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Meet Your Dog: The Game-Changing Guide to Understanding Your Dog's Behavior
Every dog owner knows that along with the joy can come the stress and frustration of behavioral problems, which are expensive to diagnose and treat. Enter Kim Brophey, award-winning canine behavior consultant. Using cutting-edge research, Brophey has developed a groundbreaking system that allows owners to identify what their dog is struggling with, why, and how they can fix it. Brophey's approach is unlike anything that has been published before and will give dog owners a new understanding of what motivates and affects their dog's behavior. Brophey's innovative technique rethinks the way we categorize dogs, and distills information from over twenty scientific disciplines into four comprehensive elements: learning, environment, genetics, and self. With revolutionary tips for specific dog breeds, this book will change the life of every dog owner and lead to happier human-canine relationships.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 17, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
December 1, 2020
Lots of great research here about grouping breeds into categories, historical breed traits or what they were bred to do, and a great deal of psychological content. But no real suggestions on what to DO about any of it.
This would be a good book to maybe help determine what type of dog you should look to get (or if you need to write about a specific dog breeds history) but otherwise I didn’t find it very helpful with ascertaining how to handle each breed grouping.
I really don’t need to be told the undesirable traits my dog has; I always know them, instead I was hoping for identification and some sort of training or techniques to resolve them.
This would be a good book to maybe help determine what type of dog you should look to get (or if you need to write about a specific dog breeds history) but otherwise I didn’t find it very helpful with ascertaining how to handle each breed grouping.
I really don’t need to be told the undesirable traits my dog has; I always know them, instead I was hoping for identification and some sort of training or techniques to resolve them.
September 30, 2024
Anyone who has followed me for more than a year knows that my dog Zafiro is my constant companion. I hesitate to call him a pet, he's one of the family. He has emotions, and intelligence and empathy. He gets disappointed and hurt and angry and frustrated and anxious. But for the most part he is very happy, content, loyal, and loved. He is easily the chattiest dog we've ever had, but he is not a barker. He grunts and squeals and sighs and has been known to howl when he hears sirens. He took almost no time to house train, he is so smart. He is friendly but sticks to his humans like glue. If the gate to the backyard is open, he doesn't run out to explore, he comes to the door to tell us. He's an ankle biter and loves to herd quail or squirrels or cats or wild turkeys or whatever he happens to pass by. My boy is a 40 lbs mutt who looks like terrier is the dominant breed. This year we did Embark (a doggie DNA test) and found out that he is 38% poodle, 22% border collie (surprise!), 13 % husky, 12% cocker spaniel, 9% german shepherd and more surprising (to us) he is 6% malamute. The most surprising thing was that he didn't appear to have a drop of terrier in his bloodline (though dog lover friend of mine said that he never acted like a terrier). It is within the context of this past year that I was compelled to pick up Meet Your Dog: The Game-Changing Guide to Understanding Your Dog's Behavior. That and a kindle sale.
This book is a primer and a sort of Meyers-Briggs personality reference for various dog types. Brophey has come up with four dimensions in which she examines the dog behavior:
Brophey predominantly refers to dogs as "she" in the book which is annoying because my dog is male. My guess is that she attempted to change up the pronouns with some equity but after editing, it became predominantly female. A minor but grating nit. I like that she resisted the pronouns of "they" and/or "it" because dogs are individuals and gendered and in many cases are members of a family. My dog is not an "it". The content is good, and the writing is compelling. Since my ratings are based upon in part how much I enjoyed the book; this one gets high marks. I liked it a lot, and I learned a thing or two. Her defined characteristics were spot on for my pup. Brophey knows what she is talking about!
My catdog (not a terrier) Zafiro
4.5 Stars
Read on kindle
This book is a primer and a sort of Meyers-Briggs personality reference for various dog types. Brophey has come up with four dimensions in which she examines the dog behavior:
The L.E.G.S.® model—representing the four elements of Learning, Environment, Genetics, and SelfWhile exploring behaviors via genetics, Brophey examines 10 dog groups (most of which you won't find in dog shows): Natural dog, Sight Hound, Guardian, Toy dog, Scent Hound, Gun dog, Terrier, Bull dog, Herding dog, World dog. I won't go into detail as to what she means by grouping the way that she has. For that, you can read the book. I found what she had to say about dog behaviors by group to be really insightful and helpful. Some surprises. For example, Brophey points out that many (if not all) of the dogs in the toy group are due to dog dwarfism genetically maintained within the breeds. My boy's behaviors fall within 3 groups: natural, herding and gun dogs. Sure enough those were the groups that Embark said he was genetically a member. Witness a full convert to this book. You will not find training tips here, but you may find some explanations for the different behaviors that you once thought were quirky. There is something for everybody here though those familiar with their own dogs breeds may not find much new here. I found the book extremely valuable and I'm not a first-time dog owner. My dogs have always been mutts (or what Brophey refers to as a "World dog" which not surprisingly amounts to about 80% of the dogs on the planet).
