing this book with all who love their pets.

Written with humor, poignancy and smartness, Jennifer Arnold has written THE book for dog lovers everywhere!

In this delightful memoir, Jennifer Arnold takes us behind the scenes of Canine Assistants, her organization that trains and provides service dogs for people with special needs. Author Arnold is well qualified to take us on this tour, for she grew up with a service dog herself and has worked tirelessly learning about dogs and their needs, their quirks, their special abilities, and--yes--their limitations.

What she has to say is intriguing, warmhearted, and often amusing. She has strong views about our canine friends. They are not wolves, she points out, nor are they people in furry coats. Their history with us, the humans, goes back thousands of years, and--she suggests--our shared history has been important for the evolution of both species. She insists that dogs be treated with respect and affection, and has little use for approaches based on dominating the dog, or some misguided idea of emulating an alpha wolf.

The book is packed with information--dog behavior, dog culture, the social mores of dogs, the rules of dog play, training, and how to eliminate unwanted behaviors without using coercion. It talks about the almost mystical abilities of dogs in certain situations and their devotion to their human charges. It also talks about the cognitive abilities of dogs and their limitations. No, they don't speak our language, but it's not for lack of trying.

Author Arnold writes in a clear, conversational and easily read manner. If you're the least bit interested in dogs you will pick up this book and not be able to lay it down. I can hardly recommend it highly enough. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

Jennifer Arnold's book offers a giant step forward in the humane treatment of dogs as feeling and thinking beings. No doubt about it, required reading if you have a dog or are thinking of getting one.

Through a Dog's Eyes offers clear insight plus a one-page chart on how to assess both dog and human personality. On a scale from 0 to 28 each individual falls into four main overarching categories: Analyticals, Drivers, Amiables and Expressives. This book offers sound methods for getting the right dog personality for you and your family.

Choice Teaching, a method Arnold successfully uses to prepare Canine Assistant dogs, fills an entire chapter. She details how to employ this method with specifics on what to do. Plus she summarizes this Choice Teaching method in Appendix A. Charts provide spoken cues, physical cues and teaching tips. Given the fact that dogs lack vocal cords and cannot speak in human words, patient teaching brings the best results. And Arnold shares inspiring true stories of the choices and the "thinking" Canine Assistants dogs do.

Read this book before you get a dog.
Read this book first before you choose a training method.
Read this book immediately when you take in a new puppy or dog.

Spare yourself and your four-legged friend harsh training methods. Jennifer Arnold once thought methods of dominance and negative correction were necessary, but her dogs at Canine Assistance taught her otherwise.

For twenty years, Jennifer Arnold has adopted, raised and taught service dogs for people with special needs. She has learned to "teach" dogs to make choices not to simply "train" them to follow commands. Using kindness and encouragement, her dogs do amazing feats of thinking, take life saving actions, and provide their recipients with devotion and love.

Arnold advocates for humane and kind treatment of dogs. And her lifelong love of dogs and keen observation of them inform each chapter with authority. She clearly understands the difficulty our canine friends have in figuring out what we want them to do and has developed a working method for letting dogs think over complex tasks. Given choices, Arnold's dogs show how much they want to please and how fast they can think on their feet.

Several years ago, friends of ours raised and taught a dog to become a companion for a disabled person, assisting with such tasks as flipping a light switch or tugging over a drawer. I was very impressed. Now, through this book we learn how it was done, and more importantly, how to help our own dogs become great companions.

What's most interesting to me is how closely the advice for teaching a companion dog matches the advice we use for teaching small children - catch them doing well and praise them, and redirect or ignore when they are not doing well, as opposed to criticizing or punishing misbehavior. (The author is very much opposed to the idea of intimidating a dog, or training it with a choke collar or shock collar.)

The idea of first making sure the dog understands what we want, and then rewarding them for a good choice was new to me. The benefit is that by understanding, the dog becomes able to apply the learning to new situations better than if we'd simply trained them to obey a command. That has obvious parallels for helping young children learn too.

Anyone interested in better understanding a dog, or in teaching it to become a helpful companion can hardly do better than by starting by reading this book, preferably even before getting a dog. (The book includes tips for selecting a dog for companionship.)

