Embracing the Wild in Your Dog: An understanding of the authors of our dog's behavior - nature and the wolf

by Bryan Bailey

Some time ago, dogs became as interwoven in the American culture as baseball, apple pie and the Fourth of July. In fact, in most households, the dogs have even trumped evolution itself and jumped straight to being four legged humans where they are adorned with human names, designer outfits and fed diets that would confound even the best nutritionist. In most cases, we've granted them our human intelligence and our sacred human emotions as well. They are no longer dogs to us, they're family! Yet, for all that man has done to carve the wolf from the wild to create a surrogate human, today's dog is still a wolf at heart and the accompanying instincts borne from such ancestry defines how the dog approaches its world.

The ontogeny of anthropomorphism, where we attach our human traits to our pets, is the most damaging and paralytic problem associated with dog ownership today. Believing in a fairy tale world where dogs possess the same moral consciousness and sense of altruism as attributed to humans has led to a drastic increase in leash laws, dogs being outlawed in a rising number of city and national parks, some breeds being banned in several states, an alarming escalation of aggression to humans, a rising cost in homeowner and business insurance, and a record number of clinically maladaptive dogs.

This book is not a training book. It does not cover obedience topics such as heel, sit, down, stay, and come. Instead, it's about righting the ship of American dog ownership by changing our perception of our dogs. It is about the author growing up in the Alaskan wild under the tutelage and guardianship of a Special Forces survival instructor who introduced him to the ways of wolves and the similarities they shared with dogs. It is about the wisdom and splendor of nature and the many life lessons she provides. Mostly, it about developing a deep understanding of the authors of your dog's behavior; nature and the wolf. In doing so, you will truly learn who and what your dog really is and the whys and hows of its behavior. You will learn the tools that nature gave them to survive and coexist in both the mountains and in our homes. You will learn how activating and deactivating natural impulses and mechanisms in your dog will lead to the harmonious existence and the control you always dreamed of.

Most of all, you will come to embrace the wild in your dog and the grace and the peace that is breathed into its acceptance.

Genres: Nonfiction, Dogs, Animals, Evolution, Psychology, Self Help

174 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 27, 2015

About the author

Raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, Bryan Bailey grew to appreciate the wildness of the land and its abundant wildlife. In particular, he developed a fondness for the gray wolves that roamed the vast mountain ranges and forests near his home. Under the guidance of a Special Forces Survival Instructor, he spent years studying the social interactions of wolves in their packs and discovered that, beyond obvious physical similarities, there were also
behavioral similarities between the wolves and the sled dogs that were his family’s pets.

Bryan has traveled to Europe, Africa, the jungles of southeast Asia and the remote regions above the arctic circle in his lifelong pursuit of studying
social predatory behavior with an emphasis on how instinct, passed from the gray wolf, has affected the behavior of our domestic dogs.

Served in the United States Navy 1977-1993. As a member of the elite bomb disposal team, Bryan served as a trainer and supervisor for the highly classified U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Projects, “Short Time”, an enemy combatant swimmer/diver detection and neutralization program utilizing dolphins; “Bottom Look”, an enemy mine detection and neutralization program utilizing dolphins; and “Quick Find”, a ASROC (Antisubmarine Rocket) and SUBROC (Submarine Rocket) detection and recovery program utilizing sea lions.

Graduated from ProTrain Professional Dog Trainer’s Academy. Earned designation as a Master Trainer in the areas of Obedience, Personal Protection and Narcotics and Explosive Detection. 1987-1990

Owner, Canine Companions, Inc., Bloomington, Indiana. Professional dog training, boarding, and veterinary hospital. 1993-2012

Honor graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, 1995.

Supervised the Monroe County Sheriffs Department police K9 narcotics detection, criminal apprehension, and search and rescue teams. 1995-1998

Advisor to DAD/DAC (Dogs Against Drugs/Dogs Against Crime) and USPCA (United States Police Canine Association). 1995-2000

Selected by Indiana Department of Health and Social Services to train service dogs for children with Muscular Dystrophy. 1998-2004

Interned at Ely, Minnesota International Wolf Center and studied wolf behavior under the instruction of renowned wolf ethologist, L. David Mech. 1998-1999

Interned at Battleground, Indiana Wolf Park and studied wolf behavior under the instruction of renowned wolf ethologist, Erich Klinghammer. 1999-2000 and 2002-2003

Achieved certification as a Veterinarian Technician. Provided assistance with canine exams, lab work and performed anesthesia during surgical procedures at Canine Companions Veterinary Hospital. 2003-2010

Studied hyena and lion social behavior at the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya Africa, Hyena Research Project. 2006

Studied Hyena social behavior, Uganda, Africa. 2007

Studied wolf behavior, Denali, Fairbanks and Brooks Mountain Range, Alaska. 2006-2010.

Co-owner, ProTrain Memphis, LLC. and Taming the Wild, LLC. 2012-present

Bryan is married to Kira Bailey and resides along the banks of the Mississippi River in Memphis, TN.

With over thirty years of education and experience studying wolves and other predators, Bryan has become a Master at understanding how nature has influenced the inner workings of the canine mind. Taking his cue from nature, Bryan utilizes her lesson plan to shape the behaviors in our dogs that are necessary for them to conform to our human existence. By doing this, and accepting the dog for the domestic wolf that it is, Bryan produces a dog that responds to his owner’s commands with not only steadfast reliability, but with the spirit and vitality of the wolf.

Reviews

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com

I love that the author used Native American sayings at the beginning of each chapter.

To look into the eyes of a wolf is to see your soul. Just be sure something you want to view is there ~ Iroquois saying



I really loved this book because the author talks about my two favorite things: Wolves & Dogs.



The author lived in Alaska growing up and had a mentor that taught him about wolves and the wild. He incorporated these things into dog training, looking at your dogs inner wolf so to speak.

The author and his wife own a training facility to help people with their dogs by training them like the wolves train their families. I think this is an interesting concept.

Some clients would come to him and not listen and their poor dogs would get put to sleep by court order from biting someone. It's sad, but it happens. They thought he was crazy because he didn't use regular methods of training or explaining about your dog. Here's the thing, why don't you try it to see if it works. Hello people!