Brophey predominantly refers to dogs as "she" in the book which is annoying because my dog is male. My guess is that she attempted to change up the pronouns with some equity but after editing, it became predominantly female. A minor but grating nit. I like that she resisted the pronouns of "they" and/or "it" because dogs are individuals and gendered and in many cases are members of a family. My dog is not an "it". The content is good, and the writing is compelling. Since my ratings are based upon in part how much I enjoyed the book; this one gets high marks. I liked it a lot, and I learned a thing or two. Her defined characteristics were spot on for my pup. Brophey knows what she is talking about!
My catdog (not a terrier) Zafiro
4.5 Stars
Read on kindle
March 19, 2022
❝You already love your dog …
Now I would like you to meet your dog.❞
Meet Your Dog is a book I highly recommend to any and all dog lovers out there. While not entirely game-changing, author Kim Brophey offered some unique insight into our beloved four-legged friends. Especially, when it comes to her system (The Four Dog L.E.G.S.) for identifying your dogs certain behaviors.
That said, the reason I rated this book three (and something) stars is because, well … this definitely felt like a book aimed at first-time dog owners. While I, a person with four dogs (lol), did gain some valuable insight into them, the book ultimately devolved into a summary/explanation of the different dog groups. Which, while insightful and totally up my alley, wasn't exactly what I was looking for.
Ultimately though, my main takeaway was this: the best way to get my dog to stop scaring the ever-loving crap outta my mailman is to get a fat-ass soup bone (or something of that nature), and distract the hell outta her.
June 14, 2018
I love the underlying philosophy behind this book. Everyone who's ever had a dog that's just not their type will appreciate how big a difference the dog breed makes. Getting a pit bull when you're a border collie person could be a mistake.
The writing is clear and engaging, and I enjoyed the training examples the author gave. But they were too few. It's not enough to tell me my herding dog has a barking problem--I already know this. I was looking for a way to solve this problem. So if a future edition is ever contemplated, this would be a way to improve this book.
Still, as is, it's a worthwhile read. I'd recommend it to anyone who's trying to understand their dog better.
The writing is clear and engaging, and I enjoyed the training examples the author gave. But they were too few. It's not enough to tell me my herding dog has a barking problem--I already know this. I was looking for a way to solve this problem. So if a future edition is ever contemplated, this would be a way to improve this book.
Still, as is, it's a worthwhile read. I'd recommend it to anyone who's trying to understand their dog better.
June 5, 2021
We imagine that our superiority makes us smarter than dogs, even more so the belief that they are just our pets. Period. Well, this book breaks those misconceptions big time. It’s not about us all the time. You can want to just enjoy your pet but success of such relationship is meeting his/her personality with all of the quirks (as much as ours). Great read!
January 13, 2021
This is such a wonderful and informative book about dogs! I think everyone should read this book when thinking about getting a dog or in the process of training one. A lot of people lose patience because they don’t know what they’re dealing with, but Brophey does a great job at breaking down different breeds and their behaviors!
September 4, 2023
This is not a 3-star book. This is simultaneously a 5-star book and a 1-star book.
The 5-star review: Brophey's approach to dog training is what dog training should be. She looks at everything in the dog's life, including his breed and what his ancestors were bred to actually do, to determine the source of their behavior "problems." I would have assumed this was what problem-based trainers always did, but in trying to find professional help for my reactive shepherd, I discovered that almost all dog trainers have one way of correcting behavior, with absolutely no regard for why the dog is doing what it's doing. (So my Aussie was going to be trained out of his reactivity to strangers with positive reinforcement based on the idea that he was afraid of them. Spoiler: it didn't work because he wasn't reacting out of fear.) This book is filled with great explanations of how humans selected for certain traits historically, and how ill-suited those traits often are for modern dogs.
The 1-star review: There's a reason it's called "Meet Your Dog" and not "Thoughtfully Help Your Dog Live in the Modern World" - there are absolutely no concrete instructions given. It's an entire book about the many reasons different dogs might do different things that their humans label as "problems," and then THE END, thanks for coming! I got this book thinking it would tell me how to communicate with my shepherd when his shepherding behavior wasn't appropriate, and/or how to best direct it elsewhere; instead, what I got was a list of his exact problematic behavior at the start of the herding dog chapter, and then 15 pages describing why he does that. The chapter literally ends, "[You should] develop an awareness of [the kinds of events that your herding dog reacts to] and direct her accordingly." YES. THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO. I'M ASKING HOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW
The 5-star review: Brophey's approach to dog training is what dog training should be. She looks at everything in the dog's life, including his breed and what his ancestors were bred to actually do, to determine the source of their behavior "problems." I would have assumed this was what problem-based trainers always did, but in trying to find professional help for my reactive shepherd, I discovered that almost all dog trainers have one way of correcting behavior, with absolutely no regard for why the dog is doing what it's doing. (So my Aussie was going to be trained out of his reactivity to strangers with positive reinforcement based on the idea that he was afraid of them. Spoiler: it didn't work because he wasn't reacting out of fear.) This book is filled with great explanations of how humans selected for certain traits historically, and how ill-suited those traits often are for modern dogs.
