The Story of Your Dog: A Straightforward Guide to a Complicated Animal

Description

GET TO KNOW YOUR DOG. Renowned expert dog trainer and bestselling author of Lucky Dog Lessons Brandon McMillan unpacks the unique and often misunderstood 15,000-year evolutionary history governing a dog's every move. Most dog owners know the truth-their dogs are totally incompatible with the modern world. Instincts like herding, chasing, and protecting have no natural outlet and frequently result in chewing, barking, nipping, jumping, lunging, and worse. However, as McMillan argues in these pages, the solution isn't as simple as mastering "sit" and "stay." No matter what kind of dog you have, no matter how old or young or well trained or well-bred, your beloved companion is strongly influenced by his DNA. The result of these genetic distinctions shows up in every inch and action-from the size and shape of a dog's head (and the brain inside it) to the length and curve of his tail, from the texture of her fur to the webbing (or lack of webbing) between her toes. It's in their lung capacity, their tolerance for heat and cold, their appetites for food and exercise, and whether and how they bark. It goes beyond their structure and deep into their psychological profiles. Perhaps you're lucky enough to have a dog with more than a few breeds mixed in, which makes this information all the more crucial to know and understand. In The Story of Your Dog, McMillan breaks down why your dog acts the way it does, so you can train better and easier, with fewer missteps and miscommunications, and bond in ways you never thought possible. It is an invitation to get to know the sometimes frustrating but always incredible dog at the other end of the leash.

BRANDON MCMILLAN, former host of the Emmy Award-winning television show Lucky Dog (CBS) and host of Shark Week (Discovery), has spent his entire life learning about and working with all types of animals-from household pets to the wildest of untamed beasts. Born into a family of animal trainer entertainers, McMillan has been training wild animals since childhood. He jokes that he's been "picking up tiger poop" as far back as he can remember. His early years around animal performers gave him valuable skills he uses in his career as a Los Angeles-based animal trainer for many of Hollywood's A-list celebrities (Ellen DeGeneres, Andy Cohen, Rod Stewart, James Caan, Chris Hardwick, Wolfgang Puck, Hugh Hefner, Don Cheadle, Snoop Dogg, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Presley, and Ronda Rousey) and for films and television.