I can confirm a lot of the advice works, having used the same ideas with dogs I know in our neighborhood.

Highly recommended!

Whenever I see books that deal with dogs through the store, I snap them up. I am definitely a dog person. No matter how much you try to resist, dogs have a way of finding their way into your heart. Once they are there, they don't leave. There is something so powerful and special about the unconditional love of a dog. Even dogs who are mistreated and abused never lose that. In the eyes of a dog, their master can do no wrong. This is an amazing book.

I definitely agree with the author's assertion that dogs should be trained using rewards and praise, rather than heavy handed intimidation, fear, and punishment. I have often wondered about how service dogs are trained and how dogs are connected with the people they serve. This book gave me an answer. This book takes you through the process from picking the right puppies for training, to making sure it's a good match between the dog and person they are serving. She talks about dogs who are harder to place, and those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty into the heroic. It is clear that Ms. Arnold has a clear understanding of what dogs think, feel, and are capable of. She knows that dogs are far more intelligent than we give them credit for. They are very eager to please. This book opened my eyes and deepened my love for dogs even more. This book is a quick, enjoyable read. It makes you think, and it will touch your heart. Definitely a book that can't be missed by dog lovers.

I totally agree with Jennifer in her approach of kinder and gentler ways to treat and teach (train) dogs. What I love about this book is that it brings the different aspect of dogs and what we believe or thought we knew about them and explains the details in a human way. She explains the history of dogs, how they became to be our best friend, how they see, think, emotional lives, language interpretation, personalities, and different character. Jennifers book starts out this way to support her belief in gentle teaching for dogs. Jennifer doesn't believe that the traditional training of collars, punishment, and dominance are the right way to teach your dog. She also goes through choice teaching and common behavior problems dogs may have. There is also a peronality test at the end of your dog.

This book has touched my life. I really didn't need Jennifer's teachings to make true what I felt was already true about my beagle hound. I do like her choice teaching though and it makes all the sense in the world to me.

This is another book recommended by a friend. I was able to read the book in it's entirety with an open mind and heart to see our canine companions through a different set of eyes. While not all the information is globally verified it was certainly worth the read and consideration that a dog actually does think and given choices can make decisions accompanied by proper training. Jennifer Arnold, founder of the not-for-profit Canine Assistants, shares her passion for her fellow human being in need and coupled it with her passion for our canine companions. Her stories and experiences are creative, refreshing and inspiring. The time and dedication to both species is awesome and I commend her efforts and impact she has had on our world. I would recommend this book to any dog owner who is seeking to relate and understand their dog as opposed to dominating their canine companion.

I've been a dog trainer for many years, generally using lupomorphic methods based on some apparently flawed concepts of wolf pack psychology. "Through a Dog's Eyes" takes a different look at the way dogs and humans connect, and about the emotion-based behavior of our canine friends.

Jennifer Arnold, founder of Canine Assistants (a service dog organization), talks about the dogs in her life, the triumphs and the mistakes she made in teaching dogs to work with those in need of a service animal, and her own diagnosis with MS that led to establishing her organization. I enjoyed the first-person stories, as well as anecdotes about some of the dogs and people in the Canine Assistants program.

I also gained some insights that will be used with all of my dogs in the future. Ms. Arnold includes some useful "choice training" methodologies as an appendix in the book, which will prove useful to all who live with dogs.

Well done!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the store Vine in exchange for an honest review.

Through a Dog's Eyes by Jennifer Arnold is a blend of personal memoir, anecdotes about the healing and loving power of dogs,dog training manual, and scientific insight into the mind of dogs and their relationship to humans. Arnold, founder of an organization called Canine Assistants which trains service dogs, divides the book into various aspects of a dog's personality: emotion, language and play, and uses her experiences with Canine Assistants as well as her own personal history to describe the current scientific research as well as her own insight into the subject.

I selected this book for three reasons-- I'm a sucker for books about animals, I LOVE dogs, and I thought it would mostly be about the service animals that have been trained through her organization. It ended up being more about dog behavior in general, which was somewhat disappointing-- I really enjoyed the stories about the service animals and would like to have read more of them.

