How to Talk to Your Dog (Talk to Your Pets)

Find out what your dog is really saying -- and talk back!

How do you say hello and good-bye in dog talk? Most importantly, how do you tell your dog that you're the boss and have him adore you? Learn what different tail positions and facial expressions mean -- and much more!

Jean Craighead George, award-winning author of over 80 books about nature and animals, demonstrates in words and photos how to communicate with your best friend.

01-01 TX Bluebonnet Award Masterlist

Children's Books 2000-NY Public Lib.

"The design is part of the fun: cut-out color photos of George show her mingling with cartoon cats and dogs....these books are full of intriguing information that kids can use to make friends of their pets."--"Booklist""An easy-to-read, conversational, humorous, and informative guide that will help young dog owners communicate with their pets...The illustrations depict George interacting with various cartoon canines whose expressive and varied postures, faces, and actions are irresistible in a Jules Feifferesque way....The author's affectionate understanding of dogs is very apparent, and makes this book one that can be read just for pleasure by any dog lover, as well as for information by any child curious as to what certain actions may mean--or how to stop a dog from doing them. The final picture of George sitting on a park bench with dogs on and around her--goofy dogs, adoring dogs, stolid dogs, sleepy dogs--is a perfect portrayal of good communication.--"School Library Journal""In this companion volume to [HOW TO TALK TO YOUR CAT], George turns her lens on the canine world. Those familiar with the animal-behavior aspect of George's JULIE OF THE WOLVES won't be surprised to see her detailed examination as the author explains vocalizations, tail positions, scent and sniffing, facial expressions, and various other aspects of doggy socializing. In this book too, some of the statements are a bit misleading (not all dogs strive for dominance, for instance), but the author is clear about the heirarchical nature of dogs and the impact of human leadership ("Telling your dog he is good is his reward for living"). The mixed photography (of George, representing the humans) and illustration (anendearingly scruffy yellow mutt is the main canine representative) is again effective. Truesdell's got a gift for casually cockeyed canines: there's a Feifferesque touch to her scrawled lines, and her panoply of pooches are expressive in the extreme with their motion lines and flying ears (the collection on the endpapers will send dogophiles into sighs of yearning). As with George's cat volume, this will be an accesible and perhaps paradigm-shifting introduction for young readers.--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"Written for the age at which many children are ready for pet adoption, these informative, good-natured guides to pet behavior emphasize the importance of learning the ways in which pets communicate emotions through their actions, facial expressions, and body positions. The characterizations of animal-human relationships are grounded in their historical origins: cats and humans enter into a relationship of equals, while dogs expect a leader-follower relationship. A respect for animals is constant throughout the books--it is the responsibility of children to learn to interpret their pet's signals. In the same vein, anthropomorphic tendencies are avoided. Indeed, the full range of emotions that animals feel and express are explored and skillfully described. Carefull attention to the information provided in these books will prevent the scratches and bites unwitting children might otherwise incur when misinterpreitng or ignoring animal mood signals." --"The Horn Book Magazine"