Secret Lives of Dogs : The Real Reasons Behind 52 Mysterious Canine Behaviors

by MURPHY JANA

• ISBN13: 9781579542559
• ISBN10: 1579542557
• Format: Trade Book
• Publisher: Rodale Books

Summary

This book has called on more than 50 of the country's top animal behaviorists, veterinarians, and other dog experts to explain exactly why dogs behave the way they do. It includes real-life stories of dogs who engaged in very strange behavior, and fascinating explanations of why they did it. The dog who growled ferociously when someone approached his empty food bowl. The dog who started each day rolling in barn muck. The dog who kept unrolling toilet paper and dragging it around the house. Each chapter includes "Now That You Understand" sections with advice from top dog experts, showing dog owners how to improve the behavior of their best friends. For example, readers learn how changing their dog's food will stop him from eating grass. Beautiful photos and illustrations make this an engaging guide to understanding what really makes a dog's life.

Table of Contents

Introduction	x
PART ONE ``I've Always Done it This Way''
Ancient Instincts and Urges
Dislike Having Their Feet Touched	2	(3)
Barking at the Mailman	5	(3)
Burying Bones	8	(3)
Chasing Cats	11	(3)
Chewing Shoes	14	(3)
Pawing before Lying Down	17	(3)
Digging	20	(3)
Eating Grass	23	(3)
Licking Faces	26	(2)
Protecting Empty Food Bowls	28	(3)
Rolling in Stinky Things	31	(3)
Lying on Their Backs	34	(3)
Gobbling Food	37	(5)
PART TWO ``I Know Things That You Don't''
The Amazing Senses of Dogs
Barking at Butterflies	42	(3)
Eating Dung	45	(3)
Attracted to Vertical Objects	48	(3)
Cocking Their Heads	51	(3)
Hanging Their Heads out Car Windows	54	(3)
Afraid of Thunder	57	(3)
Losing Toys between Their Paws	60	(3)
Sniffing Private Places	63	(5)
PART THREE ``I Can't Believe That You Live Like This''
Dealing with Modern Life
Humping Legs	68	(3)
Drinking from the Toilet	71	(3)
Destroying Furniture	74	(3)
Afraid of Climbing Stairs	77	(3)
Howling at Sirens	80	(3)
Saying Hello by Jumping Up	83	(3)
Saying Hello by Peeing	86	(3)
Raiding the Trash	89	(3)
Running Around after Baths	92	(3)
Prefer Human Beds to Dog Beds	95	(3)
Unraveling Toilet Paper	98	(4)
PART FOUR ``I Like The Good Things in Life''
The Passion for Food and Fun
Like Having Their Ears Rubbed	102	(3)
Love Having Their Bellies Rubbed	105	(3)
Sitting on People's Feet	108	(2)
Biting when Playing	110	(3)
Chasing Balls	113	(3)
Chasing Their Tails	116	(3)
Chewing Sticks	119	(3)
Eating the Cat's Food	122	(3)
Prefer Rawhides to Rubber Toys	125	(3)
Playing Tug-of-War	128	(2)
Getting Wet	130	(4)
PART FIVE ``My Body Makes Me Do It''
When Anatomy Is Destiny
Avoiding Hardwood Floors	134	(3)
Doggy Breath	137	(3)
Drooling When the Food Bag Rattles	140	(2)
Licking Their Feet	142	(3)
Smelly Gas	145	(3)
Lifting Their Legs When They Pee	148	(3)
Tail Wagging	151	(3)
Throwing Up	154	(3)
Yawning at the Vet's	157	(3)
Credits and Acknowledgments	160	(1)
Index	161