ALA Booklist (Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Rye rant ray rone. What's that you're saying? Oh, you want a bone! If you had trouble deciphering that dogspeak, you're in luck: this is a guide to decoding canine sounds and body language, from butt sniffing to pricked ears. For instance, "dry shaking" could mean your dog is trying to calm itself down. Belly up? That's a submissive pose, and as you might have guessed, it means "pet me, pet me." Grass eating is apparently normal, kind of like chomping on a salad. There's one behavior per spread, and with 150-plus pages, that's a lot of insight into your dog's psyche. But it's not the in-depth, accessible paragraphs that will catch your attention first; no, it's the all-out adorableness of sad eyes, floppy ears, and upturned tummies appearing in more than 100 photos. Rounding things out are quizzes, safety tips, resources, and a dog breed guide, plus an intro from veterinarian Dr. Gary, one of the coauthors. It's a good thing kids can turn to this book for help; after all, you've got to be able to understand your best friend.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

What is butt-sniffing all about, anyway? And how about scooting? What does it mean when a dog pricks up its ears? This compact guide book to dog communication demystifies dog body language and behavior using photographs of a variety of breeds. Newman and Weitzman (a veterinarian) zero in on how specific facial expressions, tail movements, barks, and other sounds connote different canine emotional states. On -the begging stare,- the authors write, -Don-t cave! That little beggar... staring directly at you while you eat is not starving. What he is doing is controlling you.- Theoretical scenarios encourage readers to take an active role in interpreting what a dog is attempting to communicate. Advice for handling separation anxiety, house training, tips, and quizzes round out a prime resource for young dog owners. Ages 8-up. (Sept.)

Horn Book (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Succinct chapters helpfully and humorously decode dog body language and behavior such as grass chewing, pointing, and peeing in the house. Sidebars and call-outs add vet tips, fun facts, web resources, and training suggestions, while appealing color photos clearly display dog language (and incidental cuteness). Appended features include a craft, a recipe for dog biscuits, and breed descriptions. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.