However, even if the book isn't exactly what I expected, it is a very worthwhile read. Arnold's love and championship for dogs is palpable, as is her anger when humans fail these creatures who have served us for centuries with devotion and self sacrifice. She doesn't pull any punches-- she is unyielding in her stand against harsh treatment methods such as shock collars, yelling and expressing dominance over the dog. She very candidly admits that in the past she used such methods herself, but the more she worked with the dogs, the more she realized that they respond best when treated with respect and positive reinforcement when they make the appropriate choice. I find this especially admirable when so many prominent dog trainers are advocating the use of shock collars and aggression when training dogs.

I really liked her description of the "Choice Training Method" and from my own experience with dogs, I can see how it would be very effective. At the end the book she gives some specifics about using this method to help with various behavior problems. Without realizing it, I have been using this method myself with my current dog and I can attest that he is one of the best behaved dogs I've ever had.

My only reservation about the book is her chapter about the Canine Mystique where she explores the possibility of dogs having ESP with a less than skeptical mind. Her failure to look at the stories and research with a critical mind cause me to wonder about the other research she cites in the book-- it lessens her credibility a little.

However, with that one exception, I really enjoyed the book. If you have ever wondered why your dog behaves the way she does, then this is a great book for you to read.

This book caught my interest at the library, little did I realize how emotional it would be in reading it. Many of the stories will bring tears. I have had dogs forever and thought I was dealing with problems somewhat correctly. Mrs. Arnold brought a clear sense of understanding with how interaction should be addressed and how interaction with the dog should looked upon. The importance of a dogs body language (vocal and physical) is the key to a great partnership. Reading this book has given me a greater appreciation and love for my dogs. I plan on purchasing this book and her other books so that I may not make mistakes in the training and develope a stronger bond. There is so much more to say it is emotionally overwhelming.

We always knew our dogs were special, intuitive, and earned a place in our hearts by just being. This book not only confirms what we knew, it delves deeper in a totally delightful way! While it is non-fiction, it tells a narrative tale that draws in the reader through excellent storytelling. It also has fabulous training ideas and a very helpful guide that describes types of play personality and the primary style of behaviors.

Jennifer Arnold clearly understands dogs and people. Her history, career choice, and love of Nicholas (her forever dog) created the perfect author for this outstanding book. The book is worth purchasing just for the awesome insight regarding teaching, training, and compatibility.

How good is it? I was actually sad when I finished it. Yes, it is that good.

While I enjoyed Through a Dog's Eyes and recommend the book to anyone who spends a lot of time with dogs, I'm not as enthralled as some of the reviewers here. It's highly anecdotal, and sometimes that's good. Sometimes, the stories left me wishing I had a scientific reference or two to back them up.

My copy doesn't have an index and I can't find the reference to "dogs have great homing instincts," which struck me as at best, ill-considered. While a few dogs can get "home" across remarkable distances, Home Again wouldn't be profitable if most could. Most dogs who get lost, stay lost. Why a very rare few are able to get home again is the mystery.

TADE is not a training book, per se, but rather a book that offers some new ways to think about how your dog thinks. While I had read quite a bit about how we and dogs process fear vs. pain differently, possibly because we can use words to process fear and they can't, I had not extended the logic to the way dogs feel love. Very useful. Love is different if you don't have words to add, "if only she wouldn't...."

If you really think about it, a dog's eyes aren't the most powerful processor they have, although, "As Rover Smells It" probably wouldn't sell. I think that's where I got a little stuck. This book is more "how a person thinks a dog processes." (I understand--my dogs can't type either, and this is a close as we may be able to get. I have a dream of being able to experience a "virtual reality dog life." Cannot imagine how the programmers would manage translating smell. My vet told me she watched a movie shot through a Chihuahua camera when she was in school and that shifted her thinking a lot.)

If you have dogs and you want to know a little more and you haven't already read everything by Patricia McConnell, you'll learn something from TADE. However, the two (IMO) great dog mysteries remain: "why do water dogs hate baths?" and "do small dogs live longer because they get touched so very much more than big dogs?"

Jennifer Arnold is the head of Canine Assistants, which provides specially trained dogs to those with life-challenges ranging from Epilepsy to Multiple Sclerosis.

