By Mimi Pollack
Do you know how to talk to your dog or cat?
If not, the president of the San Diego Humane Society, veterinarian Gary Weitzman, and co-author Aline Alexander Newman have written two books that can help anyone communicate effectively with their pet.
How to Speak Dog
This book is written for both children and adults to enjoy. It is a guide for decoding dog language and body talk. The purpose of the book is to help pet owners understand their dog’s behavior and what their pet is trying to communicate. Better communication makes for a more satisfying relationship.
The book has more than 100 pictures, interesting facts, training tips, advice on vets and caring for your dog, and much more. It describes a dog’s behavior from head to paw and what each body movement means.
For example, a straight tail indicates that a dog is interested in something, whereas, a wagging tail does not always indicate a happy dog. It can also indicate that the dog is scared. A happy tail always wags to the right and in a wide arc, showing the dog wants your attention.
The book also gives details about dogs’ facial expressions and what they mean. There are about 100 different canine facial expressions. An example given in the book is the “submissive grin” which can be misinterpreted. Some people think the dog is being aggressive when he is not. It is also important to look at the ears.
This is the kind of book that you can read from beginning to end or open at any given page and learn something. It is an easy read and essential for any new dog owner. It can also teach experienced dog owners some practical information about a dog’s behavior, along with Weitzman’s vet tips, and interesting facts about the different breeds.
How to Speak Cat
There are two camps in the world: dog lovers and cat lovers. However, there are many who love and appreciate both. The popularity of cats has grown and today more households have cats, and they have questions about their cats.
This book is written for both children and adults to enjoy. It is a guide to decoding cat language and what some of their body talk means. The purpose of this book is to help pet owners understand their cat’s behavior better. For example, why do cats like high places? According to the book, there are two reasons. Cats like to have a view, and they like to feel safe. A high perch can accomplish both.
Another example is why cats leave “gifts” at the front door like mice or lizards. According to the book, some scientists believe that cats can feel so close to their owners that they think they are their kittens and want to feed them!
The book has fun facts and valuable information, along with advice about vet care. There are also more than 100 photos. One chapter that I found interesting was on feral cats. In Rome, there is a no-kill law that gives feral cats the right to stay where they were born. There are more than 300,000 cats in Eternal City! Nevertheless, the book stresses the importance of getting your cat spayed or neutered.
Like “How to Speak Dog,” this book is one that you can read from beginning to end, or open at any page and learn something. Better communication and understanding make for a more satisfying cat-human relationship.
Mimi Pollack is an ESL teacher and a freelance writer.
