For the Love of a Dog

Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend

By: Patricia B McConnell

Narrated by: Ellen Archer

The critically acclaimed author of The Other End of the Leash offers fascinating insights into the canine mind - critical tools for a healthy relationship with a well-trained dog.

In this remarkable book, renowned canine expert Patricia McConnell answers the questions of dog lovers everywhere. Do dogs have emotions like we do? More to the point, does my dog love me? Such questions have fueled best sellers like Elizabeth Marshall Thomas' The Hidden Life of Dogs and Jeffery Moussaieff Masson's Dogs Never Lie About Love.

Sharing riveting dog stories from her experiences, Dr. McConnell also offers accessible science that clues listeners in to what's going on behind those puppy dog eyes. We learn the fascinating similarities and surprising dissimilarities in dogs' and humans' brains, and how current scientific studies have led McConnell to conclude without a doubt that dogs share a profound emotional life with us.

The information found in this book will help listeners have better-trained dogs, at the same time deepening their dog-human connections. For the Love of a Dog is a must-have for dog lovers everywhere.

"Highly recommended." (Library Journal, starred review)

©2006 Patricia B McConnell (P)2006 Tantor Media

Critic reviews

• Winner of Audio Publishers Association 2007 Audie Award, Personal Development/Motivational

"A compelling combination of stories, science, and practical advice to show how understanding emotions in both people and dogs can improve owners' relationships with their pets." (Publishers Weekly)

For the Love of a Dog

One of the best authors about dog behavior for the non dog savvy dog owner and experienced trainers. If you want to know how your dog thinks and feels, get this book or any other Patricia McConnell book!! It will help you understand your dog and makes training so much easier!!

great advice on raising a dog

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, although very indepth I found it very helpful in dealing with my own dog.

Fascinating

This was interesting all the way through. Not only did I learn about dogs, I also learned about humans! This is a must read for all dog owners.

Not as good as 'Other end of the leash'

somewhat academic, lots of good research and studies, but I liked the stories and examples

She is brilliant!

Love this book. Will listen again. Lots of 'aha' moments. Wish I had access to her pictures that are in the hardcover book.

Loved this book

Where does For the Love of a Dog rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the most enjoyable books that I have listened to so far

What about Ellen Archer’s performance did you like?

Very good. It added to the enjoyment of the book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Several passages particularly when the author was talking about her own dogs were very touching. I found myself tearing up more than once.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book so much that I did not want it to end. Anyone who loves dogs and wants to improve their relationship with them should read this book. I thought I knew a lot about dogs and their behavior but this book helped me to understand them better and provided many new insights.

Excellent, insightful, well-written

Patricia McConnell's clear-headed, accessible book about our relationship with dogs is well-researched without being academic or tedious. She draws from a wealth of practical experience. Best of all, she is clearly in love, passionately, with dogs, and this makes a compelling book even more powerful. I learned so much, enjoyably, easily. The narrator has the perfect voice, well-modulated, clear, and she imbues her "read" with the empathy that the writer clearly has. Some reviewers have commented that references to photos detract, but for me, hearing it offered a different way of "seeing" the dog - in my mind's eye. Well done. Highly recommended.

needs pictures

If you could sum up For the Love of a Dog in three words, what would they be?

chewy my bff.

Which scene was your favorite?

love

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Why my bff isn't the cat...

Any additional comments?

At times it was hard to keep listening. Not because of the narration she was great. Just a bit slow. but for what I gained I'm glad I hung in. This book also left me wanting to learn more about my lil bundle of fur that makes me swoon. Defiantly a great start to understanding feelings of other species.

of dogs and owners

this book is all about dog behaviour, and it covers that subject very well. if you ever wished dogs came with an owners manual, here it is. an interesting side benifit of this book is that once you learn to read dogs better, you also start to notice the same body language in humans. this book makes no attempt to delve into the minds of people beyond their interactions with dogs, but the link is impossible to miss once you know what to look for.

lots of emotional ups and down here also. the narrator does a great job not only delivering the technical lessons, but also delivering dramatical performances in the sections where the author gives dialog to help illustrate a point. an excelent book for drama fans, psychology fans, and dog lovers alike.

I love my dog

so good to hear from a professional that loves her dogs as much as I love mine and recogises constructive anthropomorphizing.