Dogs Behaving Badly

Dr. Dodman, expert animal psychologist and acclaimed author of "The Dog Who Loved Too Much", takes 26 intractable and irritating dog behavioral problems and offers easy-to-follow treatment plans to cure each one.

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Dr. Nicholas Dodman, bestselling author of The Dog Who Loved Too Much--praised as "the most important book on dog behavior of this century" by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas--has written the book every dog owner has been waiting for: an authoritative and practical A-to-Z guide to understanding canine behavioral problems and what we can do about them... Dogs Behaving Badly.With wit, wisdom, and compassion, Dr. Dodman gets us inside the minds of our pets to learn what makes them do the crazy things they do. From aggression to zoonosis and just about everything in between, he tackles such common problems as nipping, tail chasing, excessive barking, and garbage scavenging, as well as more difficult conditions that often defy explanation--not to mention treatment.Drawing on the latest research in canine behaviorism and pharmacology, in addition to case histories from his own practice at the prestigious Tufts University Veterinary Center, Dr. Dodman offers easy-to-follow, effective techniques for curing even the most destructive behavioral problems. We meet Tucker, the bluetick coonhound who went berserk over sounds ranging from a ringing doorbell to a falling leaf, and Maggie, the German short-haired pointer who suffered from increasingly severe false pregnancies and fiercely guarded a stuffed toy. We learn how an underexercised Border collie can become a compulsive overeater; how a dominant Doberman can be getting the wrong, and potentially disastrous, messages from its owner; why dogs jump on people (and why saying no isn't the answer); and why some dogs suffer from separation anxiety while others may be getting more attention than they want.Here are simple, sensible,step-by-step instructions on diet, exercise, environment, and lifestyle changes any pet owner can safely implement to effect seemingly miraculous improvement in their dog's behavior. In addition, Dr. Dodman provides an extensive appendix of behavioral techniques as well as essential information on pharmaceutical treatment and how to recognize a problem that requires professional help.As he did in his classic The Dog Who Loved Too Much, Dr. Dodman proves once again that when it comes to caring for man's best friend, he's the best friend we have.