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Dog Language 3th (third) edition Text Only
Dog Language tells us why dogs do what they do and how we can express ourselves so that our dogs can understand us better. It is a systematic book, ordered alphabetically with 293 entries and 94 beautiful drawings illustrating over 150 different dog expressions. First published in Scandinavia in 1986 as Hundesprog', this book became a great success and has since then helped many thousands of dog owners, instructors, behavior students, and veterinarians to understand dogs. Now available in English, the present edition of Dog Language is an updated, highly revised and enlarged version of the original Hundesprog'.Following the traditions of the school of ethology founded by Konrad Lorenz, Dog Language is based on many hours of research, observation, and study. Dog Language is a no-nonsense book, written in a modern, uncomplicated style—a book for all readers with interest in dogs, wolves and other canids.`Dog Language is a book that will benefit anyone interested in what makes our dogs tick. It is a must for the professional dog handler or behaviorist, as well as any pet owner. Dog Language is well organized and written in a clear, easily understood manner. The beautiful illustrations help to explain what our canine companions are trying to communicate to us and each other. This is a rare opportunity to tap into the talent and expertise of a well known canine ethologist.' Sandy Myers (President of Narnia Pet Behavior, member of the APDT and NADOI)`If we are to understand the domestic dog's natural behavior, we must appreciate his social heritage and the adaptive significance of his many complex behavior patterns. Roger Abrantes' book Dog Language provides this knowledge, and presents it in an easy to use and understand format. This encyclopedia of canine behavior is absolutely a must for all serious students of canine behavior and training!' Linda P. Case (Lecturer in Companion Animal Science, University of Illinois, Dept. of Animal Science)
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First published November 27, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 16, 2009
Don't think that "encylopedia" is some sort of euphemism for a book covering the ins and outs of canine behavior in this particular book. It's not. It's exactly what it says it is -- an encyclopedia, with each item listed alphabetically and cross-referenced. I expected it to be the former and was somewhat disappointed to find out that this one can be billed as "truth in advertising."
This book covers most everything in regard to canine behavior, but everything is just barely touched upon. Sections on important elements are often reduced to mere paragraphs. There's ultimately nothing wrong with this, as it makes this book a really good, solid introduction to canine behavior for anyone who knows little about it. I've read a lot on dog behavior and knew most of what was in this book in far greater detail than Abrantes seemed to want o go into, but I would recommend it to anyone who has a dog and doesn't know much about how they communicate. It's also excellent as a resource, just something to keep on the book shelf and look up concepts as needed. Its layout with multiple references (Escape - SEE FLIGHT) makes it an easy book to look up something quickly and easily.
The best section for me, personally, was the section on ethology (the science of behavior). He gives a rundown of ethology through the ages, starting with Aristotle and moving into modern theories. While it goes into only small details on each theory, it opens up the possibility of exploring more into the various ethology theories throughout the ages. I'm most interested in the writies of Augustinus (354-430) and Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274), both of whom believed animals have feelings. I find it amazing that someone from over 1500 years ago believed animals have feelings, but some modern people do not!
I took issue on the author with only a couple small things. He emphasizes (almost to the point of overemphasizing) that dogs cannot be fear aggressive, but rather that fear equals flight. I simply don't find this true. When cornered, a fearful animal will lash out, turn to "fight" rather than flight, because it's the only recourse left. In this case I think it's quite correct to say the dog is acting out of fear. Abrantes, however, says that a dog can be both submissive and aggressive. I find that these two are contradictory. If a dog is being submissive, it cannot be aggressive -- they're showing deference, placating a more dominant dog. I found this sort of change up to be a little odd.
My other very small quibble is that he describes a joyful dog as having a closed mouth. He never once mentions the open-mouthed "grin" dog owners all know so well. It seems odd to leave this aspect out, while bringing up most everything else about a dog's expression (including the dogs who smile by lifting the mouth up and showing their teeth in an imitation of a human smile).
