Dog Training: A Quirky Exposé From the Dogs' Point of View |
There's been a global shift away from dominance-based dog training.
A new book emphasizes the importance of considering what dogs want and need.
I'm always looking for books on dog training and behavior that rely on the latest science for conveying the most important reasons for people to become fluent in dog—dog literate—while at the same time appreciating the well-established fact that there is a rapid global shift from outdated dominance-based training to positive force-free training based on what modern behavioral science is telling us.1 I also like books that are written for non-scientists that are fun and sometimes comical reviews of how we must demystify dog behavior and training and pay careful attention to what science tells us about these topics.
For these and other reasons, I was thrilled to learn of dog expert and trainer Melissa McCue-McGrath's recent book with the quirky and inviting title Misadventures of the World’s Okayest Dog Trainer: 25 Cases to Guide Dog Trainers and Behaviorists in Their Career, in which she writes about her personal journey into the importance of taking the dogs' point of view on the matters at hand and understanding the many reasons for the rapid evolution of canine behavior into a still unregulated industry.2 Along the way, she dispels myths about the behavior of companion dogs that can negatively influence the quality of dog-human relationships.3
Marc Bekoff: Why did you write Misadventures of the World’s Okayest Dog Trainer?
Melissa McCue-McGrath: I was assigned my first student through the Victoria Stilwell Academy (VSA), Zoe, in 2015. The night before her last exam, she asked me what she needed to know. I explained she should brush up on the learning theory quadrants, and that's when she stopped me. She explained, "I feel I have a pretty good grasp on the test. What I am asking you is what didn't they tell me? What do I need to know before I start working with dogs?" This is that book.
MB: How does your book........