Dogs are from Neptune

By Jean Donaldson

Description from Amazon:  But people are on another planet! Dogdom’s most influential dog trainer and behaviorist, Jean Donaldson, is back with a newly revised and expanded edition of her popular Dogs are from Neptune. In 41 essays, Jean highlights the common and frequently wrong-headed notions people have about why dogs behave the way they do, and explains what really motivates your pooch and how to change behavior. Jean’s innovative ideas are delivered via quirky and witty but always scientifically-based essays will help create Aha! moments for every dog lover on earth. If you loved Jean-s best selling The Culture Clash, you will enjoy learning more about the dogs who inhabit planet Neptune and the people who don’t!

Your dog is from Neptune. Narrow the gap by learning more about:

• The truth and power of consequences and how you can use them to train your dog.
• The best ways to deal with common problem behaviors including guarding, separation anxiety and fear.
• Why you should be skeptical of anyone whose training techniques and philosophies sound appealing but cannot be backed up with scientific evidence.
• Dispel common myths associated with using food in training, dominance and whether playing tug with your dog really encourages aggression.
• While we may be on different planets, learn how the fundamentals of behavior apply equally to dogs and people.
• Why it seems that owners become more attentive trainers when they dress their dogs in costumes!

Note: Whenever possible, I have supplied link to the author’s “book store” (click on book’s image). If not available from author’s store, I have linked to Amazon. Most of the books included in our recommendations are also available from Dogwise. If you shop at Amazon, don’t forget to check out their AmazonSmile program where Amazon donates a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization.

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I think I speak for a good many dog trainers when I say if we could wave a wand and instill one idea in dog owners, it would be that dogs must be motivated in order to do what we want. There is a widespread presumption of intrinsic motivation and it corrodes the training process every step of the way. As soon as one buys into the idea that the only necessary task in training is making one’s wishes clear to the dog because he naturally just wants to please us, legions of dogs are doomed to be labelled some version of stubborn, stupid or dominant, when they are behaving exactly the way a properly functioning living organism should. 

JEAN DONALDSON