How to Speak Dog: A Guide to Decoding Dog Language

Nat Geo Kids Pet Guide

by Aline Alexander Newman, Gary Weitzman

Do you speak dog? How to Speak Dog is a fun, informative, and photographically driven book that helps kids understand what their dog is trying to tell them through body language and behavior. Super-engaging dog photography, along with National Geographic Kids' signature bold and bouncy design, helps illustrate the key canine concepts. Quick-hit tip boxes, fun facts about mankind's best friends, and informative sidebars from the experts enliven the text. Readers young and old will respond to the irresistible call of the canine in this delightful book that will warm hearts and wag tails everywhere--a must-have in every home where pups are looking for love and understanding.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Childrens, Dogs, Science, Juvenile, Middle Grade

176 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2013

About the author

Aline Alexander Newman is a National Geographic author of seven books. Two of her non-fiction chapter books, APE ESCAPES and ANIMAL SUPERSTARS, have won the ASJA Award for best children's book of the year. And ANIMAL SUPERSTARS was also named to Amazon's list of the "Best Books of 2013" for children ages 6 to 8. Both are also available as @RecordedBooks. HOW TO SPEAK DOG, which Aline co-authored with Gary Weitzman, DVD, won the Animal Behavior Society's Most Outstanding Children's Book award for 2013. It appeals to all ages and led to her adopting a big, black Lab that she and her husband found abandoned on a country road. The dog's name is Moose. A companion volume is called HOW TO SPEAK CAT. When not chasing Moose around, Aline loves making school visits and inspiring kids to read and write. Her newest book for Nat Geo is called CAT TALES. Released in April 2017, Kirkus says "it is like an Internet kitty video in book form."

Reviews

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son has been reading this one out loud to me for his homework. It's adult-informative and kid-friendly, combining solid facts and stories with cute thought bubbles and pictures of dogs doing funny things. A good resource into various dog behaviors and what they (might) mean.

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. This is one I wouldn't mind reading again and would probably go back and skim a lot if I owned it. I liked how everything was written. Easy to understand and fun with some very shortened stories that were interesting. A lot of this I didn't know. I'm glad I've read this and would recommend it to anyone who has a dog or is going to get one. It doesn't take long to read and there is a lot of info. The pictures were really good and the captions cute. I liked how the book was laid out too. The end has some cool tidbits about dogs in general and some of the breeds. Definitely worth the read and it didn't feel like a study sesh whatsoever! Completely Enjoy...and feel a little more smarter afterwards! ;)

[Claire Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informational and useful. Many people have dogs and it's very fun to learn about them. To learn what their signs mean is very interesting.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book answers many questions that children (and adults) have about dogs. Each topic is covered in a two-page spread, with big, colorful photographs and short narratives that are informative, but not boring. Most pages have small blurbs of trivia, 'dialogue', or additional information about the topic.

I learned quite a bit about how dogs communicate and became better aware of some of their signals. We have several dogs in our family and have first-hand experience with many of the ways in which dogs communicate with each other and with their humans.

So, although nothing I read was earth shattering or completely new to me, it was a good refresher now that we've adopted a puppy. Through books like this and the puppy training classes we attend, we are learning how to train her in positive ways and avoid the bad habits and dispel the old wives tales I grew up with.

The section on 'Doggie Demeanors' includes links to videos and other images of dogs displaying the behavior described in each section. Unfortunately, many of the links are broken. Other sections in the back of the book offer suggestions for crafts, a recipe for homemade doggie treats, a quiz, an index, and additional resources for further information and guidance.

