For the Love of Dog: The Ultimate Relationship Guide

by Pilley Bianchi, Calum Heath (Illustrator)

" For the Love of Dog   will help you answer a most important question—'What is it like to be a dog?'—and show you how to enrich your dog's life."
— Marc   Bekoff, PhD, author of  Dogs Demystified
 
"… an illustrative, whimsical journey to better understand the dogs we love, or even just the dogs who wag past us on the sidewalk .  For the Love of Dog … will forever change the way you look at your four-legged friends. "
—Maria Goodavage ,   New York Times  best-selling author of  Top Dog

A visual celebration and exploration of the connection between dogs and humans.

Pilley Bianchi pens a love letter to dogs and dog ownership through observations, lessons, and wisdom gained from her family dog Chaser, the popular subject of her father John W. Pilley's New York Times best-selling book  Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words . Chaser was dubbed "the smartest dog in the world" before crossing the rainbow bridge in 2019. New Yorker  and  New York Times  illustrator Calum Heath's charming black-and-white illustrations throughout add a unique graphic style to this gifty package, making it an irresistible volume for anyone devoted to dogs.

For the Love of Dog  takes the reader on a journey of all things dog, with chapters that cover the history of dogs and how breeds developed from wolves, dog philosophy (i.e., What if we were to look at each other as if through the eyes of a dog, with the same capacity for enthusiasm and appreciation of others? ), tips and tricks for good dog behavior compliments of Chaser, how dogs elevated to their current status as human's best friend, and much more.

Filled with practical advice and insightful knowledge, this lively illustrated volume teaches us how to better understand our dogs and forge a deeper bond with them.

Genres: Nonfiction, Dogs, Animals

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Soula Kosti · Rating 4 out of 5]

"So even in our darkest days,
dogs can turn on the light."

A sweet guide on how to train your dog and create a relationship built on love and trust! This book includes beautiful black and white illustrations, and also covers anything from the basics to dogs in history and myths to origins of words to the philosophy and mentality of dogs to training tips.

I loved how this book mentions that dog's expressions have been anthropomorphizing so it's time for us to change some of our techniques in not only how to train them but also on how to interact with them on a daily basis. Obedience shouldn't be the goal but a way for us to provide safety so we can then enlarge our dog's world. Dominance shouldn't be the goal either, but we should aim for collaboration instead.

For The Love of Dog also includes illustrated guides on a dog's body language and its different woofs, lists of the importance of setting boundaries but understanding when your dog dislikes certain attitudes and situations, and also various tip sheets (for example on the importance of play, praise, and words)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Cara Achterberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, unique, beautiful book full of surprises, stories, science, and so much joy celebrating dogs and our relationship with them. Sharing the power of play and its role in training dogs. Would make a wonderful gift for any dog lover.

[Wm Denny Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely interesting book that gives insite to dog psychology, which is key to understanding dogs.

[Michelle N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finished my first doggy book. It inspired me to play more with my girl and give her the best life I can. Highly recommend becoming a dog mom. <3

[June Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why haven't our dogs given up on us? I mean, after reading this book I feel like I've seriously underestimated my dog's potential. True, she's not a driven-to-please Border Collie like the amazing Chaser and does know words, many of which she chooses to ignore based on whatever her mindset is at the time. Seriously, Chaser was one seriously smart dog, trained by a savvy owner, but, honestly, I think I'll just leave my dog as she is. After all, she's downright perfect as she is, as are all dogs. Isn't yours?

I won't detail the text as it tends to be an odd combo of whimsical and practical, mixed with history, mythology, and and interesting illustrations. Maybe just my mindset as I read but it did seem to jump around quite a bit, not to mention it wasn't quite what I was expecting. This one is more, oh, what word to use? More educational? Maybe. The amount of info shared is solid in its attempt to help us understand what it's like to be a dog, so to speak, and how to help their short lives be full. So, if you're going into it expecting a short, cute look at lots of doggie photos and bits of info, be forewarned. It's actually got that but more in depth, with illustrations by New York Times illustrator Calum Heath.

To be honest, this is the type of book I struggle to rate. It wasn't what I expected but was at times full of whimsy and humor, particularly the illustrations, and gives you tons of info. I definitely liked that it emphasized that dogs learn through play, not stern discipline, with the author giving examples of how Chaser learned more than a thousand words. I even learned a bit of lore/myth that I hadn't heard, such as the myth of one of the dogs on Noah's Ark. Since I have another book on my tbr stack focusing on the power of a dog's nose, I was definitely interested on reading and storing away in my mental memory the section on their incredible noses shared. And, the illustrations were both fun and informative.

So, bottom line, although I found myself zoning out a few time, I'm going with a 4 star based on the pluses and me being a sucker for cute dog illustrations and me being a sucker for cute dog pictures. Thanks #NetGalley and #Princeton'sArchitecturalPress - #ChronicleBooks for sharing Chaser's story and ideas on how to better understand your dog and help them understand us, not to mention the ample doses of lore, history, and reminding us that no matter what country dogs are from, unlike we mere humans, they all look and sound/bark alike. Now I'm off to ponder life while walking and chatting with my own Daisy dog.

