Hell on 4 Paws: A Story of Love, Life and Chesil, the Delinquent Dog

by Gwen Bailey

The funny and heart-warming tale of how the life of the country's leading pet behaviourist gets turned upside down by Chesil - her toughest pupil yet!

Genres: Animals, Dogs

266 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

Gwen worked for a leading UK national animal welfare charity from 1988-2002 and pioneered the use of dog behaviour knowledge in the rehoming of unwanted animals.

She was the first person to be appointed by a national animal welfare charity as a full time Animal Behaviourist, eventually heading a team of behaviourists.

Gwen has successfully solved behaviour problems in thousands of rehomed dogs, helping to prevent dogs with behavioural problems being passed from home to home and improving the rehoming success rate.

Gwen lectures at national and international conferences, runs training courses for staff at animal charities around the world and has written many books & education leaflets. She is a Trustee for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

Reviews

[J-Mo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book. It’s neither funny, nor heart-warming. It’s self-indulgent, selfish and irresponsible. I can’t endorse endangering people and other dogs for the sake of rehabilitating one. I bought this after reading other training advice from Gwen Bailey and could not have been more disappointed. Every dog deserves a chance, but not at the expense of others.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I agree with a previous reviewer, very "woe is me". She's been a dog behaviourist for years, and she finally met a dog she didn't like and couldn't walk away as it was her boyfriends dog!

[Grey · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you can get past the "poor me" whining commentary of this book, there are some very valuable dog behaviour lessons to be learned, for those of us who have taken on rescues with issues that need to be resolved. Unfortunately, you will also have to tolerate some very basic writing skills, as you can tell that the author isn't exactly brilliant as a writer.

She talks a lot about how the dog affected her life, and how much everything that went with her, did the same. It's good to highlight how having a dog like that will turn your life upside down--if anything people who welcome a dog into their home thinking it will be well behaved and tolerant straight away, will see how much this isn't the case, especially with some rescues.

It's something to read to show you you're not the only person going through doggy hell, but you'll need have a good tolerance for whining.

[Glenys · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a pleasure in hearing about a professional expert becoming the troubled client in her personal life, and having to take her own advice . Here is a dog behaviour specialist who acquires a new man and his obnoxious dog, and charts the amazing journey they made together. It's very readable (despite the bad proofreading -- for example, 'sort' for 'sought' and other errors)and actually quite moving at the end. I bought it because I found myself on Newcastle station after a tiring day's teaching and nothing to read on the journey home, except work. I succumbed to the temptation of WHSmith and this made the journey very pleasant.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so nice to know that even the professionals struggle sometimes!

A lovely book with a brilliant, feel-good ending. Definitely one to read if you're feeling down. And I'd reccomend it as a pick-me-up to anyone struggling along and feeling like they're getting no-where with their rescue dog.

A good read.

[Michelle Hol · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you enjoy animals this is a great book to read about animal antics and how to over come some really bad behaviour

[Lynne]

I really enjoyed this book...

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good.