The bottom line is to see the inner wolf in your dog, treat them both with respect, and love them both :)

*I would like to thank NETGALLEY and the wonderful publisher, SMITH PUBLICITY, for putting this book on my shelf to read as part of October's Adopt A Shelter Dog Month and in exchange for my honest review.*

[Claire Reviews · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review: Embracing the Wild in Your Dog by Bryan Bailey Published by: Fastpencil Inc (24th September 2015)
 
Source: NetGalley
 
ISBN:  978-1619334717
 
Rating: 1.5*
 
Synopsis:
Some time ago, dogs became as interwoven in the American culture as baseball, Apple pure and the Fourth of July. In fact, in most households, dogs have even trumped evolution itself and jumped to being four legged humans where they are adorned with human names, designer outfits and feed diets that would confound even the best nutritionist. In most cases, we've granted them our human intelligence and our sacred human emotions as well. They are no longer dogs to us, they're family! Yet ask that msn had done to carve the wolf from the wild to create a surrogate human, today's dog is still a wolf at heart and the accompanying instincts borne from such ancestry defines how the dog approaches its world. The ontogeny of anthropomorphism, where we attach our human traits to our pets, is the most damaging and paralytic problem associated with dig ownership today. Believing in a fairy tale world where dogs possess the same moral consciousness and sense of altruism as attributed to humans has led to a drastic increase in leash laws, dogs being outlawed in a rising number of city and national parks, some beds being banned in several states, an alarming escalation of aggression towards humans, a rising cost in homeowner and business insurance, and a record number of clinically maladaptive dogs. 
 
This book is not a training book. It does not cover obedience topics such as heel, sit, down, stay, and chime. Instead, it's about fighting the ship of American dog ownership by changing our perception of our dogs. It is about the author growing up in the Alaskan Wild under the tutelage and guardianship of a Special Forces survival instructor who introduced him to the ways of wolves and the similarities they shared with dogs. It is about the wisdom and splendour of nature and the many life lessons she provides. Mostly, it is about developing a deep understanding of the authors of your dog's behaviour, nature and the wolf. In doing so, you will truly learn who and what your dog really is and the whys and hows of its behaviour. You will learn the tools that nature gave them to survive in both the mountains and our homes. You will learn how activating and deactivating natural impulses and mechanisms in your dog will lead to the harmonious existence and the control you always dreamed of. Most of all, you will come to embrace the wild in your dog and the grace and the peace that is breathed into its acceptance.
 
Review:
Goodness, I'm not entirely sure where I should start. Parts of the synopsis I agree with, more parts I most definitely do not. Where the author grew up, together with his experiences and culture have clearly influenced his opinions about the similarities between dogs and wolves. I'm willing to bet that should he have been born elsewhere, his views would be entirely different.
 
As a multiple owner of dogs rescued from certain death at the hands of man, this was always going to be a hard sell to me. I've seen with my own eyes how much psychological  damage and distress can be caused by human's improper treatment of dogs. There is a part in this book that concerns the author's refusal to work with a woman to help integrate a rescued pitt bull into her family, which included 3 other rescued dogs. He refused because he considered that the new dog (who he suspected had been used for dog fighting) was not a 'good fit' with the household; let's just say the consequences were deadly. The author also mentions that thinking 'there are no bad dogs, just bad owners' is short sighted. He's obviously never rescued a 'bad' dog from being euthanised and seen the fantastic progress that can be made using positive reinforcement.
 
While I may not agree with many of the author' points of view, there were a couple of parts that made interesting reading, once I'd ignored all the author's prejudices. As I'm not American, I'm not up to speed with some of the laws around dogs and other statistics, I'm pretty sure that 'believing in a fairy tale world where dogs possess the same moral consciousness and sense of altruism as attributed to humans' is not responsible for the alleged 'drastic increase in leash laws, dogs being outlawed in a rising number of city and national parks, some beds being banned in several states, an alarming escalation of aggression towards humans, a rising cost in homeowner and business insurance, and a record number of clinically maladaptive dogs'. I'd like to know how the author arrived at these conclusions and, indeed, where he got such information.
 

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This honest and direct memoir combined with dog behavioural account brings home to us the fact that wolfish thoughts and actions are still part of the dog's makeup. Dogs have been domesticated for so long that they look to humans, but some dog breeds, like huskies, are far closer to the wolf and more independent. The author, a dog trainer, warns that some dog owners treat their dog like a child, when this can lead to unforeseen events and even to tragedy. I enjoyed the quotes, most relating to wolves, at the head of each chapter.

The author grew up in Alaska and explored the bush country with a mentor who was a Special Forces soldier and survivalist; from this man he early learned to track wolves and observe their behaviours. These are great stories if a bit chilling at times. The author tells us that he went on to handle K9 dogs for the police, treating them with respect as he had treated his sled dogs but making sure he was the leader. A wolf wants to be a leader or follow a leader. The dog is no different.

On the topic of dog training we don't get any direct lessons on how to make your dog behave, which I consider a lack. I suggest that if a dog of any size is used to ruling the roost and jumping anywhere he wants to go, you could lock him in a room by himself or tie him safely for an hour alone. This teaches him that no matter how he barks he can't make the owner set him loose. He has lost the dominant position. Praise when an animal does the right thing is much more important than abuse when he doesn't, but you must let the animal know what is good and what is bad. As the author tells us, some owners can't stop a dog from racing out into the road to chase a squirrel. He blames the multi-million dollar pet industry for this lack of knowledge; see what you think. Pets live longer and are healthier because petfood is better. But I never dressed up any animal as a person.

And despite enjoying the book very much, I warn that there are some potentially upsetting aspects. I agree that it is never safe to leave a dog alone with a small child. Dogs see small children as not the same as adult humans, more like an animal rival, especially crawling babies (four-legged) or tail-tugging toddlers (pesky cubs). A wolf will naturally use its teeth to discipline a cub; a dog may too. Some dogs whose fighting instinct is close to the surface will seek to eliminate a potential rival, whether another pet or a child. The author gives some extremely distressing accounts of an adopted rescue dog 'going bad', to show that we can't expect a dog to change its nature just because it is now in a loving home.

Readers may like to team this book with 'Julie of the Wolves' by Jean Craighead George, 'The Hidden Life Of Dogs' by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, and any horse training book by Monty Roberts.

[M.M. Strawberry Library & Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be incredibly fascinating and informative. Personally, I'm a cat person - have always been, and always will be - but when offered the opportunity for this book, I figured I'd broaden my horizons and learn something new. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, and I was blown away.

The author has incredible insight, but then he speaks from experience. He brings up many, many valid points, including warning us against seeing animals as people. He does stress that animals deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, but again, they are not human, so we can not hold them to the same standards as we do other humans. Animals do not understand things the same way we do, and when we understand that, it leads to a lot less grief.

He tells us several stories and concrete examples of the wolf in the dog, and how this affects dog behavior, and what owners can do to understand that inner wolf so that they can live a good coexistence with their dogs. I don't own dogs, but relatives of mine do, and I've spent some time around various dogs - some well trained/behaved, others, not so much. Reading this book has given me a better understanding into their behavior, and also their owners.

Though this book is about canines specifically, I can see how much of this information can also be applied to cats, who, like dogs, are descended from apex predators and carry the instinct within them. Like dogs, cats can attack children (or babies) who get into their space and make them feel threatened. And like dogs, cats suffer at the hands of owners who fail to understand the reason for this behavior, among others. The author highlights other behavior which owners may see as "bad", such as a older dog pinning down a younger dog to teach it its place within the hierarchy. Humans would see this as abusive, but the older dog isn't actually hurting the younger dog, any more than a human parent is hurting their children by giving them time out.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book, whether you're a dog or cat owner/lover, as this book offers much valuable insight into nature and animal behavior. I have definitely learned several things which will help improve my interactions and understandings with dogs in the future.

[Rob Slaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

As is typical, I received this book free in exchange for a review. Also as usual I'll be absolutely candid about it because I buy books too and I certainly wouldn't want to get a stinker when I think I'm getting something great.

The nutshell view on this book is that it's not only a book about dog behavior but also the personal journey of the author during his childhood in Alaska. Either of the intertwined narratives could stand on its own but together they make for a pretty engaging duo.

To the positive, the book has a lot of key information to convey about dogs and their behavior. It lays out in great detail the disservice we're doing to our pets when we treat them like furry humans and gives the background needed to hopefully convince us of our folly. The author's personal story meshes well with this message as he spends his early years under the tutelage of a survivalist in the wilds of Alaska and living with the animals about which he's writing. The viewpoint is fresh, vibrantly written and has the deep ring of truth to it.

The only negative, which could be negative or positive depending on your view, is that it does have a strong streak of Native American mysticism to it. Each chapter is commenced with a quote from our wise predecessors on this continent and they tend towards the more spiritual rather than scientific view on animal behavior. To me, they compliment the other contents wonderfully but those who do not share my view on the wisdom of Native American teachings may find them rather ponderous. Further, it should be pointed out that this is NOT a book written to help you train your dog. The lessons here are conceptual in nature and not specific to any behavior. It won't help you teach your dog to sit but it may help you figure out WHY he refuses to.

In short, in reading this book my mind turned to all the people I could give it to that might appreciate it and would benefit from it. I wish I had a half dozen copies to hand out because this is powerful insight that needs to be in the hands of dog owners everywhere. Properly framing the relationship between human and pet would make every dog in human care a lot happier.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embracing the Wild in Your Dog: An Understanding Of The Authors Of Our Dog's Behavior - Nature And The Wolf considers the relationship between domestic dogs, wolves, and humans, and is a recommendation for any dog owner who seeks a discussion of the differences and similarities between dogs and their wolf brethren.

This isn't to say that Bailey claims that the wolf and the dog share the same characteristics: he's careful to point out where their heritage links and where it diverges, and also analyzes human influences on a dog's personality, traits and development. Coming from a canine trainer with more than enough experience in obedience, this means that Embracing the Wild in Your Dog isn't so much about control techniques as it is about understanding the wild nature of the domestic dog and how to redirect these natural tendencies to tailor aggression and change undesirable habits.

That said, the 'wolf' in a domestic dog isn't something to be dominated so much as something to be embraced: it's this process of acceptance and fine-tuning that leads a canine trainer to the type of control that syncs with a dog's nature, resulting in harmonious interactions for all involved.

This is not a 'dog training' book, however: readers who approach it as such may be disappointed. It's about understanding a dog's underlying psyche, its sources, and how to interact with the animal with this knowledge in mind; and the approaches use the author's experience growing up in the Alaskan wild and his encounters with wolves as the starting point for such an understanding.

Unique in its approach, filled with the author's insights ("…I changed how I handled Ranger and became a bit of a wolf myself in doing so."), and considering how leadership is established between species, Embracing the Wild in Your Dog is a delightful blend of memoir and insights into wild and domestic animal alike, and is highly recommended for canine owners who seek more animal psychology than the usual 'how to train your dog' book offers.

[Chuck O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read in a very long time. As a police K9 S.W.A.T. member and former military working dog handler, I have handled and trained dogs for nearly 25 years. In that time, I thought I had gained an immense knowledge of canine behavior until I read Bryan's book. Now, however, I realize I was operating in the dark and I was guilty of making some of the very assumptions in regard to my dogs' behaviors that Bryan states are detrimental. In fact, I can recall two instances in my professional handling career where I was bitten by the dog I was handling because I perceived the circumstances completely different that what either dog obviously did. If I had read Bryan's book prior to these moments, not only would I have not been bitten by either dog, but both would have performed far better in their duties.

This book will not be a favorite to those readers that are not capable of an open mind or can't manage to overcome their own agendas or personal prejudices for the sake of their dogs or other readers. This is certainly understandable given the subject matter of the book. However, for a reviewer (a professional one at that), with absolutely no professional experience in regard to dog training or handling, to call into question the judgement of this incredibly experienced author in matters such as dog aggression with deadly consequences, is unbelievable and speaks volumes of the lack of credibility of the reviewer.

If you care about your dog and the relationship you share with it. READ THIS BOOK! You will not be disappointed from the very second you read the first sentence. Unlike your typical non-fiction, this book reads like a novel packed with adventure, emotionally charged stories of Bryan's time with his mentor, and REAL information that will forever change (for the good) how you view your dog.

[Lynda Dickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book recounts the author's experience of growing up in the Alaskan wild under the tutelage of his mentor, a Special Forces survival instructor who taught him to understand how nature and the wolf contribute to the behavior of dogs. The author's upbringing had a direct impact on his philosophy on dog training, which is based on the tenet that dogs are really wolves and behave as wild animals. This belief is reinforced by the author's personal accounts of tragic events caused by dog owners who treat their pets as humans and expect them to behave like humans.