The 1-star review: There's a reason it's called "Meet Your Dog" and not "Thoughtfully Help Your Dog Live in the Modern World" - there are absolutely no concrete instructions given. It's an entire book about the many reasons different dogs might do different things that their humans label as "problems," and then THE END, thanks for coming! I got this book thinking it would tell me how to communicate with my shepherd when his shepherding behavior wasn't appropriate, and/or how to best direct it elsewhere; instead, what I got was a list of his exact problematic behavior at the start of the herding dog chapter, and then 15 pages describing why he does that. The chapter literally ends, "[You should] develop an awareness of [the kinds of events that your herding dog reacts to] and direct her accordingly." YES. THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO. I'M ASKING HOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW
June 9, 2018
Interesting book about your dogs behavior based on information from over twenty scientific disciplines into four comprehensive elements: learning, environment, genetics, and self. If you've got a mix like me you can take a test here https://www.thedogkey.com/app-main.html to find out or confirm your guess (like my scent hound fur baby) of what the dominant type might be.
Not a training guide.
Not a training guide.
April 10, 2018
In a dizzying sea of dog-behavior/dog-training information overload and in-your-face marketing everywhere you look, along comes Kim Brophey’s, “Meet Your Dog – the Game-Changing Guide to Understanding Your Dog’s Behavior,”a big, juicy helping of the most delicious commonsensical advice and valuable information to help you understand your dog as you will ever find. In fact, look no further, it is the only “dog book” you and your dog(s) will ever need to navigate a harmonious life together.
I know, I’ve lived in a paradise called doggie land for many years. With multiple dogs of multiple breeds, usually four or five at a time, I’ve pulled my hair out, cringed when someone came to my door, separated warring dogs, done the obligatory obedience classes, hired the personal dog trainer/aggressive- behavior guy, cried, and lost sleep when nothing seemed to change my share of “problem” dogs.
After reading "Meet Your Dog," I realized I had been experiencing first-hand every day how the combination of learning, environment, genetics and self is at the core of every dog, my dogs, the impetus for everything they do, good or bad. Of course, I didn’t know how these things were all working together at the time. It took Kim Brophey to do all the hard work, the research, distill the science from multiple complex disciplines and articulate it for the layperson in an easy-to-understand system called Dog L.E.G.S. (Learning, Environment, Genetics, Self) giving us the ultimate roadmap for successful relationships with our dogs.
Eloquent, thoughtful and profound, "Meet Your Dog" is full of solid canine science, wise guidance and beautiful photographs to boot. It is a must-have for dog owners and for those who may be thinking about adopting a dog in the future. It underscores the author's deep respect for dogs as sentient beings at every turn, and fellow dog-lovers will truly be blown away by the wealth of information within its pages.
I believe that "Meet Your Dog" will make a positive difference in the lives of so many dogs whose owners may have never "seen" the world through their dog's eyes or really "listened" to their dog's perspective. Grounded in kindness and understanding, the gentle methods for changing negative behaviors illustrated in this book will not only help change dog's lives but their people's lives, too. "Meet Your Dog" is a wakeup call. It makes you take an honest look at your best friend through new eyes, see her without distortion and appreciate her as an individual, and that's powerful stuff.
As a long-time animal advocate and a dog lover, I wholeheartedly endorse this book. In fact, I've written two articles about it: Kim Brophey's Guide to Understanding Dog Behavior is the Wake-Up Call Pet Parents Need and Part Two of My Interview With Kim Brophey, Author of Meet Your Dog
I know, I’ve lived in a paradise called doggie land for many years. With multiple dogs of multiple breeds, usually four or five at a time, I’ve pulled my hair out, cringed when someone came to my door, separated warring dogs, done the obligatory obedience classes, hired the personal dog trainer/aggressive- behavior guy, cried, and lost sleep when nothing seemed to change my share of “problem” dogs.
After reading "Meet Your Dog," I realized I had been experiencing first-hand every day how the combination of learning, environment, genetics and self is at the core of every dog, my dogs, the impetus for everything they do, good or bad. Of course, I didn’t know how these things were all working together at the time. It took Kim Brophey to do all the hard work, the research, distill the science from multiple complex disciplines and articulate it for the layperson in an easy-to-understand system called Dog L.E.G.S. (Learning, Environment, Genetics, Self) giving us the ultimate roadmap for successful relationships with our dogs.