Other than those two issues, I think this book is a great one to have on the shelf as reference or is a good book to read for new dog owners.
This book covers most everything in regard to canine behavior, but everything is just barely touched upon. Sections on important elements are often reduced to mere paragraphs. There's ultimately nothing wrong with this, as it makes this book a really good, solid introduction to canine behavior for anyone who knows little about it. I've read a lot on dog behavior and knew most of what was in this book in far greater detail than Abrantes seemed to want o go into, but I would recommend it to anyone who has a dog and doesn't know much about how they communicate. It's also excellent as a resource, just something to keep on the book shelf and look up concepts as needed. Its layout with multiple references (Escape - SEE FLIGHT) makes it an easy book to look up something quickly and easily.
The best section for me, personally, was the section on ethology (the science of behavior). He gives a rundown of ethology through the ages, starting with Aristotle and moving into modern theories. While it goes into only small details on each theory, it opens up the possibility of exploring more into the various ethology theories throughout the ages. I'm most interested in the writies of Augustinus (354-430) and Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274), both of whom believed animals have feelings. I find it amazing that someone from over 1500 years ago believed animals have feelings, but some modern people do not!
I took issue on the author with only a couple small things. He emphasizes (almost to the point of overemphasizing) that dogs cannot be fear aggressive, but rather that fear equals flight. I simply don't find this true. When cornered, a fearful animal will lash out, turn to "fight" rather than flight, because it's the only recourse left. In this case I think it's quite correct to say the dog is acting out of fear. Abrantes, however, says that a dog can be both submissive and aggressive. I find that these two are contradictory. If a dog is being submissive, it cannot be aggressive -- they're showing deference, placating a more dominant dog. I found this sort of change up to be a little odd.
My other very small quibble is that he describes a joyful dog as having a closed mouth. He never once mentions the open-mouthed "grin" dog owners all know so well. It seems odd to leave this aspect out, while bringing up most everything else about a dog's expression (including the dogs who smile by lifting the mouth up and showing their teeth in an imitation of a human smile).
Other than those two issues, I think this book is a great one to have on the shelf as reference or is a good book to read for new dog owners.
August 17, 2009
This book is a useful reference guide but more scholarly than practical.
July 2, 2012
Premessa: possiedo l'edizione italiana,assente nel db, e al momento misteriosamente desaparecida dalle mie librerie. In attesa di un recupero o un riacquisto commento quella in inglese.
Scritto con i consueti rigore e precisione scandinavi, il libro si fa perdonare l'eccesso di schematismo.
Apprezzabile il rifiuto dello psicologismo sciatto e dell'antropizzazione, notevole l'umiltà con cui si confessano nicchie di ignoranza.
Si parte da un breve excursus nella storia del canis lupus familiaris per poi analizzare le salienze comportamentali di quest'ultimo anche attraverso il costante rimando al suo nobile antenato, il lupo.
Estremamente puntuale, esaustivo e preciso nell'esaminare le varie voci, l'autore fornisce una panoramica a trecentossessanta gradi del linguaggio canino, dotandoci di preziosi strumenti interpretativi.
Il potenziale neofita potrà valutare con oculatezza quale razza scegliere ovvero se è il caso di soprassedere per dedicarsi a bestiole meno impegnative e toste quali il gatto; il padrone esperto per meglio comprendere o apprendere aspetti sconosciuti poco chiari del suo "migliore amico".
Di sicuro a lettura ultimata, non si potrà non restare impressionati dal fatto che un essere nettamente superiore a noi per forza, prestanza, capacità di reazione e mediazione, voglia comunque restare accanto a qualcuno che, spesso, lo vede attraverso i propri occhi e secondo le proprie aspettative, raramente per ciò che è.
p.s. non sorridete mai a un cane sconosciuto, penserà che gli state mostrando i denti! ;-)
Scritto con i consueti rigore e precisione scandinavi, il libro si fa perdonare l'eccesso di schematismo.
