Because man’s best friend deserves to know the secrets of how to live a good life, too. Monty was just like any other dog. A scruffy and irascible Maltese terrier, he enjoyed barking at pugs and sniffing at trees. But after yet another dramatic confrontation with the local Rottweiler, Anthony McGowan realizes it’s high time he and Monty had a chat about what makes him a good or a bad dog. Taking his lead from Monty’s canine antics, McGowan takes us on a hilarious and enlightening jaunt through the major debates of philosophy. Will Kant convince Monty to stop stealing cheesecake? How long will they put up with Socrates poking holes in every argument? In this uniquely entertaining take on morality and ethics, the dutiful duo set out to uncover who—if anyone—has the right end of the ethical stick and can tell us how best to live one’s life.

Everyone talks to their pets; Chad Orzel tells his about relativity.

Ever wonder what makes your furry four-legged pooch sit when you say "Come?" Or has "Little Rover" ever used your expensive shoes for chew toys? "When you improve your leadership skills as a dog owner, you can create one of life's most rewarding experiences: being best friends with a good dog," writes veteran dog trainer Breon O'Farrell in this lushly photographed book chock-full of wit and wisdom. Mixed with charm, experience, and anecdotal stories, "Philosophy Dog is a beautiful gift book for new dog owners and long-time dog enthusiasts alike. O'Farrell's enthusiasm for harmonious bonding with your dog is contagious. Sixty of the world's leading fashion photographers, who subscribe to his wisdom, have contributed images of their furry best friends for this extraordinary collection. Contributing Photographers: Bruce Weber, Steven Meisel, Patrick Demarchelier, Herb Ritts, Ellen Von Unwerth, Annie Leibovitz, Mary Ellen Mark, and many others have joined O'Farrell in creating whathe calls "the most beautiful, useful dog book."

For more than a quarter century, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend has been the standard against which all other dog-training books have been measured. This expanded edition preserves the best features of the original classic while bringing the book fully up-to-date. The result: the ultimate training manual for a new generation of dog owners--and, of course, for their canine best friends. The Monks of New Skete have achieved international renown as breeders of German shepherds and as outstanding trainers of dogs of all breeds. Their unique approach to canine training, developed and refined over four decades, is based on the philosophy that "understanding is the key to communication, compassion, and communion" with your dog. How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend covers virtually every aspect of living with and caring for your dog, including: Selecting a dog (what breed? male? female? puppy or older dog?) to fit your lifestyle Where to get--and where not to get--a dog Reading a pedigree Training your dog or puppy--when, where, and how The proper use of praise and discipline Feeding, grooming, and ensuring your dog's physical fitness Recognizing and correcting canine behavioral problems The particular challenges of raising a dog where you live - in the city, country, or suburb The proper techniques for complete care of your pet at every stage of his or her life In its scope, its clarity, and its authority, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend remains unrivaled as a basic training guide for dog owners. Like no other book, this guide can help you understand and appreciate your dog's nature as well as his or her distinct personality--and in so doing, it can significantly enrich the life you share with your dog.

Struggling to solve your dog's behavioural problems? Looking to achieve the perfect relationship with your dog? The Dog Guardian is here to help. Dog behaviourist Nigel Reed teaches emotional intelligence for dog owners, leading to confident, happy and well-behaved dogs. Through his many years of experience Nigel has found that there are four fundamental components for a content and well-behaved dog. In The Dog Guardian Nigel explains the philosophy and gives you practical, step-by-step advice. This new and vital information will empower you to address any of your dog's undesirable behaviours, no matter its age, breed or history. The Dog Guardian has already helped thousands of dogs and their owners address problem behaviours including anxiety, nervousness, aggression, hyperactivity, lead pulling, jumping up and much more. It's easier than you'd think.

