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A review by iffer
Meet Your Dog: The Game-Changing Guide to Understanding Your Dog's Behavior (Dog Training Book, Dog Breed Behavior Book) by Kim Brophey
3.0
This book is useful for prospective or new dog guardians in terms of communicating the important message that dogs are dogs. Brophey communicates that, a key to a harmonious and mutually-beneficial relationship with one’s dog is providing opportunities for your dog to be a dog. This sounds simple, and in some ways it is. However, many people have an idealized idea of what a dog should be like, so that when troubles arise they “just want the dog to behave,” without realizing that the dog’s physical, emotional, and mental needs have to be met in order for them to “behave.” Brophey does a good job of summarizes the general physical, emotional, and mental needs of dogs depending on their classifications (toy, shepherd, terrier, hound, gun dog, etc) and the work for which they were bred.
Some reviews criticize this book because it doesn’t give “concrete” steps for “fixing” their problems with their dog. Those people have missed the point, and they currently lack the knowledge, flexibility of mind, and relationship with their dog. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. One of the biggest things any dog trainer, whether “just” an owner or a professional, is to work “with the dog in front of you.” In order to do so, you actually have to get to know the dog in front of you, and knowing the characteristics and tendencies of your dog’s breed(s) is a starting point. Furthermore, I will say it again, because it is worth saying twice, if your dog’s physical, emotional, and mental needs are being met, they will exhibit fewer behavioral “problems.” As Brophey emphasizes, addressing behavioral “problems”/living harmoniously with one’s dog requires every moment being a training moment, because your dog is always learning. It means that living is training and vice versa, and that basic obedience commands by themselves are inadequate.
Some reviews criticize this book because it doesn’t give “concrete” steps for “fixing” their problems with their dog. Those people have missed the point, and they currently lack the knowledge, flexibility of mind, and relationship with their dog. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. One of the biggest things any dog trainer, whether “just” an owner or a professional, is to work “with the dog in front of you.” In order to do so, you actually have to get to know the dog in front of you, and knowing the characteristics and tendencies of your dog’s breed(s) is a starting point. Furthermore, I will say it again, because it is worth saying twice, if your dog’s physical, emotional, and mental needs are being met, they will exhibit fewer behavioral “problems.” As Brophey emphasizes, addressing behavioral “problems”/living harmoniously with one’s dog requires every moment being a training moment, because your dog is always learning. It means that living is training and vice versa, and that basic obedience commands by themselves are inadequate.