Apprezzabile il rifiuto dello psicologismo sciatto e dell'antropizzazione, notevole l'umiltà con cui si confessano nicchie di ignoranza.
Si parte da un breve excursus nella storia del canis lupus familiaris per poi analizzare le salienze comportamentali di quest'ultimo anche attraverso il costante rimando al suo nobile antenato, il lupo.
Estremamente puntuale, esaustivo e preciso nell'esaminare le varie voci, l'autore fornisce una panoramica a trecentossessanta gradi del linguaggio canino, dotandoci di preziosi strumenti interpretativi.
Il potenziale neofita potrà valutare con oculatezza quale razza scegliere ovvero se è il caso di soprassedere per dedicarsi a bestiole meno impegnative e toste quali il gatto; il padrone esperto per meglio comprendere o apprendere aspetti sconosciuti poco chiari del suo "migliore amico".
Di sicuro a lettura ultimata, non si potrà non restare impressionati dal fatto che un essere nettamente superiore a noi per forza, prestanza, capacità di reazione e mediazione, voglia comunque restare accanto a qualcuno che, spesso, lo vede attraverso i propri occhi e secondo le proprie aspettative, raramente per ciò che è.
p.s. non sorridete mai a un cane sconosciuto, penserà che gli state mostrando i denti! ;-)
April 25, 2015
If you are interested in reading about dog behavior and its roots, as well as how it is represented in modern canine and how to read or interpret it's behavior you may want to put the book down. If you're hoping that this book flows smoothly and is very informational in that it gives personal accounts, definitely skip this book.
If you are looking for a quick reference to a certain canine behavioral word, then pick up this book and read away.
Wonderful illustrations though, and explains every behavior vocabulary very clearly.
If you are looking for a quick reference to a certain canine behavioral word, then pick up this book and read away.
Wonderful illustrations though, and explains every behavior vocabulary very clearly.
July 12, 2021
I read this book in preparation for my CCPDT certification exam.
This book is a semi-decent dictionary for any terms related to dogs. It does not go indepth into actual dog language and its complexities, much to my disappointment. It is also a bit outdated considering it was written over 20 years ago. I really didn't like how often it referred to wolf behavior considering domestic dogs and wolves, though sharing a common ancestor, are two different species and there really is no purpose in studying wolf behavior to better understand dogs. I wouldn't recommend this to casual dog owners as there is very little to gain from it. I can only see it as a decent spot to look up a quick, but lacking, definition for something if you don't have access to the internet. Don't do what I did and read this cover to cover.
This book is a semi-decent dictionary for any terms related to dogs. It does not go indepth into actual dog language and its complexities, much to my disappointment. It is also a bit outdated considering it was written over 20 years ago. I really didn't like how often it referred to wolf behavior considering domestic dogs and wolves, though sharing a common ancestor, are two different species and there really is no purpose in studying wolf behavior to better understand dogs. I wouldn't recommend this to casual dog owners as there is very little to gain from it. I can only see it as a decent spot to look up a quick, but lacking, definition for something if you don't have access to the internet. Don't do what I did and read this cover to cover.
January 24, 2024
3’5 ⭐️. Me ha parecido un poco repetitivo, creo que por el formato en el que está narrado a modo de “diccionario”. Pese a eso me ha parecido un libro muy interesante y que facilita bastante el entendimiento básico del comportamiento canino. Es un libro que recomendaría a todos los propietarios de un perro, incluso antes de tener ninguno.
September 9, 2017
Very informative helped me greatly with my college work
March 21, 2019
Good and informative.
August 10, 2020
A must have for those that work with dogs, with illustrations. A great resource.
Want to read
November 28, 2008Need to get this one.
July 18, 2025
Great resource for body language.
July 6, 2016
Not the easiest format to read (as an encyclopedia) but well researched and filled with pictures.
April 10, 2019
Worth reading as a follow up to 'The evolution of canine social behavior' to understand more deeply terminology used within the book, also addition terms useful within any canine or animal behavior study/interest. Illustrated too.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews