I believe in setting people and dogs up to succeed, and this is what this book is all about. from The Book Your Dog Wants You to Read by Louise Glazebrook

We recently brought home our seventh dog.

Our first three dogs were puppies. The next three were puppy mill breeder rescues, each with physical and/or social issues. Our new dog’s owner died and she spent three months in shelters waiting for us to find her.

Five of our dogs have been Shiba Inus, a fashionable breed but not for everyone. Shibas are independent, cat-like, and stubborn. They are NOT lap dogs.

They are also intelligent. Our Suki understood ‘go get Kaze’ when our blind Shiba couldn’t find her way to the door; Suki would run back outside, past Kaze to get her attention, and Kaze followed her back home.

Our new dog Tessa was traumatized by what had happened to her, losing a beloved owner and a home and routine she understood. At the shelter, Tessa was likely man-handled into cages and washings and medical care. When we saw her, she was friendly and loved to play fetch, but backed away from being touched. That fear kept her from being adopted, but we understood what she needed.

Within a few weeks, Tessa would snuggle against me, as long as I didn’t touch her. And after three months, she tolerates being hooked up to the leash and harness, and enjoys short petting sessions. When it storms, she snuggles against me for comfort. Best of all, especially since Shibas are notorious runaways, when she got lose she ran back home when I called her!

We are still working on some issues with Tessa and I thought this book would be a good review and perhaps offer some new ideas.

Glazebrook warns about the trauma and stress dogs experience losing their home and while in the kennel environment. Some dogs shut down and need a safe place to retire to and process the change. For the first weeks,Tessa retreated to her crate near the bedrooms. Now, she lays in the room with us, and sleeps in our doorway at night.

Some dogs won’t eat. Tessa didn’t eat in the shelter. After a few days with us she couldn’t get enough kibble, eating three times a day. Now, she is relaxed and eats one meal a day.

Tessa loved walks from the beginning. Routine is important to a dog. Tessa knows she gets a walk every night after dinner. She lays patiently until one of us gets up, and then she runs to the door.

Tessa was thrilled with the dog toys she inherited. She would chose a squeaky toy as her favorite of the day, carrying it around, and asking me to play with her. She drops the toy for me to toss for her to chase. She likes to tug, but I always let her win. Glazebrook notes that we aren’t a ‘pack leader’ needing to prove dominance. Let the dog win!

Tessa loves to ride in the car, sitting still and quiet. She loves visiting our son and exploring his back yard, filled with a natural landscape often visited by wildlife. Glazebrook notes that dogs needs sensual stimulation. We change up our walks so Tessa can explore new areas.

Glazebrook’s advice for adopting a puppy is essential. Deciding on a breed and judging the breeder, socializing, and training are all covered. Chapters address behavior like chewing and anxiety, understanding body language, food choices, aging, and end of life decisions.

The book is not a “step-by-step’ guide, but how to understand your dog and forge a relationship that will be mutually rewarding for a lifetime.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.

I didn't agree with all of the advice in this book (some of it even took me off-guard) but I could tell the author cares deeply for dogs. Had some interesting takeaways.

THE BOOK YOUR DOG WISHES YOU WOULD READ by Louise Glazebrook struck me at a most vulnerable time in my life, saying goodbye to a beloved dog staying with his family while I up and left for the other part of the country. He taught me much of what was revealed in Glazebrook's excellent guide, on top of the learning from our inimitable first dog. For a person who grew up with cats, the education by dogs and by this excellent book are such that I delight in the dogs being walked in our neighborhood, the ones I share a secret smile with, knowing that dogs are the very best of our friends and that they are as magical and logical and intuitive as Glazebrook lays out in clear, straightforward, compassionate and loving authority. For myself, her guide will be close when I invite another dog to share our lives. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

A trainer who recognizes that so much of it is based in the owner, and that we set ourselves and our dogs up for failure by not making informed decisions and paying attention to what they're already telling us.

