THE BOOK YOUR DOG WISHES YOU WOULD READ

What to expect when expecting a puppy or rescue dog.

According to professional dog whisperer Glazebrook, a larger percentage of expectant dog owners than you’d imagine are unprepared for meeting their new canine household members because, she says, they go about the adoption process all wrong. They pick their dogs based on how they look and ignore almost everything else about them. “We often delude ourselves in order to justify the selection of a certain breed of dog,” Glazebrook writes. “As a species, we humans are incredibly drawn to the ‘look’ of a dog rather than its temperament, and really, it is my belief, we should be marrying the two together.” The underlying theme of the book is that dog owners need to pay more attention to the ways in which dogs are different from humans and use that knowledge to help their pets live their best lives rather than expect them to suit their own lifestyles. This book may deflate many a prospective adopter’s enthusiasm for adoption, but Glazebrook is simply reporting on her experiences with many unhappy clients (and unhappy pooches) in the U.K. and the U.S. and encouraging a more mindful approach to adopting and living with dogs to increase happiness on both sides of the equation. Toward that end, she offers her educated opinions on topics that include picking a dog to match your needs and your ability to meet theirs, interpreting body language and understanding what’s behind “annoying” behaviors like biting and chewing, engaging your dog in mentally stimulating games and adventures for a lifetime, and preparing your elderly dog and yourself for the end.

Loaded with good information for dog owners and owners-to-be.