The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs

SUGGESTED AUDIENCE: Dog lovers wanting to improve the relationship with their dog by understanding how dogs and primates can better communicate with one another. Back in the early 1990's, when we still lived in Wisconsin and before we got into the pet care business, Paula and I attended several dog training classes with our dogs Gus and Shed. It was not until 1994 that we found Dr. Patricia McConnell and her training school, Dog's Best Friend. This was the first class that all of us, humans and dogs alike, truly enjoyed. Why? Because of Trisha's understanding of how dogs and humans communicate and her emphasis on rewarding good behavior. Now the world can benefit from her knowledge in her new book, The Other End Of The Leash. The Other End Of The Leash is an information-packed, yet readable book. In it you will learn how to have an improved relationship with your dog through better communication. As a scientist who has studied both primate and canine communication systems, Dr. McConnell has a keen understanding of where the communication between humans and dogs often breaks down, creating frustration and stress for both species. For example, she explains how simple innate greeting patterns of both species can cause conflict. We know that when two people meet, the polite thing to do is to make direct eye contact and walk straight toward one another smiling. However, as Dr. McConnell notes: "The oh-so-polite primate approach is appallingly rude in canine society. You might as well urinate on a dog's head." The fact is direct eye contact and a direct approach is very confrontational to a dog. Dr. McConnell also emphasizes how dogs primarily communicate visually, while humans are a very verbal species. The picture she paints of the frustrated chimp, jumping up and down, waving their hands, and screeching repeatedly is only a slight exaggeration of the frustrated human, saying "sit, sit, sit, ahhhh please sit" while displaying countless bits of body language. Primates, including humans, "...have a tendency to repeat notes when we're excited, to use loud noises to impress others, and to thrash around whatever is in our paw if we're frustrated. This behavior has no small effect on our interactions with dogs, who in spite of some barks and growls, mostly communicate visually, get quiet rather than noisy to impress others, and are too busy standing on their paws to do much else with them." With these fundamental differences, it's amazing we can communicate with our dogs at all. While Trisha's book will certainly enlighten you, it will also move you. Her description of her relationships with her own animals leaves no doubt about her love and commitment. Reading her recollection of how her beloved Luke was almost hit by a car and the passing of her little Border Collie Misty had me very near tears. FAVORITE QUOTES: "If humans are understandably a bit slow at responding to the visual signals that our dogs are sending, we are downright dense about the signals that we generate ourselves." "Forcing dogs into 'submission' and screaming in their face is a great way to elicit defensive aggression. It makes sense that a dog would bite, or at least threaten to, in this context. Within their social framework, you're acting like a lunatic." "It seems very human to stay fixated on the negative: 'No!' seems to come out of our mouths as easily as breathing. But saying no doesn't teach a dog what to do, and it keeps the attention focused on it and nothing else." I highly recommend The Other End Of The Leash for anyone with a dog in their life.

I picked up this book in preparation of getting a new puppy. It's been 15+ years since I've had a dog and since I'm now part of busy family and have an active 6yo, I thought I'd need more forethought than last time, (when I picked up a dog in college with nothing more than: "Aww, cute puppy! I'll get him!"). While our last dog was a very kind house companion, she was also riddled with anxiety, not particularly warm to strangers or new contexts and never managed to learn how to walk properly on leash. Fearful and shy, it was difficult to enjoy her outside our home. We want to make sure our next dog (with thoughtful attention to puppy choosing and realistic training) can be more of a "go anywhere" dog that we can enjoy running with and taking to social activities. After reading McConnell's book (then checking out her website and youtube videos), I can see what of our behaviors exasperated the challenges and temperament of our previous dog. I consider myself a "dog person" (grew up with golden retrievers) and non-archaic in terms of my knowledge of pets, training and K-9 behavior. Nevertheless, I was astounded at how much this book taught me. Full of digestible research made accessible through real-life stories and examples (think Malcolm Gladwell meets dog behavior enthusiast), this book gave me both practical knowledge and poignant insight into the way we consider human-dog (and human-animal) relationships. I feel so much more prepared to choose a dog, socialize it well and exercise its brain and body through clear communication in the household. I also feel more empowered to ready our daughter by talking about the nonverbal cues of dogs and how she can be a loving owner without smothering a new puppy. I recommend picking up McConnell's The Puppy Primer, which we purchased at the same time as more of a "how to" guide to the first days at home, but DO NOT SKIP THIS BOOK. It gave so much more of the "why" behind the recommendations of the author in training and its an enjoyable read for experienced and novice dog owners alike!

Ich war erst etwas skeptisch und dachte, die Inhalte seien schon etwas "oldschool" aber es stellte aich bald heraus, dass es ein sehr gutes Buch ist und es klärt ganz wunderbar darüber auf, warum wir Menschen uns ggü. unseren Hunde verhalten, wie wir es tun und v.a. wie wir es besser machen können.

Tres intéressant, basé sur la recherche et m’a permis de comprendre bien des comportements du chien et permet aussi de nous faire remarquer l’impact des mots et gestes que l’on utilise dans la communication avec notre chien

たくさんの身近な例で、犬から見た人間の行動って、本当に分かりにくいものなんだと考えさせられます。犬に分かりやすい伝え方を学んで愛犬とのより良き関係に、お勧めです！

Parece mas un escrito para hablar de ella en un “talk show” que en una guia de comportamiento canino. Como Biologa que soy, pienso que si uno se dirije a compartir conocimineto a el publico, deberia hacer solo eso. Por cierto, los mexicanos no somos lo que ella describe… se regresa!

Superb book and a must for dog owners !! It gives you REAL insight as to how they perceive us and why they are not at fault most of the time- it's us !!! For not giving clear signals! A dog does not understand us when we talk in sentence to it- it just picks up on tone and the 100's of movements you make ( without even being aware ) Try standing and looking in a mirror at yourself. Keep as still as you can but smile, then frown. Now do it again but this time observe the tiny changes you see in the muscles on your face. Try doing this with some one else and ask each other to do different things but NO TALKING !! This is only a small example of what your dog sees/ only he's aware of every muscle in your body- all at the same time- no sound needed and he can work out from these changes what you are doing/ going to do. For example; How many people follow a reasonably same routine before going out each time? You might have something to eat and drink, put your dishes in the sink,go to the bathroom, clean your teeth, brush your hair etc. Then come down stairs and get your coat and bag then check your bag to make sure you have everything before picking up your keys. By the time you have got to the point of brushing your teeth, your dog has already recorgnised that you are going and leaving him and at this point if he suffers from stress this is when it starts!! The book gives you SO MANY insights!!