Overall, it's an interesting and informative read. I enjoyed reading the book, although I could only read a few sections at a time.

interesting quotes:

"One if five Dalmatian puppies is born permanently deaf."> (p. 51)

"A dog can smell half a teaspoon of sugar dissolved in an Olympic-size swimming pool full of water." (p. 69)

[Carolyn F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is marked as a child's book but I really think it could be an anybody book. It reads simply but not childishly, describing a dog's body language and their language itself and what it could mean. Quick read. Couple of helpful hints. I was hoping it would have a magic section on how to get your dog to stop barking at everybody, but I discovered the cure at least for my little miniature tooodle? perrier?. I was in the car waiting to pick up my daughter after a football game at her high school (I support the team distantly). My little dog would not shut up and they were turning into piercing barks. "STRANGERS!! OH MY GOSH THERE'S ANOTHER ONE!!! LOOK MORE STRANGERS!!! UGH!!!" all in dog. I kept trying to calm her and finally circled her muzzle gently with my thumb and forefinger, saying in a low voice, "No barking." She start again, I'd put my fingers around her muzzle and say in a low, calm voice, "No barking." After about 20 times, she started to get it. There were some mumbling growly noises, but not the crazy barking. So, maybe I should write a book! "Carolyn Experiments on Her Dog".

[my · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally, I picked this up from Goodwill in Fairmont, West Virginia. That has nothing to do with the book, but I think it's cool.

My girlfriend and I were finally committing to adopting a dog, so it was the perfect time to read this! I'd recommend it to anyone that wants to learn more about dogs and how they communicate, whether a dog owner or not. Each page or set of pages covers a single topic, so it would work well as a coffee table book, bathroom book, something to read on the subway, etc. The accompanying pictures are also great! Who doesn't enjoy looking at cute dogs?

But the main attraction is the content! The content is pretty good for what it is. There is certainly some fluff, but treating it as a high level introduction to dog language and behavior I have no particular complaints. I feel many people misunderstand dogs due to anthropomorphizing them and the information presented can be really helpful in clarifying reality versus assumptions. For example, why don't dogs love being hugged? Of course some do, but understanding how dogs communicate helps inform why hugs can hinder that and cause unexpected reactions.

It's also worth mentioning there are various parts of the book intended to directly engage the reader, and these are really great! Each section has a part that describes a real scenario with a real dog that challenges you to reflect on the material and consider why the dog's behavior is what it is. As is reality, the answers aren't always clear! Also, there's a quiz at the end to further test the reader's comprehension and understanding of dog language. Good stuff!

Last bit I'll mention, there's a factoid about where the name "Labrador Retriever" originates from, and it is totally not what I guessed!!!

[Ethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that Show dogs actions.I love that shows all kinds of dogs.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite dog book but I did learn some new things 👍🏽

[Jaxson Seyfert · Rating 5 out of 5]

very informal if you want to be a dog trainer or just trying to train your dog.

[Teresa Scherping Moulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what your dog is trying to tell you? Dogs communicate some things by barking, but they communicate a lot more via body language! Their ears and tail are especially expressive. But how do you know what it all means? Look no further than this book. Learn the secret behind such dog behaviors as freezing in place, howling, pricked ears, and more. By knowing what your dog is trying to say, you can be the best dog owner possible. And by reading the body language of dogs you don't know, you can stay safe and make new friends. A must for dog lovers!

This is a really cute introduction to understanding dog behavior. I picked this up because the boyfriend and I recently adopted a dog who's been in a shelter most of her life. Sometimes her behavior was confusing me, but I've learned a lot from this book. It's co-written by a vet who's also the president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society, so as far as I can tell it's pretty accurate.

I would recommend this book to grades 3-7, especially dog owners and dog lovers.

[Rebekah Waggoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informational
5th-7th

As an adult I can say that I wish I knew about books like these when I was a child because I have always loved dogs. This was such a fun read for me and I think had I known about it when I was younger I would have loved it just as much. Though it is simple it is not at all childish and I feel that it is a good one for middle graders to read. I loved learning about the dogs language and what some of their body positions mean. I honestly did not know a lot of this even though I have had dogs my whole life. I loved the illustrations and how colorful they were. I really enjoyed this book a lot.

[Hope Irvin Marston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very young dog lovers will enjoy the colorful photos of dogs in action. Middle-grade readers will learn many interesting facts about what their actions mean. (We adults will, too.)