I found this book very interesting because it supports my husband's approach to training our dog - and he was the best-behaved dog I have ever seen. I also enjoyed the great photos and quotes at the beginning of each chapter. However, I have one suggestion for the author: hyperlink the footnotes. I also would like to have learned more about the author's training techniques, but I can understand that each case is individual. Interested readers can visit the author's ProTrain Memphis website to find out more about his training programs.

One thing is certain. After reading this book, you will never look at your dog the same again. "You will come to know the wolf in your dog."

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...

[Kasey Cocoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading through this book and ended up reading it again later on. The layout is nicely done with pertinent information in each section. I like how you get a bit of personal story in with the information about wolves and dogs. I'm familiar with a few theories on how you should work with dogs and I've shared my life with several breeds, including a half-husky-half-wolf which took special consideration and understanding. That said, I found this book to have valuable information that applies to all canines with insight into the 'why' of their behavior. This book makes an excellent gift for anyone who has decided to share their home with a dog. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion, although my current rescued canine resting her head on my arm while I type away may have influenced my adoration for all canines, especially wolves.

[Icy-Cobwebs-In-Space · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: EMBRACING THE WILD IN YOUR DOG by Bryan Bailey

Wow!! Never your ordinary dog book here! Bryan Bailey comes barreling out of nowhere (actually, out of Nature and evolution) with an entirely new standpoint. That dog you think you own (in my case, they own me) is not just some domesticated, human-trained creature, here for its owner's delectation. Sorry: that "dog" is a domestic wolf, product of millions of years of evolution; and as Wolf is, so is Dog. 

Author Bailey advises: look at Nature! Examine Wolf behavior! Here is where you will find the template for your Dog-- not by studying human behavior and interactions. It's definitely an education in which I intend to engage.

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Not certain how to deal with this, but this book has seriously changed my mind about dogs and people. Well written and worth the time, if you have or want a dog, I can’t recommend this enough.

[Viga Boland · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give "Embracing the Wild in your Dog" by Bryan Bailey, ten stars in every category, I would. Never before have I read a non-fiction book that enlightens, disturbs and inspires all at once, and leaves me wondering if I even took a breath from the time I opened the book.

As I read the last page and checked Bryan Bailey's biography, I let out an audible sigh. If the sigh could speak, it would say brilliant and breath-taking.

"Embracing the Wild in your Dog" is both of those. It is also a memoir and an instructional book. But its premise and its concepts may not be embraced or welcomed by all who cannot think of that little fluffy puppy in their laps as a wolf. But he is...at least instinctively, and Bryan Bailey makes sure you know that by the time you're finished reading.

As soon as I'd read the first few chapters, I began looking at my little Shorkie, Duffy, through a different lens. I realized that when he first took a light nip of my grand-daughter's lip and our gut reaction was to yell at Duffy for his bad behaviour while we wiped away her tears, that Duffy's reaction to having his neck grabbed in a hug constituted a threat and he was merely issuing a warning...as his now very distant forebears, the wolves would have done. I have now learned that no amount of breeding these "fur covered humans on four legs" is going to breed out the wolf in him. As an Indian chief explained to the author's mentor, "Because a dog carries a wolf inside of him, he also carries the wolf’s prints. The wolf goes with him everywhere he goes." Sadly, today's dog owners live in denial of this truth. As a result, children and adults are being bitten and dogs are being euthanized, while vet bills and law suits drain bank accounts because we dog lovers don't want to acknowledge the wolf in our dogs.

"Embracing the Wild in your Dog" by Bryan Bailey is also the story of a boy growing up in the harsh Alaskan climate and learning about survival from a soldier who had learned the same from studying wolves. At one point, this soldier took an accidentally self-inflicted bullet to his neck while the two were trekking in the frozen north. Weak and bleeding profusely, he continued the journey because the wolves had taught him that to lie down was to die. Yes, this book is all about being tough and that adage: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going".

When Bailey shares stories like this or others about what happens in nature when animals face possible death, "Embracing the Wild in your Dog" becomes far more than just instructional: it is the beautifully moving memoir of a young man and his mentor. At times, readers may find themselves arguing, even outraged by Bailey's stance on how to raise and enjoy your beloved dogs, but I guarantee that after reading this book, you will never look at your dog again in the same way. The next time little Bella is being a "naughty doggie" you will find yourself questioning whether it is Bella, or you, who needs to be disciplined.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some people may embrace the message of this book, while others may run screaming into the wilderness to get away from it, but nearly everyone who reads it is bound to have a strong reaction of some sort.

The anecdotes from the author's childhood in Alaska were vital to forming his approach to working with dogs, so I liked reading them to see what lesson his mentor taught him in each situation. Likewise, the anecdotes from his time working as a trainer illustrated his approach and the different types of clients and problems he has worked with professionally.

The author's knowledge of wolf behavior is something that many of us cannot hope to replicate, and he acknowledges this point. But we can follow his reasoning that treating dogs as small furry humans can lead to trouble. Every time he talked about owners who dress their dogs up and inundate them with toys and treats, I kept picturing a scene from the Nora Roberts book, The Search. In her book, the protagonist is a dog trainer who also runs a search and rescue unit. One of her clients has a very spoiled small dog who goes crazy and barks and attacks any dog that comes near. The trainer tells the owner that the dog sees herself as alpha of the pack and is defending her territory and place in the pack hierarchy. To prevent lawsuits and injuries the owners need to reclaim that alpha position. Mr. Bailey says much the same thing - if owners don't want their dog to bark at or bite other dogs or humans, then the owners must establish their place as the dominant ones in the relationship and have the dogs look to them for cues on how to react in a situation.

Bailey's chapter that discusses his views on rescue programs and no-kill shelters is sure to rile up some readers. He admits that his statements may make people think he dislikes all such programs, but that it is not true. He simply thinks there are dogs who cannot be safely worked into the human world and trying to do so will cause injury, heartache, and perhaps even death (of another pet or a human), or lawsuits. He gives several examples to support his point.

Overall this is a fascinating read and provides a lot of food for thought and discussion. It is comparable in some ways to a book I read years ago about the hidden or secret life of dogs (sorry, I can't remember the exact wording). That book also talked about things like the pack hierarchy that forms when you have several dogs. Embracing the Wild in Your Dog goes into more descriptions of situations that have gone wrong because the humans did not exert dominance when they should have.

