Dogs Behaving Badly: An A-Z Guide to Understanding and Curing Behavorial Problems in Dogs

There is but one topic for each letter of the alphabet and, thanks in part to the limited and lacking index, requires practically a cover-to-cover read to find all of the potentially useful topics in this book. Dog behaviors are like allergy symptoms in humans, no two dogs will have the same set of defects in their behavior. It's a waste of time to have to page through each of 26 chapters highlighting and focusing on your own dog's behavior, while tripping through chapter after chapter of other people's dog's problems.

Perhaps the worst part of the format is the series of chapters idiotically placed where other dog behaviors wouldn't fit. I? Imprinting problems (what?). K? Kissing. Q? Quarreling (doesn't that require the dog to be able to speak?). G? Geriatric Behavior Problems. X & Z? I'll let you ask somebody else, because you might not believe it from me. Come on, Dodman!

We bought three books to help us through our newly-adopted dog's troublesome first few weeks at home, and this is completely useless by comparison. The other 2 books we bought were 'Help for your Shy Dog' by Deborah Wood and 'The Dog Whisperer' by Paul Owens & Norma Eckroate. Both of these books have much better info, arranged for readers who aren't interested in random, sometimes bizarre topics.


Ya gotta love Doc Dodman!   September 5, 2000
 5 out of 7 found this review helpful

I got this book after reading Dodman's other amazing work, "The Dog Who Loved Too Much." Where that book was mostly empathetic tales of disturbed dogs, "A to Z" is more educational -- but it still has inspiring anecdotes that keep it entertaining. I think Dodman is the Konrad Lorenz of the '00s: He is (seemingly) the first person to recognize that dogs have the same neurobiology as humans, and that they respond to the same medications and therapy (in dog terms, training) methods. Seriously -- penicillin works in both dogs and people... Why not Prozac?


An A-Z guide of excellence!   September 3, 1999
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I have now officially read all three of Dr. Dodman's anecdotal and informational works, and it is astounding how much he can compile into his books and still keep them so richly entertaining.

This A-Z guide covers everything from aggression to zoonosis...literally...and each chapter delves into a new problem. I read this book before I started veterinary school at Tufts (where Dodman is the resident behaviorist), and it really helped introduce me to the common problems owners may face with their pets. He even goes into some of the medical treatments used to approach difficult cases representing each of the behavioral syndromes.

If you are puzzled by your pet, this book is an easy-to-read, clearly explained introduction to whatever ails him/her. It is especially helpful if you are seriously considering consulting a animal behaviorist. You'll have a great advantage if you already know how these problems are manifested and treated.