One caveat for you adults: If you believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, you will need to discuss with your young readers pages 10-11 where, contrary to what the Bible tell us, the opening statement says the earth is five million years old. On page 79 you'll read: "Human ancestors had tails." That's contrary to Genesis 1:26-27.

[Samarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informational
5th-7th

As an adult I can say that I wish I knew about books like these when I was a child. This was such a fun read for me. Though it is simple it is not at all childish and I feel that it is a good one for middle graders to read. I loved learning about the dogs language and what some of their body positions mean. I honestly did not know a lot of this even though I have had dogs my whole life. I loved the illustrations and how colorful they were. I really enjoyed this book a lot.

[Debra Daniels-Zeller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun look at dog language--body language, barks and other noises they make. This is a short read, but for anyone considering getting a first dog, this might be a good book to read. It also includes websites, tips on teaching your dog, veterinarians' tips, and a brief history of dogs and people from ancient Egypt to now. It has activities you can do, recipes you can make, basically this little book has just about everything.

[alexander shay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to questions about dogs that kids have, but less informative to adults who have had them. There are a handful of things that I didn't know why my dog did them, and that was neat to find out, or to get confirmation on suspicions about certain behaviors. But for some reason I expected a little more from it, for it to include more than it did. Not necessarily word wise since it is geared towards kids, but content wise.

[Felix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily digestible, quick read. Could be good for an older kid to learn about canine body language, or even as a jumping-off-point for adults.

Some of the photos don't show the described state perfectly, and there some nuance missing to the book, so I only give it 4 stars. Still, great overall! The text focuses on keeping things simple and clear, and the visual guides to each behavior/state make this book valuable.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for children about 9-15 years old. Each spread details one dog behaviour (tail tucked in; a play-bow; eating grass; ears back; rolling in something smelly; howling), what it looks like, what it means, and in what situations a dog will display that behaviour. It includes photos on every page showing the behaviour, and one part includes links to videos of dog behaviour.

[Alwin Ng Tsz Wai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learnt a lot about communicating with dogs and the way to treat them properly in this book. For example, it tells us the meanings of different movements of the dog tail. If the tail is down and between the back legs, then it means the dog is scared. If the tail is bent upwards, then the dog thinks there is danger and it will defend itself. I think that this book is very useful especially for a dog owner, as they have to understand what their dog is saying to help it.

[Jason Kinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of pictures of dogs! And so much good advice about which dogs are cool, which dogs ain't. Dogs don't lie, that's a well-known fact.

The dog pictures are a very good reminder that dogs come in many sizes, although they are all basically the same shape (dog shape), so it would not be correct to say they come in all shapes and sizes.

[Rachel Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book I found at a local thrift store. As a Veterinary Technician student this book was still a useful read. This book is a National Geographic treasure. Not only is there useful facts inside this find has amazing graphics. Any animal lover would enjoy this treasure

[Julia Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I read this I was 5 then I read it when I was 7 then twice when I was 11. It has really helped me with my own dog and other peoples dogs. For instance it shows you that different breeds may react different to people or why a dog does something and what they need/want.🐕

[Luna Hourani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think How to Speak Dog, by Aline Alexander Newman, is an amazing book that tells you a lot about dogs. This book breaks down the basics of what dogs do. This book will teach you a lot about dogs and their behavior. I recommend this book to anyone who owns a dog.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book about how to understand your dogs emotions, and the actions that they do and they give you tips on how do act when your dog is jumping on you or having an accent on your rug.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has excellent illustrations and description of dog's posturing and behavior and was a very helpful resource.

[Mary Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great! Fun pictures, interesting content and layout! A must read for dog lovers!

[mint :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a lot of information on dogs that I didn't know. I liked all the colored pictures and stories. In all this is a good book for research on dogs!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really good. It was nonfiction but it was actually really fun and easy to read. Now I am ready for a new dog😃

[Prundeanu Ciprian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and has cute pictures of dogs.

[Avi · Rating 4 out of 5]

good loved the imformation helped with my dogs

[Cloey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very informative. I liked that this book has training tips when training your dog!