If you are looking for a manual on how to train your dog, this is not intended for that use. If you are looking for something to read that will cause you to re-examine your beliefs and behaviors toward man's best friend, then you have found it.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

[Crittermom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Embracing the Wild in Your Dog is for the most part a book written with great insight into how we neglect the wolf at the heart of our domestic companions. By neglecting their origins, we misinterpret natural behaviors. By applying anthropomorphism we weaken what would otherwise be a mutually beneficial relationship.

The quotes at the start of each chapter were well selected, and the descriptions of Bailey's early experiences helps the reader to understand how he acquired his knowledge of the wild.

Where Embracing the Wild in Your Dog falters is in its vehement attack on what is commonly thought of dogs as pets and the nature of training. So much energy is devoted to attack in the first third of the book, that it is likely to alienate readers to the extent that they stop reading - whether they agree with Bailey or not. People who would be persuaded by later portions may not read past the beginning. Bailey has many extremely valid points, but they at times get lost amidst the insults.

The other weakness is that while he points out instances where common training responses are wrong, he does not provide examples of a correct response. Even in a book that is not a training book, it is important to explain comparatively how to respond with the wolf in mind. Turning away and ignoring a jumping dog is wrong - what would be a better response? Examples help the reader to understand. Punishment is a natural part of learning in wolves, ok how is it best implemented when training dogs? What is the difference between effective punishment to correct behavior and wrongful application of force?

I was reminded a bit of an infomercial. Ie. Our product will solve all of your dog’s behavioral issues. We can give you lots of examples where other products fail and show you lots of happy customers. We won’t give you specifics, because then you won’t buy our product.

Embracing the Wild in Your Dog is a promising book, but needs work. In future, I would recommend Bailey eliminate or reduces the repetitive attacks, focus on content, and provide more specific examples so that readers understand more of how to change their actions. It is all well and good to see the wolf in your dog and know you need to act differently, but if you don't have any concrete examples of correct behavior you are still at a loss.

Regretfully I can't rate Embracing the Wild in Your Dog more highly. It needs too much work. I do, however feel that Bryan Bailey has a great deal of insight and a valuable message to get across. I look forward to seeing what he writes in future.

3/5

I received a copy of Embracing the Wild in Your Dog from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

See the wolf inside your dog
http://muttcafe.com/2015/11/embracing...
11/23/15

[Patricia Reding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite at www.ReadersFavorite.com

Rarely does a book come along that so positively mesmerizes me that I read it from start to finish in a single sitting. Yet that is exactly what I did with Embracing the Wild in Your Dog, by Bryan Bailey. Bailey opens the story with a reminder that with man’s domestication of the wolf to today’s “dog,” he changed the environment of the creature. Even so, dogs have retained the same base instincts that nature originally provided the wolf. Buttressing his approach to his theory of dog owning and training, Bailey tells of his childhood mentor, a U.S. Army Green Beret. A tough man, he challenged his protege to solve problems on his own, to rise to overcome the stresses that life was sure to put in his path, and to learn from the nature that surrounded him. With heartfelt stories of his mentor woven throughout, Bailey instills upon his readers, the same life lessons, if they will but hear.

With a daughter involved in the dog-training world, I’ve been introduced to a wide variety of training theories, concepts, tools, and approaches. But Bailey reassured me that some of my most base instincts about our own family pet are completely valid and that I ought pay careful attention to them. In this way, Embracing the Wild in Your Dog provides pertinent information to all dog owners. In telling his story, it is almost as though Bailey inhabits the body of the creature he teaches us about. He guides readers to an understanding of a dog’s most basic needs, and he explains how our domesticated “wolves” behave in a manner intended to meet those needs. Bailey used what I would call a “creative non-fiction” approach to the work. That is to say, that although his main intent is to provide information, he does it in a way that paints a picture of the world he wants his readers to see. That picture becomes a living, breathing canvas of color, sound, and even feelings. Bailey’s work is truly worthy of the attention of others—and in my estimation, of an award or two! If you are a dog owner, this one is definitely worth your while, so wait no longer to get your copy!

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embracing the Wild in Your Dog by Bryan Bailey is an interesting book that readers will find fascinating. A man bringing the truth and ways of the wild nature of both dogs and wolves to people. Facts that we wouldn't know unless someone pointed them out to us, and yet, Bryan Bailey teaches us how to look and find our own answers. Demonstrates the relationship of wolves and dogs and our different perspectives on them as well. Lessons we learn and will continue to learn as we progress further into this stunning read.

Embracing the Wild in Your Dog is not like any other book I have read. It's like White Fang but in a more educational purpose than entertaining. However, as a reader, I did find this unique book entertaining. Especially when Bryan Bailey has to guess exactly the number of wolves that walked on a single path waiting to see if he failed answering his mentor correctly. I can almost feel myself there in Bryan Bailey's shoes sensing the cold nature around me. Feeling the cold numbness chilling my body as I am trying to track and and learns what my mentor knows. Survival is the overall theme in this book as well as dogs are wolves at heart and will always behave like wolves. If we can come to understand wolves, then we can come to understand our dogs better and know to live in harmony. Dogs can be the best friend a human has ever known until an accident occurs that surprises you. Then you're left wondering how did this happen and why? It's because we humans have long forgotten the way of the wolves and our dogs are wolves at heart. Moter nautre gave them instincts that will always be imprinted inside their nature. Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers everywhere. It's one journey every dog lover will enjoy taking. Learning and rediscovering wolf/dog relationships guided to us by Bryan Bailey. His experiences are ones that should be passed onward to others. I rate this well-written book a five out five stars.

[Sharon Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Beck Valley Books review of Embracing the Wild in Your Dog, an Understanding of the Authors of Our Dog's Behavior-Nature and the Wolf by Bryan Bailey 'Big thanks to the author for using his expertise to help me understand my dogs more and it has taken our relationship to a new and better level.'.......

"Having rescue dogs with behavioral problems, that came with little or no history, I watched several dog trainer television programs, trying to impose their practices without success, I found the reasons why dogs behave the way they do in this book.

The author uses his expertise from his upbringing and experiences in racing dog mushing events to pass on invaluable advice. He does not tell you how to correct the behavior but why the behavior happens in the first place and if you know the root to the problem you can solve it.

