Product Description

The Other End of the Leash shares a revolutionary, new perspective on our relationship with dogs, focusing on our behavior in comparison with that of dogs. An applied animal behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell looks at humans as just another interesting species, and muses about why we behave the way we do around our dogs, how dogs might interpret our behavior, and how to interact with our dogs in ways that bring out the best in our four-legged friends.

After all, although humans and dogs share a remarkable relationship that is unique in the animal world, we are still two entirely different species, each shaped by our individual evolutionary heritage. Quite simply, humans are primates and dogs are canids (like wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Since we each speak a different native tongue, a lot gets lost in the translation.

The Other End of the Leash demonstrates how even the slightest changes in your voice and the way you stand can help your dog understand what you want. Once you start to think about your own behavior from the perspective of your dog, you’ll understand why much of what appears to be doggy-disobedience is simply a case of miscommunication. Inside you will learn
• How to use your voice so that your dog is more likely to do what you ask.
• Why “getting dominance” over your dog is a bad idea.
• Why “rough and tumble primate play” can lead to trouble–and how to play with your dog in ways that are fun and keep him out of trouble.
• How dogs and humans share personality types–and why most dogs want to live with benevolent leaders rather than “alphawannabees!”

In her own insightful, compelling style, Patricia McConnell combines wonderful true stories about people and dogs with a new, accessible scientific perspective on how they should behave around each other. This is a book that strives to help you make the most of life with your dog, and to prevent problems that might arise in that most rewarding of relationships.


From the Hardcover edition.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3838 in Books
• Published on: 2003-04-29
• Released on: 2003-04-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .54 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Amazon.com Review
The Other End of the Leash begins with an eloquently simple premise: "All dogs are brilliant at perceiving the slightest movement that we make, and they assume each tiny movement has meaning." With that in mind, all of Dr. Patricia McConnell's recommendations for communicating with your canine make immediate sense. Don't we all automatically bend forward when coaxing a dog to come and play? Break eye contact when we wish to avoid a confrontation? While these instinctive behaviors are right on target, a number of other habits aren't so positive, and McConnell helps us break them with both humor and common sense.

Chapters are categorized by senses such as sound, sight, and smell; specific pack behaviors such as dominance and play also merit their own sections. McConnell uses the same humor and patience she recommends with dogs on her readers. Whether she's referring to maggots as "a value-added commodity in canine economics" or ruminating on attempts to verbally cue her dogs to exit the house one at a time, her wise and gently self-deprecating book brings training--of both dogs and humans--to new levels. Jill Lightner

From Publishers Weekly
It matters greatly that people who love dogs understand enough about them to provide a good environment, writes McConnell (Feeling Outnumbered? How to Manage Your Multi-dog Household) in her thoughtful exposition on improving human-canine communication. An animal behaviorist and adjunct professor of zoology at the University of Wisconsin Madison, McConnell offers sound advice for dog owners: Pay attention to your own behavior. Believe me, your dog is. Drawing on anecdotes from her professional practice (she specializes in canine behavior problems), research into the work of other dog trainers and personal experiences with her beloved Border collies, the author explains how a dog might be misinterpreting signals from its owner. For example, although humans express affection through hugs, a dog may feel threatened by them. McConnell also provides tips on how to play safely with dogs (she recommends games of fetch rather than rough-and-tumble wrestling) and how to get them to do what you want (the best way to get a dog to stop demanding attention is simply to break off visual contact). She has harsh words for trainers who tell owners to establish dominance over dogs by behaving aggressively to them when they are young, and also for owners of puppy mills. These dog factories, she says, create damaged animals and unsuitable pets. This is a helpful guide for pet owners by a specialist who clearly loves her work. B&w photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap
The Other End of the Leash shares a revolutionary, new perspective on our relationship with dogs, focusing on our behavior in comparison with that of dogs. An applied animal behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell looks at humans as just another interesting species, and muses about why we behave the way we do around our dogs, how dogs might interpret our behavior, and how to interact with our dogs in ways that bring out the best in our four-legged friends.

After all, although humans and dogs share a remarkable relationship that is unique in the animal world, we are still two entirely different species, each shaped by our individual evolutionary heritage. Quite simply, humans are primates and dogs are canids (like wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Since we each speak a different native tongue, a lot gets lost in the translation.

The Other End of the Leash demonstrates how even the slightest changes in your voice and the way you stand can help your dog understand what you want. Once you start to think about your own behavior from the perspective of your dog, you?ll understand why much of what appears to be doggy-disobedience is simply a case of miscommunication. Inside you will learn
? How to use your voice so that your dog is more likely to do what you ask.
? Why ?getting dominance? over your dog is a bad idea.
? Why ?rough and tumble primate play? can lead to trouble?and how to play with your dog in ways that are fun and keep him out of trouble.
? How dogs and humans share personality types?and why most dogs want to live with benevolent leaders rather than ?alphawannabees!?

In her own insightful, compelling style, Patricia McConnell combines wonderful true stories about people and dogs with a new, accessible scientific perspective on how they should behave around each other. This is a book that strives to help you make the most of life with your dog, and to prevent problems that might arise in that most rewarding of relationships.


From the Hardcover edition.

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Customer Reviews

Read this book if you love your dog.
This is an excellent book by someone who really knows and loves dogs. The author is highly trained and experienced in the field of animal behavior and writes with heart. You will find it a very readable, enjoyable, and informative book. As a dog trainer myself, who has read many books on the subject of dogs, training, and animal behavior this is the one I always recommed. Whether you are thinking of getting a dog, or already have one or more dogs, this book will enlighten and help you to be your dog's best friend.

One of the best books ever on dog & owner interaction!!
I had farm dogs for many years - no leashes - just the basic training of manners. I have read many books over the years on dog training, but now I am in a whole new realm. I am living in the city with a dog I adopted from a local shelter, and have been reading more advanced approaches to training and behaviors,therapy dog training and use, etc., and have learned something from each book. It has been an adventure navigating from novice city dog owner (how to hold the leash, 'heel', greeting other dogs) to really understanding in depth what the relationship can be ideally between human and dog. The part about our body signals to our dogs was helpful, even though I knew some of it by experience - hat means going outside - the author took it to a much deeper level, and I am using body language in more advanced ways, whether in play or in training.
I found this book just at the perfect time for what I needed to learn to go even further in making my amazing dog be the best she can be!
Have read other books by Patricia McConnell which were excellent also, and alerted my local librarian to her books, especially for new owners. It covers everything from puppies to senior dogs and even rehoming if necessary.
Most helpful book ever!!
(Just a note about another book I'd recommend..'The Loved Dog' by Tamar Geller. Somewhat different approaches, but both about the great love and connection with your dog)

Top Five Dog Books
The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs

I have read a lot of dog books. This one is definitely in my top five. A must read for those of you who are serious about doing the right things for your furry friend.