Eloquent, thoughtful and profound, "Meet Your Dog" is full of solid canine science, wise guidance and beautiful photographs to boot. It is a must-have for dog owners and for those who may be thinking about adopting a dog in the future. It underscores the author's deep respect for dogs as sentient beings at every turn, and fellow dog-lovers will truly be blown away by the wealth of information within its pages.
I believe that "Meet Your Dog" will make a positive difference in the lives of so many dogs whose owners may have never "seen" the world through their dog's eyes or really "listened" to their dog's perspective. Grounded in kindness and understanding, the gentle methods for changing negative behaviors illustrated in this book will not only help change dog's lives but their people's lives, too. "Meet Your Dog" is a wakeup call. It makes you take an honest look at your best friend through new eyes, see her without distortion and appreciate her as an individual, and that's powerful stuff.
As a long-time animal advocate and a dog lover, I wholeheartedly endorse this book. In fact, I've written two articles about it: Kim Brophey's Guide to Understanding Dog Behavior is the Wake-Up Call Pet Parents Need and Part Two of My Interview With Kim Brophey, Author of Meet Your Dog
January 2, 2024
Very enjoyable book, it is well titled. This book is about developing your empathy and understanding of the dogs in your care. It has an appealing writing style that isn't too complicated while still covering a lot of nuance and more complicated concepts into easily understood comparisons. Skips the industry jargon.
While not breaking new ground, the book does seek to compile what is known about the influence of genetics, learning, the environment and each dog's individual life stage (health, age, gender, neuter status). This has been done successfully and is an enjoyable collection of topics for the dog enthusiast seeking a reminder of why dogs are so fascinating.
Pullout examples to troubleshoot situations with your dogs using the framework are well done.
The 10 genetic groups are an interesting read however this is where it loses a star:
For a book that had been very progressive in concepts for modifying emotions and behaviour, when it comes to specific breed groups there is a heavy reliance on negative punishment. Especially for behaviours like jumping up when a significant portion of an earlier chapter was dedicated to the slow and frustrating process of negative punishment and how to achieve the goal of four-feet on the ground without practicing the behaviours and using negative punishment. This also happened in the topics of separation anxiety, where earlier chapters talked about importance of building up resilience through errorless processes and responding to emotional needs to fill the emotional cups - in the genetics chapter this is completely disregarded for an outdated "cry it out" approach. See Malenda DeMartini Separation Anxiety for the latest research and protocols in treating/preventing separation anxiety.
This disparity between broad training concepts and advice given for some genetic groups was disappointing. Other genetic groups remained progressive and advanced e.g. premack principles for terrier group.
The gundog genetic group section, the key concepts, was disappointing. While all other groups went into a deep dive on their key concept the gundog one remained less than a page long and broad to all breeds. There was a missed opportunity to address the challenges around a dog with an oral fixation and to go into the detail and nuance that other key concepts were given.
Overall a good book with some disappointing componenents. A good gift for the dog trainer that needs reminding that dogs have emotions and needs too.
While not breaking new ground, the book does seek to compile what is known about the influence of genetics, learning, the environment and each dog's individual life stage (health, age, gender, neuter status). This has been done successfully and is an enjoyable collection of topics for the dog enthusiast seeking a reminder of why dogs are so fascinating.
Pullout examples to troubleshoot situations with your dogs using the framework are well done.
The 10 genetic groups are an interesting read however this is where it loses a star:
For a book that had been very progressive in concepts for modifying emotions and behaviour, when it comes to specific breed groups there is a heavy reliance on negative punishment. Especially for behaviours like jumping up when a significant portion of an earlier chapter was dedicated to the slow and frustrating process of negative punishment and how to achieve the goal of four-feet on the ground without practicing the behaviours and using negative punishment. This also happened in the topics of separation anxiety, where earlier chapters talked about importance of building up resilience through errorless processes and responding to emotional needs to fill the emotional cups - in the genetics chapter this is completely disregarded for an outdated "cry it out" approach. See Malenda DeMartini Separation Anxiety for the latest research and protocols in treating/preventing separation anxiety.
This disparity between broad training concepts and advice given for some genetic groups was disappointing. Other genetic groups remained progressive and advanced e.g. premack principles for terrier group.
The gundog genetic group section, the key concepts, was disappointing. While all other groups went into a deep dive on their key concept the gundog one remained less than a page long and broad to all breeds. There was a missed opportunity to address the challenges around a dog with an oral fixation and to go into the detail and nuance that other key concepts were given.
Overall a good book with some disappointing componenents. A good gift for the dog trainer that needs reminding that dogs have emotions and needs too.