The focus of Through a Dog's Eyes can be garnered through the title: how our canine friends, which have been so closely linked to humans for so long, perceive the world. Arnold is obviously up to date on the latest canine research, mentioning, for example, the recent information that indicates Humans' domestication of dogs from wolves began about 30,000 years ago - not 15,000 years ago, as previously believed. She goes into some detail about canine sensory capabilities (reduced color perception but better night vision, astonishing hearing, and sensitivity to smell thousands of times more pronounced than humans). Arnold relates many remarkable stories, from the dog that sensed a boy's oncoming epileptic seizure, to her own dog Nick, which comforted a mother whose son had just died.

This is not a book on how to train a dog, although Jennifer Arnold's philosophy of training is touched upon from a high level. Broadly outlined, her approach is one of "positive praise" (giving a treat) and "negative punishment" (withholding said treat). She does not engage in leash-corrections, alpha holds, and the like. Her commentary smashes the celebrity dog-trainers' assertions that owners must adopt the pack leader approach - and her disdain for prong and shock collars is bluntly stated (and in the experience of this dog owner, absolutely right). There are all too many "how-to" dog training books on the market, each with their own approach - but much can be learned on relating to your dog by reading this book.

Jennifer Arnold writes in a highly readable style, almost colloquial. Her obvious love for dogs comes through, as does her sincerity. There are parts of this book that brought me to tears.

Highly recommended.

If you expecting another dreary step by step book telling you how to overwhelm your dog and train them into submission this is NOT the book for you.
However, if you are interested in a well written book on understanding and relating better to your best friend--this is the book.
With a charming measure of personal anecdotes that illustrate the connections between canines and humans Jennifer Arnold explains in a common sense manner some of the mysteries.
I found me and my dog Ranger all over the book and became aware of ways I can understand him better and improve an already wonderful and deeply rewarding relationship.
This a book for dog lovers not owners. A book for people who cherish their canine friend not for people who stick a poor pup in the backyard for life.
I hope after reading this review you want to read this book, it says a lot about you if you do or don't.

This review is for the Audible download version of Through a Dog's Eyes. Jennifer Arnold has the most soothing voice I've ever heard. She tells the story of her history with dogs and how the Canine Assistance organization came about. Her method of teaching is of positive reinforcement and not based on humans being the pack leader. Her experiences with dogs are told from a kowledgeable standpoint and are heart-warming. She gives tips and instructions along the way and tries to get you to see the world the way dogs do. I loved this book and hope the author writes more material about our relationship with dogs.

Through a Dog's Eyes was a very informative book. It gave me a new perspective on my puppy. I am definetely going to use some of her techniques on my puppy. This book is full of useful information including and not limited to dog training, dog behavior, positive reinforcement techniques, dog culture, and more. I love Arnold's passion, love, and dedication to dogs and you can really tell this through her writing and techniques. Not only do you get a lot of information about dogs, you also get a back story to the author's life including why she got into a charity for service animals in the first place. So all in all you get a wonderful story with a lot of amazing information about dogs. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Please keep in mind that this book is NOT a training manual but it does have some training tips in it.

Jennifer Arnold so correctly states: "It is all incredibly simple if we just take responsibility for being the 'smarter' species and stop expecting our dogs to behave in ways that are beyond their abilities." She displays an in-depth understanding of, and love for, dogs in Through a Dog's Eyes; I highly recommend this book for anyone with dogs in their life. My only complaint about this book is that several times studies were mentioned, but no sources cited. I realize she didn't set out to make this a "scientific" type book, but sources would have been nice. Overall though, I loved this book!

This was a very informative book. Insites on all kinds of dog training a d psychology. I really learned a lot that I had been doing was the wrong approach to training. Every dog owner could glean a wealth of knowledge from this book. I will probably read this book again if not buy it to have for reference.