The strong message is "nature demands obedience"and your dog, which has evolved from the wolf, needs to follow the rules of being in a pack. Every pack has a leader and all others must follow, therefore you have to be that leader. The author uses excellent examples of pack life, for example; when his pack leading dog was eating a bone, one of the pups tried to take it, the pack leader pinned the pup down to teach him his place. Now if this happened in another home or park a human would have interfered thus upsetting the order of the pack. He also goes on to explain that if the pack leading dog wanted the pup to have the bone he would have given him it, displaying submissive behavior, again the law of nature.

This book has taught me so much more about both dogs and I can now correct their behavior. I am proud to say, so far, it has worked. Big thanks to the author for using his expertise to help me understand my dogs more and it has taken our relationship to a new and better level."

Read more on the #book and author here...
http://beckvalleybooks.blogspot.co.uk...

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one that I definitely recommend!
As this is not a training book for dogs, it's suitable for anyone who has an interest in dogs, or even living in the North. Bryan Bailey is extremely knowledgeable, and a fantastic writer. It's easy to read, informative without being dry. I enjoyed the snippets of his life as a child in Alaska (I couldn't imagine it!), and the stories of the cases he's worked with.
It's quite unfortunate that we humans are the cause of the problem with aggression and other disorders that dogs have nowadays.

He is quite inspirational, and while he doesn't have me running out to live in the wild, he does have me watching and studying the animals around me. I've always shared the same mentality about animals as he does, and the same views on breeding and the influence that we have on these animals, so it was nice to know that I wasn't crazy for thinking those things!

After reading this book, and telling everyone I know that they need to read it, it's interesting to talk to other dog owners and how much my eyes have been opened to how people do treat their dogs like humans, and force our reasoning, thought processes, and emotions onto an animal that doesn't, and never has that rational. Instinct is definitely something that we've blinded ourselves against.

I recommend this to anyone who might eventually come in contact with a dog, so that you can better understand the animal that you are interacting with, or shouldn't be interacting with at all. Everyone needs to run out and read a copy!

[Melody McKinnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Embracing the Wild in your Dog makes a wonderful first impression with its cover illustration. It’s a beautiful representation of the content therein, which is written well and enhanced by exceptional storytelling.

The author draws upon his experience of growing up in Alaska with his mentor, an army survivalist. Their study of wolves provided unique insights into the wild behavior of the domestic dog’s related ancestors. Those insights form the basis of the author’s theories about dogs and their training. Flashbacks to his mentor’s teachings throughout this book make it both informative and interesting. He has enhanced his wild education with related formal education.

I can’t say I agree with every comparative conclusion in this book. I believe there’s a happy medium to be found between the theories presented here and a more domestic approach. Having said that, I don’t claim to be a dog trainer.

The author sums it up nicely with, “Solving dog problems requires a three-dimensional approach: the dog, the humans involved, AND the wolf.”

I did benefit from reading this book and I don’t hesitate to recommend it if you have pets and/or train them. Read it with an open mind and you will see your dog in a more natural light. That’s always a good thing.

[Jay Douglass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the "Dog Whisperer" at work here. Instead Bailey reminds or teaches some, that canines were not always domesticated and for lack of a better word are derived from wolves.

His background of living in Alaska has made this connection less abstract,since he encounters wolves regularly not far from the city of Fairbanks.

This link of a domestic dog's ancestry may rub some the wrong way, from gleaning at other reviews, but I feel this is wrong of them.

Until we domesticated dogs in North America,they were wild animals as are wolves and coyotes. In some other cultures namely in parts of Asia, dogs are not thought of in such high esteem as we do on this continent. Think Korea and in the Muslim Middle East countries,where dogs are considered 'dirty animals.'

It's all about perception.

Therefore, as previously stated, because Bailey spent time in the Alaska wilderness, he did not fear wolves but embraced them. Thus the link is salient.

The author writes in a descriptive style with vivid visual imagery and even allegory. It is like you are there vicariously.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book sure to receive strong reactions from readers and can begin some lively, even loud, conversations. It is part memoir, part advice or suggestion, adventure and education through effective storytelling.
As the book begins, we find ourselves in the wild, on the trail with the author and his mentor.
We can feel his hesitation and empathize with his uncertainty. I felt relief when his tentative answers were accepted by his mentor. I resonated with the idea that Nature will provide lessons and answers.

This is a book about respect and acceptance; about being strong enough to accept that your dog is not human. Worse yet, people want to believe their dog is a perfect example of a human with better behaviors and traits than the humans they know and observe.

Before we are very far into the book, Bryan proves his expertise and explains how big business and the pursuit of profit have influenced the way people typically relate to their dogs; how we desire a dog to fulfill a personal perceived void.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on the goodreads site but that doesn't influence my review. I found this book very enlightening. My daughter who still lives at home with us adopted a resuce puppy that is part border collie/part lab but other people say they see pit and boxer in her. Reading this book has made me realize that the two obedience classes she has taken to control this dog are not on the right track to make this dog behave. She is a very smart dog and I have noticed while reading this book the wolf characteristics in her. The author is very knowledgeable and I have passed this book on to my friend who is a firm believer in the no kill agencies hoping that after reading this book she will see that it is impossible to save all dogs.

[Lori Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Embracing the Wild in your dog: a wonderfully written and truly eye opening book about the wolf that resides in each one of our beloved dogs. Its rare for me to pick up a book such as this but Im glad I did as it has taught me more about myself as an owner. As a dog owner there are somethings that Ive noticed my German Shepard doing and thought was strange but now, I know what those are, and more importantly I understand why she does them. I truly enjoyed this book and will be rereading it again in the future.

I highly recommend this book to any dog owner, or even to those thinking about getting a dog. Well worth the time.

[Barbara White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the passages at the beginning of each chapter. They were insightful and telling. This is a great book about the author, his mentor, and their relationship with wolves and dogs. Much of the what I read about wolves was new to me, and I enjoyed the process.
Thanks to Goodreads for this book.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most enjoyable book. I especially enjoyed that the author gave personal experiences of his own life that led him to where he is today. After reading this book you will come away with a much better understanding of your dog.