Are you thinking of bringing a puppy home? Do you want to rescue a dog? Before you begin your search, you need to read The Book Your Dog Wishes You Would Read. The subtitle, How to Raise the Happiest Dog, is also important. Trainer Louise Glazebrook begins by helping you pick the right dog for your lifestyle as some dogs are very active, some prefer sleep and others are good with small children. Choosing the right breeder is also covered with very useful tips about avoiding deceitful practices. Puppy behavior and how to choose the best of the litter for you are discussed followed by the very different selection of rescue dogs. Part Two is where How to Raise the Happiest Dog comes in. Do you know what licking means? (Tip: it isn’t kissing.) Do you know how to play with a dog? Handle their anxiety during walks? How to stop your pet from chewing on furniture, etc.? All the answers are here in this well organized, encyclopedic guide written with a calm, informative tone. It should be required for new dog owners. And as s a long time dog owner, I learned a lot. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little Brown and Company and Loise Glazebrook for the ARC.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company for my copy of THE BOOK YOUR DOG WISHES YOU WOULD READ.

This was a great book and one I’d recommend to anyone considering adding a dog to your family. If you’re like me and are a huge dog nerd, have always had dogs this one you might want to skip. While this was full of great information most of it wasn’t new to me.

Britain's top dog trainer gives tips and tricks from raising a young rambunctious puppy to an old seasoned dog. Creative and educational. I learned a lot. Foray dog owner and lover.

As someone who aspires to be a dog owner, I found the advice, information, and examples in this guide to be indispensable for my knowledge gathering prior to getting said dog. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who, like me, has never owned a dog in their life, but wants to be the most prepared idiot out there; fellow idiots, this one is for you.

The Book Your Dog Wishes You Would Read by Louise Glazebrook is a must-read for anyone who shares their life with a dog. The author displays her understanding of canine behavior and communication from the first page. She has a unique way of inviting the reader into our dogs’ inner worlds, helping to decode their thoughts and feelings in a way that feels both enlightening and empowering.

What I appreciate most about this book is its compassionate approach to dog training. Unlike many traditional methods that rely on discipline, this author emphasizes building a relationship based on trust and understanding. Her insights into body language and socialization are particularly helpful, allowing me to recognize my pets’ needs and feelings better. The practical advice on nutrition and exercise and effective strategies for addressing behavioral issues are sensible and grounded in a deep respect for our dogs’ individuality.

I have a rescue that is adjusting to her new home, and we are continually working on tools and techniques that will help enhance our bonds, and this book hits that mark. The author has an engaging writing style that makes the information easily digestible. I liked the advice about not putting too much pressure on myself or my dog. There are going to be good days and bad days.

This is an informative and content-rich book about dog behavior, providing information and tools to use throughout a dog’s life.

Overall, The Book Your Dog Wishes You Would Read is not just a training manual; it’s a heartfelt guide to a more profound, empathetic connection with your dog. I highly recommend this book—it is a treasure trove of wisdom for dog lovers everywhere!

#TheBookYourDogWishesYouWouldRead #NetGalley @littlebrown

Dog behaviorist Louise Glazebrook shows readers how to truly understand their dogs and meet their needs with kindness and respect. This book offers practical advice for creating a strong, lasting connection at any stage of a dog's life.

I have a Yorkie who has more energy than a creature has any business having. 😂 He goes to dog daycare several times a week to get out the zoomies. This book provided valuable information/advice about play, separation anxiety, and some of his behavior quirks.

Recommended for dog owners and people thinking about getting a dog.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for the ARC.

Louise Glazebrook sums it up nicely when she writes (I'm paraphrasing) that the days of training a dog to be submissive to the owner's alpha stance are over. Dogs today are long distanced from their wolf ancestors. Glazebrook offers a deep look into the mind and behaviors of our beloved four-legged companions. She shares years of experience as a dog owner and dog behavior specialist and uses anecdotes and observations. She explains the psychology behind how dogs interpret humans' behaviors and offers insights for actions that lead to improvement in both the dog's and human's behaviors. The first third of the book focuses on learning how dogs experience the world, understanding common traits in breed groups, then evaluating puppies, breeders, and/or shelters), and choosing the breed or rescue that best fits the human's environment and lifestyle. Glazebrook then explains what your dog wants you to know about fifteen topics, including sniffing, chewing, food, play, walking, and getting old.

I've lived with dogs most of my life, read the training manuals, and worked with trainers, and still I learned new ideas and actions to take with my pups. If all dog owners were to follow her lead, they would develop a lifelong rewarding relationship with their dog, and the parks would be filled with polite, confident dogs and calm, happy humans.

