The Story of Your Dog: A Straightforward Guide to a Complicated Animal

The Story of Your Dog: A Straightforward Guide to a Complicated Animal

  • Downloads:8205
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-04-06 05:21:35
  • Update Date:2025-09-07
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Brandon McMillan
  • ISBN:0063040646
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

GET TO KNOW YOUR DOG。 Renowned expert dog trainer and bestselling author of Lucky Dog Lessons Brandon McMillan unpacks the unique and often misunderstood 15,000-year evolutionary history governing a dog's every move。

Most dog owners know the truth--their dogs are totally incompatible with the modern world。 Instincts like herding, chasing, and protecting have no natural outlet and frequently result in chewing, barking, nipping, jumping, lunging, and worse。 However, as McMillan argues in these pages, the solution isn't as simple as mastering "sit" and "stay。"

No matter what kind of dog you have, no matter how old or young or well trained or well-bred, your beloved companion is strongly influenced by his DNA。 The result of these genetic distinctions shows up in every inch and action--from the size and shape of a dog's head (and the brain inside it) to the length and curve of his tail, from the texture of her fur to the webbing (or lack of webbing) between her toes。 It's in their lung capacity, their tolerance for heat and cold, their appetites for food and exercise, and whether and how they bark。 It goes beyond their structure and deep into their psychological profiles。 Perhaps you're lucky enough to have a dog with more than a few breeds mixed in, which makes this information all the more crucial to know and understand。

In The Story of Your Dog, McMillan breaks down why your dog acts the way it does, so you can train better and easier, with fewer missteps and miscommunications, and bond in ways you never thought possible。 It is an invitation to get to know the sometimes frustrating but always incredible dog at the other end of the leash。

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Reviews

Liz

After years of adopting purebred lab rescues, I have found myself with a lab mix。 And the personality was definitely different。 So, I’ve been reading up on her Siberian husky traits。 Let’s just say, she doesn’t have the easy going, I’ll do anything for my human, nature that I’m used to。 Getting an advance copy of The Story of Your Dog was perfect timing。 McMillan’s supposition is that neither you or your dog is going to be happy if you try undoing hundreds of years of breeding through one size f After years of adopting purebred lab rescues, I have found myself with a lab mix。 And the personality was definitely different。 So, I’ve been reading up on her Siberian husky traits。 Let’s just say, she doesn’t have the easy going, I’ll do anything for my human, nature that I’m used to。 Getting an advance copy of The Story of Your Dog was perfect timing。 McMillan’s supposition is that neither you or your dog is going to be happy if you try undoing hundreds of years of breeding through one size fits all training。 For each group, he provides behavior challenges and possible solutions。 He initially focuses on the different groups - working, herding, sport, terrier, hound to give an overview and then provides a brief snapshot on specific breeds within the group。 He’s a big fan of mixed breeds and says that he now requires clients to have a DNA test done on their dog so he knows what he’s dealing with, saving everyone time and trouble。 He’s honest about which dogs aren’t good for novice owners or ones not willing to devote daily time to wear a dog down。 It should be required reading before someone buys or adopts a dog。 Here’s what he has to say about the herding group: “keeping any dog cooped up is like never allowing a child to play。 Keeping a herding dog cooped up is the next level, like what happens when that child is a track runner with attention issues who’s stuck in a chair by an open window on a sunny day。 The scenario just doesn’t work。” I found the book fascinating。 I learned things about my little sled dog and got some good ideas on figuring her out。 But I also enjoyed reading about other breeds - their original jobs, their background and their traits。 I recommend this to anyone who has a fondness for dogs。 This is not, per se, a training book。 McMillan wrote another book on that topic。 My thanks to Netgalley and Harper One for an advance copy of this book。 。。。more

Linden

Brandon is an animal trainer whose common sense methods impressed me when I read his last book。 Now he is talking about specific breeds of dogs (including his favorite mixed breeds which he finds in shelters and trains as service dogs)。 We must consider that some breeds have hard-wired behavior, like digging and prey drive, and work with the animals to modify their behavior instead of punishing them, which doesn't work anyway。 Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for allowing me to review this Brandon is an animal trainer whose common sense methods impressed me when I read his last book。 Now he is talking about specific breeds of dogs (including his favorite mixed breeds which he finds in shelters and trains as service dogs)。 We must consider that some breeds have hard-wired behavior, like digging and prey drive, and work with the animals to modify their behavior instead of punishing them, which doesn't work anyway。 Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for allowing me to review this advance copy。 。。。more