[Ed · Rating 1 out of 5]

Alright, alright. I read this, like, a year ago, and I've been putting off writing a review because I have A LOT of feelings about how entirely outrageous I found this worthless sack of drivel and really wanted to write a good, in depth explanation on exactly why it is that way. However, it's time for me to face reality, and say: I can't be bothered. I have work to do. I'm studying two degrees + two separate certificates at the same time, I work, and I have a life, so no, I'm not going to go in depth, as much as I'd like to. If this book ever gets popular, or if anyone feels like paying me for my time, I'll go tear it apart piece by piece and have a great time doing it. For now, have a couple dot points off the top of my head, keeping in mind that I read this a year ago:

- Let's start with the end. A while ago, I had to prepare a 15 minute speech on the social behaviour of Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks. I wrote a full page and a half of solid dot points with 12 point text and no spacing, followed by three quarters of a page of purely academic references (excepting a few images I'd used in my presentation) in the same format. This was for a speech I wasn't even being graded on; it took me months to compile. (Do you know how much information there is about the social behaviour of scalloped hammerhead sharks...? NOT VERY MUCH, LET ME TELL YOU THAT.)

This guy writes a 150 page book and includes a flimsy page and a half of double spaced, mostly very non-academic references - and the full page was half taken up by a picture of a wolf. What the fuck, mate? That's not how you write a non-fiction book of any kind. His references were vague and lots of them were inaccurate and silly. Considering the overwhelming amount of research on dog and wolf behaviour there is out there, the reference page itself was enough to make me want to fry the whole book up with some olive oil and eat it. Pathetic, dude, and lazy.

- There's one book in particular on wolf behaviour that I would really expect to be on there. It was the book that Bonehead Bailey had based most of his "research" on, and yet it was nowhere to be seen. I don't actually mind this, though, because - even though he SHOULD have at least READ the book that his entire damn career was based on - it would be much, much more disappointing if he HAD read it, and continued to carry his beliefs anyway. The book in question, by the way, is "The Wolf: The Ecology and Behaviour of an Endangered Species", by L. David Mech. It was the book that really popularised the myth of the Alpha Wolf, and inspired all of Cesar Millan's crappy attempts at dog training.

BUT WAIT!!! What was that I just said...? NO... YOU DON'T MEAN...........!!!!!!! Yes. Yes, I do mean what I mean by the term "Myth". Alpha wolves do not exist - in nature, or anywhere. Alpha (and beta) dogs do not exist either. Turns out that poor Mech has been trying to get his book out of print for years, due to the fact that all his "alpha" conclusive research was based on CAPTIVE WOLVES. And not just captive wolves, no, it was based on UNFAMILIAR captive wolves placed in a restrictive environment with limited food resources. Am I forgetting something, or didn't Bailey spend most of his damn book moaning about people basing all their ideas on captive dogs rather than the real, wild thing...? Damn. What a shame. Turns out he couldn't be bothered to even take his own advice.

Wow. This review is ending up a lot less objective and a lot more snarky and mean than I intended. Oh well; better than nothing, I guess.

- Another fun fact for you: Dogs did not evolve from wolves. Oh, man, I think I can hear poor Bryan screaming at me from here, in Australia... Sorry, dude. I never meant for it to turn out this way, but it's true. Dogs evolved from a common ancestor with wolves, not wolves themselves. They are, actually, quite different.

- That being said, I agree with some of the opinions threaded throughout the rotting pile of dumptruck foetus that is this book. The majority of pet dogs these days suffer from terrible mental health due to their owner's misunderstanding of their behaviour - and, yes, the widespread anthropomorphism that the pet industry unfortunately suffers from. That's about where my agreement with Bailey ends, however. Positive only training works sometimes; a lot of the time it doesn't, and what's needed is a mix of positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and just god damn accepting that choosing to share your home with an animal - even a domesticated one - has its consequences. I remember Bailey talking about us owing nothing to our dogs, and about how we shouldn't let our dogs impact our happiness or whatever. Dude, I don't know what to tell you. It's the owner's choice to have the dog. We should absolutely not be allowing our pets to suffer because we feel that caring for them properly impacts our happiness. If you feel that way, don't own a fucking dog - or any pet; go to the zoo when you need your animal fix, and leave said pets to those who give enough shits to look after them properly.

At one point, Bailey said something about locking a dog in a crate when you've had enough of it. I'd quote it properly, but again, I have a life. Contrary to what he states in the passage, when left in a crate, the animal will not just lie down and go to sleep because ~that's what they do in the wild anyway~. They will struggle, they will whine, and eventually, yes, they will lie down and go to sleep - BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. In the wild, wolves do go to sleep when they have nothing to do, I guess. But they only do this when all of their needs are fulfilled, and the fact is, they are doing that out of their own choosing. By locking up your dog in a small, enclosed space, you are taking away their choice. How are you to know that the animal has fulfilled all its needs by the time you lock them up...? You don't! You can't just say "nah, it's eaten and had its daily walk, it's fine," because those are not its only needs. There's socialisation, enrichment, tons of other things wild animals need, and you have approximately zero way to know whether or not your pet's mental health will suffer from you restricting its access to achieving those needs. Again, if you don't want to deal with the responsibility of a COMPLEX, LIVING BEING, don't fucking live with one.

- A note about anthropomorphism: It's bad. We all know that, right? Anthropomorphism is bad and negatively impacts the lives of all involved. However, I don't believe Bailey entirely grasps what anthropomorphism IS. Is that presumptuous of me? Maybe. But if he DOES really get it, it's kind of his fault for not expressing his views clearly in his work.

Anthropomorphism is not just treating your dog like a child and taking it to Dairy Queen. Anthropomorphism is also implanting your ideals into the mind of an animal without truly considering the breadth of the animal's intellectual complexity. Bailey does this pretty much all the time within his book. For instance, that one time he was gazing off into the eyes of some wild wolf and nutting on about how it communicated with him as an alpha. We already know this is bullshit, because alpha wolves are bullshit, but seriously... Think about it. It is incredibly unlikely that that wolf was communicating with him at all in the same way that he was communicating with it. Generally, in the wild, wolf packs consist of a male and female breeding pair, and their pups. This wolf could have been either one of the breeding pair, and it could have been communicating literally anything. Most likely, it was trying to scope out whether or not the two weird clothed apes in the distance were enough of a threat to move or not. It could be anything though, really, EXCEPT what Bailey said it was. Nice one, bruh.

