The Body Language and Emotion of Dogs: A Practical Guide to the Physical and Behavioral Displays Owners and Dogs Exchange and How to Use Them to Create a Lasting Bond

Why do dogs and their woners, both social animals, often have problems? As a practicing veterinarian, Dr. Milani found that many owners fail to understand the meaning of dogs' behavioral displays. By mistaking territoriality for spite, dominant behavior for love, and making other false interpretations, owners often respond inappropriately. Many owners also fail to grasp how their own emotions and body language affect their relationships with their pets. Here, based on fascinating case histories form her own practice, Dr. Milani offers a guide that goes beyond solving dog behavioral problems.

The Body Language and Emotion of Dogs also explores the powerful emotions aroused in those of us who seek satisfactory bonds with our pets. Understanding both the social nature of dogs and also that our own emotional responses enhance the physical, mental, and emotional health of both owner and pet. Dr. Milani uses fact, practical experience, and above all, sensitivity and tolerance to help owners build better relationships with their dogs.

We learn from our dogs and trainers and vets much about how to relate better to our dogs. Milani certainly has experience and credibility demonstrated by this work that she knows how to read dog's signs and react appropriately with behavior that gives them the feedback, message received.

If you're looking for more comfortable read, see "Latchkey Dogs." Both will give similar info. This one, slightly more of a heady version without all the story format.


What a disappointment   November 21, 2000
 39 out of 45 found this review helpful

I regret to say that I agree with a previous reviewer who said that this book "turned my stomach." I bought the book because I wanted to learn about dog body language and our interpretations (or misinterpretations) of that language in an effort to improve my understanding of canine behavior.

Instead of the careful analysis I expected from a veterinarian, Dr. Milani uses anectotal examples of cruelty to dogs as her examples. She describes, over and over again, dogs who are beaten, tied outside and euthanized because their owners "misunderstand" them. Not only are the case studies anecdotal and, as such, not a useful statistical description of dog/human relations, but they are very upsetting to read. And, as a previous reviewer has stated, Dr. Milani fails to condemn the practices she describes in such great detail. In fact, she admits to euthanizing otherwise healthy dogs simply because their owners failed to change their attitudes toward their pets, take them for training or make attempts to re-home the dogs. I cannot imagine how a veterinarian could engage in such a practice.

In conclusion, my work with a breed rescue organization prevents me from recommending a book in which euthanizing dogs is called "termination of the relationship." It is a fact that sometimes dogs and owners are mismatched, but every effort must be made to re-home the dog before euthanasia is ever considered. In fact, there are several animal sanctuaries in the United States which provide permanent homes for "untrainable" or aggressive dogs.

Shame on you , Dr. Milani, for representing your book as a useful tool for improving our relationships with dogs.


Steel yourself before reading this book   February 15, 2000
 30 out of 37 found this review helpful

If you love animals, steel yourself before reading this book. In most of the "case studies" Milani gives the dogs' owners are routinely beating their animals for their mistakes or infractions -- infractions which she then analyzes in terms of "normal" dog behavior. Example after example of dogs being beaten for peeing on the floor, not coming when called, etc. turned my stomach. The worst part is Milani doesn't condemn the beatings.

In fact it's a pretty useless book. It told me very little about dog behavior, more about nutty people behavior, and the constant cruelty made me really hate the whole thing. Don't buy it!