Ok, get ready for this author to state her opinion about everything, many, many times over. It wasn't all bad, just someone ranting on and on about their view of dog understanding, management, and training. Some of it I found quite helpful and some of it rather tedious. I got the feeling loud and clear that this author is indeed very passionate about dogs. Rather than constantly reiterating the approaches that she feels are wrong and harmful again and again, I think it would have been more effective and interesting read (as well as insightful) if she had spent more time on the things she has learned from her years experiences with dogs and how dog owners can make better bonds/training with their dogs. She got very personal with telling about her life, her dogs, and her history of working with dogs more than I cared to know. I would have liked more knowledge/experience than so much story and soap boxing.

This book is very helpful for folks who are looking to get canine help for individuals who need such assistance. It is obviously written by a dog lover and includes many ways to approach adopting assistance canines. While it apparently contains some inaccuracies, as pointed out by other reviewers, it is a handy and helpful reference book.

As a rehab foster for troubled shelter and rescue dogs, I read as many different dog training and behavior books as I can get my hands on. This one disappointed me. I think the value in this book is in the stories of heroic dogs and such, but that is where the value ends. The author contradicts herself many times. For instance, in one part she talks about someone who's dog knew better than to steal food from the tables or counters, according to the dog's owner. The author said she had serious concerns about that dog because of the owner's concept that the dog was able to know better than to do something. But later on the author herself mentions her own dog stealing snacks from a drawer and closing the drawer because he knew they would hide them better if he were found out. So on the one hand the other dog couldn't have known better (according to her "expertise") but yet her own dog could. She also tells of an incident in which a malamute visits her business and her own dog possibly thought the malamute was a wolf. Oh really? Based on what experience? Perhaps her dog mistakenly thought the malamute was a polar bear - about as plausible.

The author wants nothing to do with any dogs except a couple of breeds and even within those she limits her training mostly to dogs she has raised herself, shunning rescued shelter dogs in the process. Therefore her training experience, and behavior modification experience, is limited at best. 20 years of limited experience is still.....limited experience. While such limitation no doubt works fine for the mission of training service animals, such limiting views, experience, and methods should not be considered all encompassing with regard to the many other fine dogs out there.

The author also mentions haphazardly various theories of evolution, both of dogs and man. Apparently she believes that mankind's sense of smell diminished over time due to man having dog as a companion. Take that for what it's worth. I found it silly. And there's plenty more of that kind of drivel in the book.

The stories of dogs helping humans in the book are heartwarming and are the only reason I gave this book two stars. Otherwise, if only based on training and behavior information, it would have been a stretch to give it one star. I did read the entire book, hoping to be impressed at some point and to be fair to the author. Utter disappointment. Save your money if you're looking for real dog behavior information.

This book covers topics in which I am very interested. Unfortunately, it is more about how the author wants to see dogs than about how dogs really are. If you believe that "dogs manage to maintain an unwavering trust that human beings are good despite our occasinal behavior to the contrary" (page xiv), then perhaps you may enjoy this book. If you believe that dogs are real beings, and that some do, very much, display a lack of trust in humans, either through poor socialization, bad experiences, or genetics (or a combination thereof), then I expect you will be disappointed in this book. If you believe dogs have ESP, then you may well enjoy the chapter "Canine Mystique". I believe that dogs can be very perceptive, but I do not believe that there is "communication between each member of a group regardless of how far away they may be from one another" (page 57).

There are a variety of questionable "truths" presented throughout the book, which have been pointed out by other reviewers.

The author also seems to want to be a "martyr" for dogs. Repeatedly we are told about how poorly understood and poorly treated dogs are and the author is willing to stand up and point out the stupidity of others for the "cause" of dogs. That's great, but I'm disappoited about the self-rightousness and "holy" attitude that comes with it. For example, in the intro we are told "Those who endorse differing methodologies and whose economic interests will be threatened by my approach may well direct their wrath my way, but that will not deter me."

Overall, the book is so full of what the author WANTS dogs to be, that it is not about what dogs actually ARE. My interest is in my dogs and all dogs, but not the author's beliefs.

Jennifer Arnold gets it right on how we should respect our dogs and how to treat them. This women has done amazing things and only wants what's best for people and dogs. She has seen first hand how dogs can change people's lives and has trained them to do just that. She wants no fanfare she just wants us to treat dogs,animals,etc with kindness. This book is a must read for everyone....I LOVED it!!! Thank you Jennifer for writing such a great book!!!