Victoria Stilwell, positive reinforcement dog trainer and star of the hit Smithsonian Channel TV show, Dogs With Extraordinary Jobs, explains how to use her force-free, scientifically-backed training methods to solve common canine behavior problems. Victoria Stilwell, America's favorite no-nonsense trainer, has rehabilitated some of the world's most difficult dogs—and now she's revealing her scientifically proven behavioral training secrets for you to use at home. Victoria's all-new training guide shows how positive reinforcement is more effective than other methods: by changing the way your dog thinks, feels, and learns, you can actually encourage your dog to want to behave. With tips and tricks for understanding canine language, harnessing the power of reward-based training, and tapping into dogs' natural instincts, there are no hopeless cases! So get ready to boost your dog's confidence, improve your communication, and build your bond with your best friend today.

For generations, The Koehler Method of Dog Training has been a beacon of wisdom for dog owners seeking effective techniques to build a strong bond with their furry companions. William Koehler’s approach, rooted in respect for dogs’ intelligence, remains as relevant today as it was when the book first graced the shelves. Koehler believed that dogs could make choices and be held accountable for their behavior. His method follows the pattern of Action → Memory → Desire: dogs act, remember the outcomes, and form desires based on those experiences. Correcting behavior becomes fair, reasonable, and expected once the training has been successfully imparted. In this classic guide, you’ll find practical guidance for creating a well-behaved and happy canine companion. From basic obedience to advanced skills, The Koehler Method covers it all. Whether you’re a seasoned dog owner or a first-time puppy parent, discover the joy of training your dog using a method that respects their intelligence and fosters a lifelong partnership.

Offering a unique perspective on dog training, a former Navy SEAL and trainer of military working dogs discusses the science behind gaining a companion dog's trust and achieving desired levels of canine obedience.

Man’s best friend, domesticated since prehistoric times, a travelling companion for explorers and artists, thinkers and walkers, equally happy curled up by the fire and bounding through the great outdoors—dogs matter to us because we love them. But is that all there is to the canine’s good-natured voracity and affectionate dependency? Mark Alizart dispenses with the well-worn clichés concerning dogs and their masters, seeing them not as submissive pets but rather as unexpected life coaches, ready to teach us the elusive recipes for contentment and joy. Dogs have faced their fate in life with a certain detachment that is not easy to understand. Unlike other animals in a similar situation, they have not become hardened, nor have they let themselves die a little inside. On the contrary, they seem to have softened. This book is devoted to understanding this miracle, the miracle of the joy of dogs – to understanding it and, if at all possible, to learning how it’s done. Weaving elegantly and eruditely between historical myth and pop-culture anecdote, between the peculiar views of philosophers and the even more bizarre findings of science, Alizart offers us a surprising new portrait of the dog as thinker—a thinker who may perhaps know the true secret of our humanity.

Karen Pryor’s clear and entertaining explanation of behavioral training methods made Don’t Shoot the Dog a bestselling classic with revolutionary insights into animal—and human—behavior. In her groundbreaking approach to improving behavior, behavioral biologist Karen Pryor says, “Whatever the task, whether keeping a four-year-old quiet in public, housebreaking a puppy, coaching a team, or memorizing a poem, it will go fast, and better, and be more fun, if you know how to use reinforcement.” Now Pryor clearly explains the underlying principles of behavioral training and reveals how this art can be applied to virtually any common situation. And best of all, she tells how to do it without yelling threats, force, punishment, guilt trips—or shooting the dog. From the eight methods for putting an end to all kinds of undesirable behavior to the ten laws of “shaping” behavior, Pryor helps you combat your own addictions and deal with such difficult problems as a moody spouse, an impossible teen, or an aged parent. Plus, there’s also incredibly helpful information on house training the dog, improving your tennis game, keeping the cat off the table, and much more! “In the course of becoming a renowned dolphin trainer, Karen Pryor learned that positive reinforcement…is even more potent that prior scientific work had suggested…Don’t Shoot the Dog looks like the very best on the subject—a full-scale mind-changer” (The Coevolution Quarterly). Learn why pet owners rave, “This book changed our lives!” and how these pioneering techniques can work for you, too.