The Dog's Mind (Pelham Dogs)

My three dogs eat with me, sleep with me and walk in the door first, (unless I ask them to wait!). They are all well trained using positive reinforcemant and I never have any problems with them.

It really is about time we got out of this 'pack leadership' theory, my dogs are living proof of the fact that it is not relevant.


Understanding the dog   October 6, 2002
 4 out of 6 found this review helpful

Excellent reading. Would recommend for anybody wanting to understand dogs that little bit more. Brilliant insight into senses, the brain and communication. It also breaks down the dogs development stage. As a dog trainer this helped me gain better understanding of the dog and the way it sees life. A must for anyone who wants to learn more than pet owners.


Brilliant!   May 12, 2001
 13 out of 13 found this review helpful

Being a dog owner (Basset Hound) for the first time, I have found this book invaluable. It really does give you an insight into the dog's mind and also offers solutions for certain problems such as separation anxiety! A definite must for all dog lovers!


Why isn't there a zero-star option?   April 2, 2001
 33 out of 46 found this review helpful

If you didn't already know that a dog's sense of smell is much better than yours and if you want a list of which breeds are suitable for different situations, this might be useful. There's quite a lot about the dog's brain, including references to unnecessary and disgusting vivisection experiments, but very little about mind. The book is badly planned with bits of training-manual-type stuff stuck in at random. Having read the whole book I'm none the wiser about how my dogs' minds work. Try reading 'The Dog Listener' by Jan Fennell. Jan has a simple theory (that dogs behave like wolves) and a simple set of ways for you to interact with your dog so that you reinforce your position as 'top dog', to everyone's benefit. It all makes sense, and seems to be working with my slightly wayward lurcher.


In depth analysis of the workings of the dog's mind.   February 26, 2001
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

This is a fine detailed study into the anatomical processes that occur within the brain of the dog, both wold and domestic, with referral to pet dogs and their cousins. It explains how nerve impulses react to stimulate and the reaction that then occurs in response, thus leading to certain actions by the dog. This understanding leads to a greater knowledge of why the family canis acts in the way that they do. The book is a little sciencific, but for the amatuer just wishing to appreciate their dog, it is a good read with clear text. Ideal for any students of veterinary science, dog behaviour and training. Highley recommended.