I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Book Your Dog Wishes You Would Read is perfect for new dog owners. I don’t think it will be nearly as much use for those who have already had dogs in the past, or at least those who’ve had more than one. Glazebrook wants to make sure folks realize dogs are like kids - each with their own personalities and that there are no cookie cutter rules that apply to all. Bear in mind, this is not a training manual.
The book starts with the idea of finding the dog that’s right for you. She pushes this point home because too many folks only focus on a dog’s looks. She gives lots of good points about recognizing good vs. bad breeders. She then walks the dog owner through how to properly socialize a dog. She does this for both puppies and older dogs (typically rescues).
Glazebrooke lives in London and she often makes a point of focusing on the specific issues related to city living.
The second part of the book deals with how to interact with your dog to build trust and understanding. Eye contact, sniffing, chewing, body language, play, food, collars/harnesses, safe spaces and interacting with kids are all covered. Negative problems like aggression, fear, separation anxiety and resource guarding are also discussed.
One thing she wisely emphasizes that too many of us fall prey to is walking a dog purely for exercise. A walk is a time to allow them to sniff, to get their fill of sensory exposure; which will wear them out faster than purely walking a few miles. A walk is for them, not a time to see how many steps we can register on our Fitbit. She spends a lot of time on play as well because of the need to mentally stimulate, not just physically tire, your dog. I was impressed by two ideas. The human doesn’t always need “to win”, for example when playing tug of war. And there are multiple ways a dog can enjoy playing with a ball or throw toy that don’t require retrieving.
The book takes the reader through dealing with an aging dog and even the final inevitable decision.
My thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company.

"The Book Your Dog Wishes You Would Read" by Louise Glazebrook is a wonderful introduction to pet care and owning a dog. The first few chapters of the book explore a dog's unique characteristics and how someone should assess their individual lifestyle to make sure they are ready for a new addition to the family. Louise Glazebrook adds a personal touch to the book due to her countless anecdotes working with families as a professional dog trainer and behaviorist. Later chapters in the book detail how important it is to treat each dog as an individual and understand that different dogs need different activities and have different motivations. The book does a wonderful job of outlining potential activities and to focus on positive reinforcement. Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown and company for providing me with an advance copy of this book for review.

The title of this book pulled me in right away. As someone that has dreamed of owning a dog for the entirety of my life, I was eager to learn some tips and tricks for being a future dog mom. Some of the material was probably old news for experienced dog owners, but I found it really beneficial and ended up taking notes. The information was digestible and doesn't shy away from the realities of adding a canine companion to the family. I appreciated the inclusion of Glazebook's personal experiences with her own dogs and those she worked with as a behaviorist. There was a lot to like about this book, and when the time is right and I'm looking for my own pooch, I'll make sure to pick up a physical copy of this book to refer to.

The perfect book for when you plan on adding a new puppy to your home. So much great information on how to play with your dog, build your dogs confidence and raise a happy dog. You can tell this book was written by a dog behaviorist and not a trainer. Truely focuses on recognizing the signals a dog is giving you and respecting a dogs personality and preferences and not creating a robot who obeys every command. I loved it. Great resource!

Excellent book, especially for new dog owners or people who plan to adopt a rescue or purchase a puppy. Presented in a very readable format. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read/review.

I feel like I already have a great connection with my dog because he is very communicative, but I imagine having read this, I will forge an even better one.

I found “The Book Your Dog Wishes You Would Read” to be both engaging and helpful. I have been interested in adopting my first puppy for some time, but I am a bit hesitant as I have never had a dog before. This book was unbelievably helpful. There were questions to answer, facts about dogs, and plenty of information about how to raise a healthy and happy dog. This book has so much information and after reading it I feel so much more comfortable with the idea of adopting a dog. While this book was great for me as a dog novice, I believe anyone can learn something from this book even experienced dog owners. I really liked the author’s writing and found it informative yet down-to-earth. I would definitely recommend this book.

THE BOOK YOUR DOG WISHES YOU WOULD READ is a cute title that does an excellent job of describing the book’s material. Author Louise Glazebrook has covered every possible question or concern that humans may have while interacting with dogs. I especially liked the extra focus on rescue dogs; not enough dog books include rescues as a type. This book discusses dog development from early puppyhood to late stage adulthood and the rescue pup is one of those ‘stages.’ The author has filled the book with common sense solutions to everyday issues and offers an array of valuable knowledge for the dedicated dog owner.