Patricia McConnell has once again presented us with a book that is not only informative but heartwarming as well. Dr. McConnell uses sound research on the subject of neuroscience and emotions to help us better understand emotions in our dogs, and she does it in a way that can be easily understood by anyone interested in this subject. The book begins by addressing the subject of emotions and why the subject is so controversial in animals. It proceeds to describe the emotional expressions in our dogs and how anyone can learn to interpret them with observation and practice. Her chapter on fear and fear-based problems in the dog is excellent, and she follows it up with an entire chapter on helping dogs with fear-related problems. All of the chapters are well-referenced and science-based but written in her typically comfortable and conversational style. She never talks down to the reader, and underlying all of her prose is an obvious, deeply felt love and devotion to the dogs that she works with. This book is a must read for anyone who loves dogs and has a desire to better understand their point of view.

Title: For The Love of a Dog
Author: Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D
Year Published: 2007
Publisher: Ballantine Books

Valarie V. Tynes, DVM, DACVB is a board certified Veterinary Behaviorist and owner of Premier Veterinary Behavior Consulting in the Dallas, Fort Worth, Texas area. She can be contacted at [email protected]