September 6, 2024
A street dog showed up at my house a year ago. She had an infected cut, so we brought her to the vet. The vet told us she was starving. She had been nice this entire time, even though she was terrified, so we adopted her.
We were in over our heads. She was starving, which made her cagey, and she bit me on the first night when I tried to give her a bowl of dog food (because she thought I might take it away). She was also used to people throwing rocks at her on the street (which is fairly common in some neighbourhoods here in Mexico) and was scared of almost every sound and movement. And she wasn't socialized as a puppy, so she never learned how to be a family dog living inside with people. It felt like having a rat in the house, wild and hungry and absolutely terrified.
I'm a big guy who can handle a bite. But we have a 6-year-old son. He's wonderful but rambunctious and didn't quite know how to behave around dogs, let alone dogs like this.
It wasn't a great combination of circumstances.
Anyway, my sister got me this book, and it helped, so I read a bunch of other books, watched YouTube videos, and hired a dog trainer. Even by the time we got the trainer, things were under control. (Feeding her all of her food by hand, bite by bite, seemed to help the most. I got comfortable around her teeth, and she got comfortable eating right next to me. After a week of that, we were doing okay.)
It's been a year now. Everything is working out. We still have things to work on, but she's a wonderful dog, and she's happier every day. This book was a great start. I'm very thankful I was given it.
It taught me that my dog is a "World Dog" with some terrier genetics. Here in Cancun, we call them "malix" dogs. That helped me understand what to expect of her, and it gave me some ideas for games to try. It also told me what I could and couldn't expect to change, which was incredibly useful.
We were in over our heads. She was starving, which made her cagey, and she bit me on the first night when I tried to give her a bowl of dog food (because she thought I might take it away). She was also used to people throwing rocks at her on the street (which is fairly common in some neighbourhoods here in Mexico) and was scared of almost every sound and movement. And she wasn't socialized as a puppy, so she never learned how to be a family dog living inside with people. It felt like having a rat in the house, wild and hungry and absolutely terrified.
I'm a big guy who can handle a bite. But we have a 6-year-old son. He's wonderful but rambunctious and didn't quite know how to behave around dogs, let alone dogs like this.
It wasn't a great combination of circumstances.
Anyway, my sister got me this book, and it helped, so I read a bunch of other books, watched YouTube videos, and hired a dog trainer. Even by the time we got the trainer, things were under control. (Feeding her all of her food by hand, bite by bite, seemed to help the most. I got comfortable around her teeth, and she got comfortable eating right next to me. After a week of that, we were doing okay.)
It's been a year now. Everything is working out. We still have things to work on, but she's a wonderful dog, and she's happier every day. This book was a great start. I'm very thankful I was given it.
It taught me that my dog is a "World Dog" with some terrier genetics. Here in Cancun, we call them "malix" dogs. That helped me understand what to expect of her, and it gave me some ideas for games to try. It also told me what I could and couldn't expect to change, which was incredibly useful.
September 6, 2021
This book is useful for prospective or new dog guardians in terms of communicating the important message that dogs are dogs. Brophey communicates that, a key to a harmonious and mutually-beneficial relationship with one’s dog is providing opportunities for your dog to be a dog. This sounds simple, and in some ways it is. However, many people have an idealized idea of what a dog should be like, so that when troubles arise they “just want the dog to behave,” without realizing that the dog’s physical, emotional, and mental needs have to be met in order for them to “behave.” Brophey does a good job of summarizes the general physical, emotional, and mental needs of dogs depending on their classifications (toy, shepherd, terrier, hound, gun dog, etc) and the work for which they were bred.
Some reviews criticize this book because it doesn’t give “concrete” steps for “fixing” their problems with their dog. Those people have missed the point, and they currently lack the knowledge, flexibility of mind, and relationship with their dog. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. One of the biggest things any dog trainer, whether “just” an owner or a professional, is to work “with the dog in front of you.” In order to do so, you actually have to get to know the dog in front of you, and knowing the characteristics and tendencies of your dog’s breed(s) is a starting point. Furthermore, I will say it again, because it is worth saying twice, if your dog’s physical, emotional, and mental needs are being met, they will exhibit fewer behavioral “problems.” As Brophey emphasizes, addressing behavioral “problems”/living harmoniously with one’s dog requires every moment being a training moment, because your dog is always learning. It means that living is training and vice versa, and that basic obedience commands by themselves are inadequate.