- My favourite part of the book, potentially, was the line about "dominant" and "submissive" genes in wolves. I didn't pay attention at all in high school science, but I still must have been paying more attention than Bailey, who for some reason believed that a) these genes actually existed, and b) "dominant" wolves bred, while "submissive" wolves didn't, and SOMEHOW submissive genes continued to exist. That's not how it works, mate. I can't even get into how wrong that whole idea is, but seriously... That's just... Not how it works. If an animal carrying a gene does not reproduce, that gene dies with it. Full stop.

- That might not actually be my favourite moment, though. It's probably tied with the line about the woman adopting a pit bull and "inviting death into her home". Living in Australia, I don't know enough about American pit bulls to say anything on the matter, but I do just love how much he sounds like an anime villain right there. He sounds like an anime villain quite a lot, actually. As a work of comedy, it's pretty great.

- There's also some weird military stuff that was, uh... Weird. I won't go into that, or this would be a totally different discussion, but I do want to say that it was very strange and out of place. It gave the whole book the tone of some resentful dudebro who loves to rant but has nobody to rant at, so thought that writes a book of miscellaneous ranting was a good idea. Think "Old Man Yells At Cloud", but in book form.

- Oh... Yes. Before I finish this quick recollection of bullshit, I have to say this: What the fuck does this guy mean about humans and dominance? Like... Humans are at the top of the food chain or winning at the 'survival of the fittest' race or whatever he said because we had a mix of 'dominance' and 'submissive' that kept us from 'becoming so dominant that we wiped ourselves out'? There's... There's so much wrong with that idea! Where do I begin!! Man... Christ. Fuck. Mate, the food chain is hardly a thing. It's like an incredibly, INCREDIBLY simplistic, watered down version of a thing, that nobody who's done any science ever takes seriously. 'Survival of the fittest' doesn't work that way, either. Believe it or not, everything alive right now is the fittest. EVERYTHING. We are equally as evolved, as 'fit', as dogs, monkeys, slugs, slime mould, and every other organism on the planet. 'Fittest' =/= strongest, or most dominant. The whole 'dominant'/'submissive' thing doesn't exist either, as I said earlier, but even if it did... Has this guy, uh... has this guy ever heard of climate change?

Humans are wiping themselves out by "dominating" other species. It's happening. Right now. I can't even go on with this point, because I find it so ridiculous. That is some real anthropocentric drivel right there, and I don't really want to deal with it right now. Not when I have better stuff to do.

Speaking of having better stuff to do... I have better stuff to do. Maybe one day I'll feel inspired to rescue my copy of this book from whatever hole I threw it into the moment I finished and derail it properly, but for now, I'm going to leave it at that. If there are typos, I'm sorry. I'll edit this when there's actually a real benefit to it.

WAIT: Okay, I haven't even posted this yet, but I have an addition.

- What's this crap about 'reading about mountains is not the same as climbing one'? Bruh. Reading about a mountain is NOT as good as climbing one, I agree, and you certainly won't learn as much. But reading about it, at least, will give you an IDEA of what mountains are about. At least, enough of an idea to know that climbing a mountain WITHOUT having read about it - or, at least, without being escorted by a very well informed guide, will properly result in your death. What I mean by this is, observing animals in the wild without sufficient research doesn't do shit. All that that allows for is for exactly what I talked about earlier: implanting your ideas of how the animal should function into what you observe from the animal's behaviour. I travelled to Borneo earlier this year to study primates after a few months of study. It was a fantastic trip; I learnt more while I was there than I ever had from a book, but I only learnt so much BECAUSE I'd read so much about it beforehand. One girl came who had hardly done any of the research, and she's a lovely person, but boy did she get the wrong idea about what some of those orang-utans were doing. She really got smacked down when we got back and started discussing our observations.

Research is so-so without observation. Observation is nothing without research.

Also, what does Bailey think we're reading, anyway...? Most research is written by people who have done plenty of observation themselves; As long as you think critically and read as much as you can from all different kinds of sources, it's not like everything you'll be reading has been written by people who don't know what they're talking about. Bailey himself wrote this book and published it expecting his work to be considered and - hopefully - trusted; Why does he hold his own work with such regard while simultaneously downgrading everyone else's? He even explicitly shits on people who get all their information from the internet, as if the internet was any less reliable than physical paper. Poor dude needs to get with the times and realise that people who aren't him are not, in fact, idiots.

Anyway. I'm aware I'm getting a little aggressive here, and I probably shouldn't. Again, maybe one day I'll go back and write something more objective, coherent, and supplemented with approximately fifteen times more sources than this book. But alas, today is not that day, and I will thus dump this ranting, unedited review on this website and scamper off into the great beyond.

[Ray Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t remember anyone in my immediate family ever owning a cat. We had lots and lots of dogs. We were a family of hunters. Embracing the Wild in your dog is not a training manual for dog owners. But I highly recommend this book by Bryan Bailey if you are a dog owner or even just a nature lover. Dogs are a huge and integral part of American culture. They are everywhere and it behooves dog owners and parents to understand the true nature of Man’s Best Friend. I grew up with dogs and know the truth of the principles set out in Embracing the Wild in your dog. My father taught them to me but he wasn’t nearly as articulate as Bryan Bailey. Before you can train your dog properly you should know your dog’s true nature. That is what is learned in Embracing the Wild in your dog.

Bryan Bailey teaches us this nature beautifully. Step by step he shows us the nature of dogs and how we often fail them because we do not understand them. There are beautiful pictures and very pertinent insights throughout Embracing the Wild in your dog. Insights Mr. Bailey learned at the feet of an awesome Green Beret while growing up in the Alaskan wilderness. The writing is simple but elegant and the anecdotes feature situations and dogs that Bryan has owned and known. I found the story of Rex and the grandson especially powerful. All animal lovers should read this book. It’s really about a lot more than dogs.

[Alcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

muy buena perspectiva

Nos pone los pies sobre la tierra con respecto al trato hacia nuestros perros. Nos hace alcanzar el equilibrio y respetar el equilibrio de la naturaleza. Es emocionante descubrir el lobo en nuestro perro. Me alegra haber leído el libro. Una muy buena experiencia.

[Molly Hickerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was some interesting information on wolves and the storytelling was entertaining. I was disappointed by the end when it devolved into a machista rant about how Americans have lost their backbone and MERICAN-ness.

[Laura Berlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the quotes used at the beginning of each chapter. Well written - a reminder to remember the wolf is in our dogs.