Outdated science

Unfortunately this is based on outdated scientific understanding of the domestic dog and human-dog interractions. Dogs are not wolves they are domesticated animals and have evolved from a shared wolf ancestor which may or may not have been exactly like modern wolves. There is also a negative sweeping statement reference to ‘positive only’ dog trainers when that label is not, or rarely, used by educated reward based trainers themselves who absolutely understand the canine species - and as with many trainers who believe punishment is needed to keep dogs in their place he denigrades the use of food as rewards whilst skimming over how reward based training actually works while insinuating having treats will stop a dog chasing squirrels without discussing the process of systematic desensitisation and counter conditioning as a technique. A facile attack on those who train successfully with reward based training. I mean seeing himself as someone his dog sees as someone who is ‘supposed to be obeyed’ is his own anthropomorphic control fantasy - not the dogs ‘Nature’. Also making sweeping blanket criticisms about ‘behaviourists’ as though educated behaviourists don’t study ethology or evolution or human psychology - they do. Lumping educated professionals with ‘self-professed’ behaviourists is very poor of the author basically discrediting everyone except himself because he’s studied wild wolves - you do not have to study wolves in person to understand domestic dogs.
The author does draw attention to an awareness gap for some dog owners who appear to overlook the domestic dog is a species that has evolved as a predator and who humanise them sometimes to the dog’s detriment but the fact remains domestication has humanised dogs to some extent - the close historical relationship between dogs and humans means domestic dogs have evolved to live in close proximity with humans which makes the relationship complex - it’s not a simple case of our dogs are wolves - they are not - their brains have changed as a direct result of the domestication process. The up to date research into neuroscience and genetics would suggest there are genotypical differences despite the authors comments.
Unfortunately due to the author bias against those who dedicate their lives to helping people and their dog relationships through the study and application of scientific findings I would not recommend this book - it is outdated in thinking and terminology and could negatively impact human-dog relations if people read this and think there is any correlation between a wolf grabbing a pup by its throat and pinning it down to how humans should best approach understanding their domestic dog and setting boundaries by training them humanely with a focus on best welfare practise.
He makes some valid points about the pet industry but his attitude toward the dog-human relationship is old school. Husky or Malamute type dogs have their own genotype profiles … he talks of working his dogs sledding but this is a very different experience for majority of domestic dog owners. Very disappointing analogies made. Should have stuck to a story of his experience tracking wolves as a kid and sledding his sled dogs … not slating the educated trainers and behaviourists who work with the average dog owner and who absolutely do understand the predatory nature of domestic dogs and educate their clients on meeting a dogs needs.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!