Some reviews criticize this book because it doesn’t give “concrete” steps for “fixing” their problems with their dog. Those people have missed the point, and they currently lack the knowledge, flexibility of mind, and relationship with their dog. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. One of the biggest things any dog trainer, whether “just” an owner or a professional, is to work “with the dog in front of you.” In order to do so, you actually have to get to know the dog in front of you, and knowing the characteristics and tendencies of your dog’s breed(s) is a starting point. Furthermore, I will say it again, because it is worth saying twice, if your dog’s physical, emotional, and mental needs are being met, they will exhibit fewer behavioral “problems.” As Brophey emphasizes, addressing behavioral “problems”/living harmoniously with one’s dog requires every moment being a training moment, because your dog is always learning. It means that living is training and vice versa, and that basic obedience commands by themselves are inadequate.
January 3, 2025
This book was well written and informative, full of amusing and relatable examples of common dog behaviors, with lots of insights into why these behaviors may occur. I especially appreciated the "Genetics" portions, which delve into the ways in which millennia of breeding influence certain characteristics of certain types of dogs. Although only one chapter specifically applied to my "gun dog," there were nuggets of wisdom in all the chapters and plenty to learn about issues that can occur in all breeds. From a psychological standpoint, it's an eye-opener and helped me understand and have a little more patience for my frequently bonkers cocker spaniel.
On the other hand, when you have a dog with problematic behavior, the last thing you want to hear is "Well, dogs will be dogs," and in many, that's exactly what this book says. Though it does provide some suggestions for managing certain problems before they start, many of the suggestions were too vague...or too specific to a situation that doesn't apply to me. It also did not offer much hope for training out entrenched behaviors or stopping an incident when it's already underway.
I think this book could be a tremendous resource for humans in search of a new pet, as the information within can help you make educated guesses about what you might be likely to expect from a specific type of dog that you're not yet familiar with. It also provided a lot of valuable tips for training puppies before they've become set in their ways. But for people like me, with an adult dog that we're still frustratedly trying to mold into a member of polite society, additional help is going to be necessary!
On the other hand, when you have a dog with problematic behavior, the last thing you want to hear is "Well, dogs will be dogs," and in many, that's exactly what this book says. Though it does provide some suggestions for managing certain problems before they start, many of the suggestions were too vague...or too specific to a situation that doesn't apply to me. It also did not offer much hope for training out entrenched behaviors or stopping an incident when it's already underway.
I think this book could be a tremendous resource for humans in search of a new pet, as the information within can help you make educated guesses about what you might be likely to expect from a specific type of dog that you're not yet familiar with. It also provided a lot of valuable tips for training puppies before they've become set in their ways. But for people like me, with an adult dog that we're still frustratedly trying to mold into a member of polite society, additional help is going to be necessary!
March 16, 2024
I love the concept of getting to know your dog and loving them, quirks and all. Yes, there are some things you just can't train out of a dog that is bred specifically for a job and it's important to know that.
The first part the book really piqued my interest, although the L.E.G.S. model is a bit fuzzy for me in practice. I couldn't wait to find out which grouping my dog fits so that I can better understand and communicate with her.
I was disappointed in the grouping descriptions because 1) My dog breed wasn't listed in any of the groups (Dalmatian) and 2) Reading the descriptions felt like reading horoscopes. I nodded to myself when I found familiar traits in the description, but I guess I wanted to go deeper. What does a dog owner do with the descriptions? Read and nod?
I finished the book feeling incredibly guilty. Have I unknowingly mistreated a dog by not understanding where she was coming from? Dalmatians have been coach dogs in the past couple hundred years, but what were they bred for? Running all day beside horses? Not sure what to do with that information. Am I mistreating my dog because she doesn't get to run all day? Ugh. I just feel guilty.
The first part the book really piqued my interest, although the L.E.G.S. model is a bit fuzzy for me in practice. I couldn't wait to find out which grouping my dog fits so that I can better understand and communicate with her.
I was disappointed in the grouping descriptions because 1) My dog breed wasn't listed in any of the groups (Dalmatian) and 2) Reading the descriptions felt like reading horoscopes. I nodded to myself when I found familiar traits in the description, but I guess I wanted to go deeper. What does a dog owner do with the descriptions? Read and nod?
I finished the book feeling incredibly guilty. Have I unknowingly mistreated a dog by not understanding where she was coming from? Dalmatians have been coach dogs in the past couple hundred years, but what were they bred for? Running all day beside horses? Not sure what to do with that information. Am I mistreating my dog because she doesn't get to run all day? Ugh. I just feel guilty.
July 23, 2025
This book is a goldmine for understanding canine behavior through a lens of personality and evolutionary purpose. Turid Rugaas would give a nod of approval. The framework of core “canine connection types” is smart, insightful, and actually useful — not just another “what breed is best for you?” quiz. It helped me understand my dogs (and myself) better, and I’d recommend it to any dog guardian who wants a deeper bond with their pup.
