Strengthening Our Bond with Man's Best Friend: A Guide to Deepening Our Connections with Dogs

MJZemore: This book caused me to stop and think about things differently. Her stories provided excellent examples of her points and ways of seeing things. She has a wealth of knowledge and insight. I feel her book was written from her heart, experiences, perspective and the things she has learned from living and working with animals. I have had dogs my whole life and done very well training them but this gave my perspective a shift I want to carry with me. If you want a much deeper relationship with your animals I would highly recommend this book. I stopped reading two chapters, 17 and 19. I began reading them but stopped and skipped to the next chapters. I’m too tender hearted to finish reading Chapter 17. My take away from what I did read is to follow my heart and not someone else just because they have a title, trainer, behaviorist etc. Chapter 19 is about living and lose and has some good things in it from what I did read, but I recently lost my dear sweet friend and my heart couldn’t take it. Overall it’s a great book and I would recommend it.

United States on Aug 20, 2023

GS Leader: I love this book. I bought the audio version, then bought the print version too so I could share it with my husband (he doesn't do audiobooks). Suzanne Clothier, through storytelling of her own experiences as a dog trainer, and with laugh-out-loud humor (yes, I actually laughed out loud!), has created a wonderful guide to understanding the mysteries of how a dog's mind works. It's so interesting (and helpful!) to understand the dog's point of view and how we as humans can learn to communicate with them in dog.

If you're going to buy one book on dog communication, this is the one to buy!

United States on Aug 09, 2023

Amazon Customer: Highly recommend

Canada on Jul 14, 2023

Laurie: I haven't even finished this book yet and I already have 5 people in mind to gift it to! I am keeping my copy to read over again. It's such a lovely book, full of insights and information that opens your heart and mind to try, experiment, and have fun with learning to understand your individual dog to create a beautiful relationship that is so rewarding for both parties. It is beautifully written, as a reader it is very hard for me to put down. A must have gift for yourself or other dog lovers you know. It's definitely on my favorite list.

United States on Jul 09, 2023

Den Allen: Very enjoyable and well written book. Its unusual for this kind of genre, because it outlines ways of promoting a close, intimate relationship and understanding with your dog (and with other animals) rather than simply offering "training tips". Suzanne Clothier's ethos is to treat all animals with love and respect and she gives many examples of the stupidity and ignorance (-my words, not hers) of some owners and trainers in how they deal with their dogs. In particular the damage done by the unwitting brutality of those who maintain dogs are really just wolves in dogs clothing and "need to be kept in their place at all costs" (very sad that anyone out there might still believe that).
A deeply spiritual book and a must read for dog owner's, dog owners-to-be and people who are just interested in the topic of relating to other beings.

United Kingdom on Oct 10, 2014

books rock: I was so excited about my new golden retriever puppy. I was going to be the perfect pet owner and everyone said that they are so easy to train and so pleasant. Imagine my surprise when my beautiful pup had a few hiccups. I read dog books and dog training books voraciously, but Ms. Clothier's book managed to make me stop in my tracks. It changed everything for me. I now see Rocky as a relationship that must be nourished and understood. Therein lies the trick to a better situation. Once I changed my point of view, I wasn't so caught up in "training", rather it was about the communication and opportunities to practise in a patient , steady manner. It has worked. This book made me stop and think so many times. It is a wonderful book. I cannot say enough about it.

Canada on Mar 10, 2014

Sexyetti: I too feel that dogs over the years have taught me important things about respect, compassion and the way they view the world. I didn't buy this book thinking it'd be a training manual, I wondered if she had the same feelings as me about dogs. I'm so pleased to say I wasn't disappointed. Some of the mistakes she had made, I too had made and the guilt will always stay with me but to put it down to experience and never make the same mistakes again was always an unspoken promise to the pooches I've been privileged to know whilst growing up and moving into my own home. I've had times in my life without my faithful friends and life isn't the same. From adopting 'problem' pooches to taking on two puppy siblings, they've always been a joy to watch and learn from. I only wish I wrote this book, I'm with Suzanne on this totally! I too have watched other people's mistakes and seen the fear and disappointment in dogs eyes when they've been unfairly punished. How loyal pooches are to still love their owners and greet them at the door, despite human mistakes. What a lesson in forgiveness and accepting imperfections.

United Kingdom on Feb 21, 2012

Crysania: I've read a lot of dog books and I think this book is one of the best. Clothier writes in a way that I find it very easy to connect to.

The basis of the book is respect, love, compassion, and understanding. Clothier draws on her experiences with her own dogs and with her client's dogs to tell stories that illustrate each of her very well- explained points.

I think the main point of the book, what the book was trying to tell the reader from the beginning and through to the end, came on page 222 with one simple phrase: See the dog. It's something Clothier points out a lot of people don't actually see. They see something that has to be pushed down and dominated. They see a human in fur clothing. They see a bundle of unconditional love. But they don't actually look at and see the dog itself, the dog as a dog. And through that, a lot of miscommunication happens.

She also focuses on dogs as spiritual beings and believes that we can learn a lot from them, from the way they interact, from their body language. At one point she tells a story about a friend who got angry at her and was berating her, shouting at her, and how she wanted to walk away, shout back, get angry...

United States on Apr 01, 2011

A. Butterfield: Though not a training manual, this book teaches you to appreciate your dog for himself and trains you to watch out for subtle canine signals which your dog is always sending out to try and communicate with us if only we'd listen. It makes sense really, we all know that a bite comes after a raised lip, then exposure of teeth and possibly more signals before this final desperate step to get you to pay attention.

There is much more than aggression to this book of course and I know I'll read it again when I need reminding to lose my ego and 'See the dog'. It has changed and deepened my relationship with my dog in such a way that I wasn't reading the book thinking the author had magic powers I couldn't possibly imitate.

Possibly the most enjoyable, practicle and life affirming book I have ever read.

United Kingdom on Feb 11, 2007