[Jackie Carleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s such a beautiful book. The exterior of the book is gorgeous and a wonderful addition to your coffee table collection if you are as obsessed with coffee table books as I am. The way it is written is whimsical and quippy and has some fun fast facts about dogs and the way they think and learn. It’s perfect for pet parents looking for reliable bite sized information. It’s almost like a mirage of social media posts in the way you wished social media accounts for dog training were - beautiful, professional, and cohesive with creative illustrations.

Dr. John W. Pilley and Chaser would be so proud. Give it a read and put it on your coffee table for your friends and family to peruse.

[Knit and Purl Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I so wanted to really love this book. It was okay. I liked parts of it - such as the trivia about dogs. Some was okay, but as soon as I would get into it in a part, it would change. The writing was choppy, the illustrations strange, and it was so slow in areas, inexplicably short in others - just hopping from one area to another. I also was waiting for a big ”a-ha” moment, but it dragged in like a long infomercial with no really exciting end. Some points I will take from it, but it was not this great relationship builder for me and my dogs.

[Edmcdaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rarely have trouble getting into a book but I did with this one. Even though I love dogs and am a new dog mom and soaking up all the info I can, I just didn’t enjoy the format. It was choppy and slightly confusing as it jumped from subject to subject. But there was some helpful info with the history of dogs and their psychology. And it made me love my little boy even more. I’m also teaching him the buttons after reading this book motivated me to continue teaching him as much as I can.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read several dog training books and this was my favorite. When I checked it out at the library, I had no idea it was written by the daughter of the older gentleman who I watched on 60 minutes with his dog, Chaser (they are both now gone)

I loved the format of the book, as well. It was inviting to read each page. Well done. 🐾

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about the smart dogs in our luces and how to work with them with fun drawings

[Cara Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love dogs, this is a must read! I learned so much about how I can bond better with my girl!

[Victoria Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good my dog ate it

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrations are incredible. Content not so strong. Seems more like a memoir to her father and Chaser than real facts about how to develop a bond with your dog.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous and inspiring book for all dog lovers and teachers, including parents.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of an old scientist and his dog about how they have changed our understanding of dogs intelligence forever. You will look at your dog differently after you read this book.

[Mihaela Gruescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

🐶Dacă oamenii ar dispărea, câinii ar putea supraviețui fără ei? De la această întrebare a început și aventura mea în paginile ghidului „Din dragoste pentru câini”. Nu mi-am făcut nicio așteptare în privința acestei cărți, însă nici nu am fost pregătită pentru ceea ce am aflat. Știam că există o legătură strânsă între om și patrupedul său, dar am fost surprinsă să văd cât de complexă este ea și cum influențează viața fiecăruia. Fără să ne dăm seama, chiar avem foarte multe de învățat de la câinii noștri, chiar și de la cei pe care-i întâlnim pe stradă. Trebuie doar să știm să-i ascultăm.

🐶Puncte forte:
- cartea este plină cu ilustrații reprezentative. Ador câinii, așa că eu am rămas fără cuvinte când le-am văzut. Îmi era mai mare dragul să o răsfoiesc;
- temele din subcapitole sunt diverse: povestiri istorice și din domeniul arheologiei, povești din religie (Arca lui Noe), din literatură (Odiseea), din filosofie;
- ni se prezintă evoluția relației dintre om și câine, de la începutul începuturilor (acum 7.000.000 de ani) și până în prezent;
- cartea are și activități practice (aplicaii), care te ajută să-ți cunoști și mai bine animăluțul;
- te învață ce jocuri să te joci cu câinele tău, cum să-l dresezi și ce recompense să primească, cum să-i asculți nevoile;
- scriitura: ușor de parcurs, pe înțelesul tuturor;
- relatările personale ale autoarei a adus un plus de originalitate cărții;
- mi-a plăcut nota în care s-a încheiat cartea (m-a emoționat).

🐶Puncte slabe:
- structura cărții: mi-ar fi plăcut să fie un pic mai organizate subcapitolele (nu era o ordine a aspectelor prezentate. Începea cu sfaturile, continua cu poveștile, se întorcea iar la sfaturi și tot așa);
- un pic prea multă filosofie și teorie pentru gustul meu.

🐶Dacă iubiți câini la fel de mult ca mine, clar trebuie să puneți mâna pe această carte. Merită.

[Anne Michaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Dr. Pilley's book about Chaser and was excited to see his daughter had completed the follow up that I had been hearing about. She did not disappoint. Filled with stories about family pets as well as the latest information on the science, history, philosophy about dogs as well as the techniques used for Chaser's language learning. The illustrations make this a very easy read. I will be gifting this lovely book to all my dog loving friends.