That said, grouping Chesapeake Bay Retrievers with the other “friendly gun dogs” feels like a betrayal. Have you met a Chessie? These aren’t golden retrievers with tighter curls. They are stubborn, discerning, often aloof with strangers, and incredibly loyal once bonded — but “people-friendly” in the casual, outgoing way? Not unless you’re handing them a duck and backing away slowly. The author missed a major opportunity to recognize the breed’s emotional complexity instead of assuming shared traits with labs or spaniels.
Still, it’s an excellent read — just take the group generalizations with a grain of kibble.
That said, grouping Chesapeake Bay Retrievers with the other “friendly gun dogs” feels like a betrayal. Have you met a Chessie? These aren’t golden retrievers with tighter curls. They are stubborn, discerning, often aloof with strangers, and incredibly loyal once bonded — but “people-friendly” in the casual, outgoing way? Not unless you’re handing them a duck and backing away slowly. The author missed a major opportunity to recognize the breed’s emotional complexity instead of assuming shared traits with labs or spaniels.
Still, it’s an excellent read — just take the group generalizations with a grain of kibble.
September 23, 2018
I found this book on a Best Bets shelf at the library. It's an interesting approach to understanding your dog based on characteristics of the breed groups it's in. Mixed breeds could be assumed to have both groups traits in varying degrees. Since I've had scent hounds most of my life, I eagerly scanned the breed and it was laugh-out-loud funny and true. Kim Brophey, the author, does a great job in describing the psychological focus of each breed. This book would really be helpful for people looking for a dog to meet their needs. I liked the author's breezy, funny writing style but wasn't fond of the ratings for dogs as it appears the dogs that score the best in all categories according the author are toy dogs. Instead a preoccupation with ratings, I think just looking at characteristics that interest a person might be more helpful. Overall this book was a fun read and if you want to know more about you dog, it should be on your bookshelf.
October 5, 2023
I wish this book was a mandatory read for anyone thinking about getting a dog.
Kim Brophey explains in plain English (or whatever your native language may be) why dogs do what they do, and that what you may see as a behavioral problem is just simply, behavior.
While I agree with some reviews that some of the information given would be knowledge that an experienced dog owner or trainer would already have, I do not think that should discount the wealth of knowledge in this book, especially if you're a novice dog owner.
Kim Brophey eloquently explains how and why dogs are exhibiting behavior that a human may deem as a problem, when the dogs are just acting as intended due to selective breeding over years and years, and gives insight into a dogs mind, thus pulling back the veil of relationship strain that so many dog owners find themselves in with their dog.
I wish I had a copy of this book to give out to each of my training clients.
Kim Brophey explains in plain English (or whatever your native language may be) why dogs do what they do, and that what you may see as a behavioral problem is just simply, behavior.
While I agree with some reviews that some of the information given would be knowledge that an experienced dog owner or trainer would already have, I do not think that should discount the wealth of knowledge in this book, especially if you're a novice dog owner.
Kim Brophey eloquently explains how and why dogs are exhibiting behavior that a human may deem as a problem, when the dogs are just acting as intended due to selective breeding over years and years, and gives insight into a dogs mind, thus pulling back the veil of relationship strain that so many dog owners find themselves in with their dog.
I wish I had a copy of this book to give out to each of my training clients.
August 18, 2025
The early part of this book felt like a basic validation of a more trite call for dog-parents to understand their pups, and to take responsibility for their behavior. Yes and - the deeper dive through breed group genetic-infused behaviors, layered with learned behaviors, and individual issues was really interesting and felt pretty useful. Being still relatively new to canine responsibility myself, I feel like I have so much yet to learn about being a better dog-parent. I paid close attention to the sections on toys and terriers, because that’s what we have at home. But the other sections were super interesting as well, with instincts/behaviors explained from the perspective of dogs. I’d recommend this to anyone with or considering getting a canine companion, because it’ll probably shift your training focus to working more with who the dog is, rather than your expectations of who they ought to be. This doesn’t spell permissiveness, rather a rightsizing of your expectations about what is more trainable verses what’s likely been bred into your dog.
May 1, 2018
I won this book through Good Reads. I was very excited because I have a crazy Australian Shepherd . We wanted some ideas for ways to deal with some of her odd behaviors. This book divides breeds into different groups based on what they have originally been bred for over the years. It really gets you thinking about why your dog acts like it does due to history and its original job. Very informative and easy to read and understand though I still have many questions concerning my dog. There are some fun stories about different dogs to explain the behaviors also that gives you a laugh while reading.
February 18, 2022
I think anyone who has or is contemplating getting a dog should read this book. It helps to breakdown the different groups of dogs and what you might expect, both good and bad, if you decide to bring a dog from a certain group home. It discusses the way humans have engineered dogs for specific kinds of work and how those instincts could effect a dogs needs and ability to live in our modern world. This is not a training book but it can help you understand what kind of training/enrichment may be helpful for your dog based on their breed type. It can also help you make an informed decision about what type of dog will be the best fit for your lifestyle.
