For the Love of a Dog

Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend

By: Patricia B McConnell

Narrated by: Ellen Archer

Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

The critically acclaimed author of The Other End of the Leash offers fascinating insights into the canine mind - critical tools for a healthy relationship with a well-trained dog.

In this remarkable book, renowned canine expert Patricia McConnell answers the questions of dog lovers everywhere. Do dogs have emotions like we do? More to the point, does my dog love me? Such questions have fueled best sellers like Elizabeth Marshall Thomas' The Hidden Life of Dogs and Jeffery Moussaieff Masson's Dogs Never Lie About Love.

Sharing riveting dog stories from her experiences, Dr. McConnell also offers accessible science that clues listeners in to what's going on behind those puppy dog eyes. We learn the fascinating similarities and surprising dissimilarities in dogs' and humans' brains, and how current scientific studies have led McConnell to conclude without a doubt that dogs share a profound emotional life with us.

The information found in this book will help listeners have better-trained dogs, at the same time deepening their dog-human connections. For the Love of a Dog is a must-have for dog lovers everywhere.

"Highly recommended." (Library Journal, starred review)

©2006 Patricia B McConnell (P)2006 Tantor Media

Critic reviews

• Winner of Audio Publishers Association 2007 Audie Award, Personal Development/Motivational

"A compelling combination of stories, science, and practical advice to show how understanding emotions in both people and dogs can improve owners' relationships with their pets." (Publishers Weekly)

Must Read for Dog Owners

This book is a must read!!! I enjoyed this book most so far. I have also read other books to try to understand dog behaviors, but this one was the best by far (even if is audible format versus the graphical/print version). I was able to apply the gained insight almost instantly. I do not know if this is related to my love for dogs and the ability and/or interest to understand them or credit for this book. I enjoyed the explanations of the brain chemistry which are just professional enough not to get lost but still understand their functions.

In my personal opinion 80% or dog related problems stem from handler problems one way or another. If you are interested in understanding your dog and some of his/her actions, the causes for these actions and possible treatments, this is a must read before you consult a professional dog trainer/behaviorist. Having read this book you will be able to discuss and professionally describe the (unwanted) behavior. You may also be able to create your own treatment plan to resolve problems before having to consult a professional.

Not brain candy - but very educational

This isn't a "fun" read...but it's almost essential for any fellow dog lover. I had to buy it on my Nook (don't tell Amazon I use a Nook) - to keep up with the pictures and stuff. But it's stuck with me (particularly since I have a few Psychology degrees and she uses behaviorism and social psychology a lot in her training...)

Gastly

The tidbits of potentially useful information are so deeply buried in irrelevancies that the book is hardly worth the time.

Absolutely loved!

At first I was a little taken aback by the softness of the narrator's voice, but it soon grew on me and was very enjoyable to listen to. This is an extremely insightful book, not only about the minds of dogs, but also of people and how we connect with our dogs. There is a mix of interesting, heartwarming, and at times perilous stories that correlate with the scientific aspect of the book. I learned much from this book and enjoyed it immensely. I highly recommend it, and I plan to listen to her other books soon.

Missing Critical PDF Files

I can’t love this enough, which is why I’m so devastated by the missing PDF of the images the author refers to so often.

For dog lovers

This book is amazing if you want to better understand your dog’s psychology. 10/10 would recommend for any dog owner old and new.

A must have for dog lovers & owners

This text helps me better understand my dogs motivations, behaviors and emotions. Now I can begin to open the door to a conversation with my dogs that will last the rest of our lives and improve my understanding of all of their emotions and motivations. Thank you Dr. McConnell for this extraordinary gift.

Right on target

As a relatively new dog owner, I wanted a book that would give me some insight into my dog's behavior. This more than met my needs. It is charmingly written and very easy to listen to for over an hour at a time. Never boring, the author manages to include a lot of fairly technical science amidst charming anecdotes. The narration is flawless.

Needs photos!

Content is superb, as it always is from Dr. McConnell, however, the sudiobook version suffers painfully from the lack of the often-referred to photos. Please make this content available for download.

Fantastic book!

Do you want a better, richer relationship with your dog? Please listen to this book!