April 24, 2022
I liked the author's approach and explanations. This covered some of the same material as Unleashing Your Dog, but with more practical suggestions. And the breed groupings & their descriptions seemed fitting to the dogs I've known. Trademarked "systems" (like L.E.G.S.® or the Dog Key®) that don't seem terribly groundbreaking are a bit of a turnoff for me, though, so a bit off the rating for that.
November 4, 2022
A solid introduction to dog breeds and behavior, with a brief overall history of the evolution of dog-human relationship over time. Not much in the way of concrete training tips, but still insightful. Like finding that you fit many of the traits assigned to your zodiac sign, I realized that my pit mix fit many of the genetic traits described in this book. Too bad I’m learning this as she turned 6 years old, but I also discovered that as much trouble as I’ve had with her, turns out she’s probably best suited to my lifestyle and I understand her a little better. Best to read BEFORE you choose a dog.
May 18, 2023
Delivers on what the cover promises - an in depth look at our dogs and why we should perhaps reframe our ideas about what a “good” dog or dog behavior is.
I liked the look at different breeds and the flexibility she brought to the topic (self especially). Information was up to date and well composed. This is a book for a first time dog owners and is written for such. Dog trainers and behaviorist will find this more of a review of known info more than anything else.
I did find the training advice to be few and far between and over simplified/unneeded, but as that was not the goal of the book it’s a nitpick more than an issue.
Good read.
I liked the look at different breeds and the flexibility she brought to the topic (self especially). Information was up to date and well composed. This is a book for a first time dog owners and is written for such. Dog trainers and behaviorist will find this more of a review of known info more than anything else.
I did find the training advice to be few and far between and over simplified/unneeded, but as that was not the goal of the book it’s a nitpick more than an issue.
Good read.
September 6, 2025
interesting but not that helpful for the average dog owner
It was interesting to learn about different dog breeds and how she categorized them, but if you’re someone who bought a pure bred dog for that breed, you’ve probably learned more about the characteristics. For the rest of us with rescue mutts or dogs with physical characteristics and not necessarily breed traits, it’s all a mixed bag. There are a few tips about approaching different issues but nothing explicit enough for a beginner or surprising for an experienced owner. It was well written just not particularly helpful
It was interesting to learn about different dog breeds and how she categorized them, but if you’re someone who bought a pure bred dog for that breed, you’ve probably learned more about the characteristics. For the rest of us with rescue mutts or dogs with physical characteristics and not necessarily breed traits, it’s all a mixed bag. There are a few tips about approaching different issues but nothing explicit enough for a beginner or surprising for an experienced owner. It was well written just not particularly helpful
December 15, 2024
Brophey's categories for thinking about dogs and why one size does not fit all when it comes to different dog breeds and individual dogs' histories is immensely valuable. It's so helpful to have clear sense of why my bully breed is never going to communicate with me (or listen to me) in the same way my past mutts have. The LEGS approach makes great sense. I only wish it could have included more--case studies applying the theory to a few specific dogs, and how to work with those dogs moving forward, for example.
December 8, 2021
The breed category chapters are priceless! Without knowing exactly what mix of breeds my dog is, I was able to determine what I think the main breed categories are based on her personality. The information helps me to know that my dog’s annoying traits are not the fault of poor training on my part or defiance on her part, but rather an effect of her breed and DNA. The training tips were super helpful too.
October 11, 2022
One of the more unique dog books. As many adoption applications require a list of what you've read, I picked a few books to read (even though I'm largely devoted to Zak George's training videos). This one stood out; less about what happen after adoption, and more about dogs in general. It's also the only dog book where I felt I was learning some new information, and the only one I would genuinely recommend to another prospective dog owner.
April 24, 2023
This book is all about dogs. Each dog and what category they fall into. If you’re looking for a traditional dog training book, then skip over this. If you want to grow with your dog and have a great life with him/her working with you and for you, then open to page one. Meet your Dog doesn’t give step by step instructions on what to do to fix problems, but rather changes how you view problems, that might not really be problems with your dog, but with you.
October 16, 2024
I recommend this for anyone thinking about getting a dog- BEFORE they fall in love with a "look." It is deeply unfair to the dog to not understand their genetic propensity- sets the dog up for unreasonable expectation and failure.
It made me deeply sad to see that we have, over time, developed breeds for highly specific reasons, then the world changed and moved on. Now dogs struggle to adapt to the world we created where they no longer fit. It is a lose-lose situation now.
It made me deeply sad to see that we have, over time, developed breeds for highly specific reasons, then the world changed and moved on. Now dogs struggle to adapt to the world we created where they no longer fit. It is a lose-lose situation now.
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