Description
The must-have guide to addressing anxious, fearful, or reactive behaviors in your dog through positive reinforcement, from certified dog trainer and animal behaviorist Zazie Todd.
Is your dog showing signs of fear, anxiety, or reactivity, such as biting, food guarding, shyness, or aggressive barking? You’re not alone. Close to 75% of dogs struggle with fear-based behaviors, and require our support and understanding to feel safe and secure.
In Bark!, Zazie Todd provides solutions for these behaviors. Decoding the latest canine science, she shows readers how to address the root cause of your dog’s fears, with expert advice and practical tips on:
- How to tackle common canine fears, such as loud noises, the vet, separation anxiety, and other dogs.
- How to manage a dog’s natural fear responses through positive reinforcement.
- How to keep your dog, yourself, and others safe when they are fearful or reactive.
- How to create safe havens for your dog, and make yourself a secure base for them no matter where they are.
Compassionate, practical, and rooted in science, Bark! helps dog owners understand the many factors that might be causing fear within your dog, and how you can help them lead a safe and happy life.
Praise for WAG by Zazie Todd
"A must-have guide to improving your dog's life."—Modern Dog Magazine
“The author’s evidence-based analysis simplifies the science and reduces essential elements into practical, replicable activities geared toward enriching a dog’s life.”—Library Journal, STARRED Review
“Dog owners and those considering becoming one should appreciate Todd’s substantial insight into how dogs and humans relate to one another.”—Publishers Weekly
About the authors
Zazie Todd, PhD, is the author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. She is the founder of the popular blog Companion Animal Psychology, where she writes about everything from training methods to the human-canine relationship. She also writes a blog for Psychology Today, Fellow Creatures, and received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article in 2017. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and two cats.
Editorial Reviews
“This science-based, practical, hands-on but humane book shows exactly what to do if your pooch is anywhere on the scale between shy, anxious or terrified.”
—Sunday Post
"Zazie Todd explores how to help skittish canines cope with their anxieties in this solid manual.... Owners of anxious dogs will find this a salve."
—Publishers Weekly
"Few do a better job than Zazie of understanding what we really, truly know about dogs, and what science tells us what works to help them."
—Dr. Patricia McConnell, applied animal behaviorist and author of The Other End of the Leash, For the Love of a Dog, and The Education of Will
“This insightful book gave me—a lifelong dog guardian with a passion for all things dog—much to think about. I’ll be referring to it often!"
—Teresa J. Rhyne, #1 NY Times bestselling author of The Dog Lived (and So Will I) and Poppy in the Wild
“An invaluable guide to the science behind taking a rescue dog on a journey away from fear. For me, it reinforced the message given us by the behaviourist who helped us with #sophiefromromania - it’s all about moving at the dog’s own pace.”
—Rory Cellan-Jones, author of Sophie From Romania
“If dogs could choose one book they would like all dog lovers to read, it would be this one. Zazie Todd makes what can sometimes be a complex subject, accessible and understandable, by giving guardians practical, science-based advice and training solutions to help their dogs cope with life’s challenges.”
—Victoria Stilwell, dog behavior expert and founder of Victoria Stilwell Academy and Positively.com
“Bark! cuts through the confusion and myths to provide clear-cut, well-researched assistance to those with ‘difficult’ dogs.… Bark! should be required reading for every veterinarian and anyone who loves an anxious, fearful, or reactive dog.”
—Karen Fine DVM, author of NYT-bestseller The Other Family Doctor
“A fun, enjoyable, and eminently practical read.”
—Dr. Marty Becker, America's Veterinarian and Founder of Fear Free
“Whether you live or work with a fearful dog, or are interested in knowing more about dogs, this book has something for everyone. Dr Todd has done a fantastic job of condensing the science into understandable and accessible information which has resulted in a book packed full of practical and useful advice. I will be definitely recommending this book to my clients.”
—Nick Honor CTC, Clinical Animal Behaviourist and Chair of The Canine Behaviour and Training Society
"Break[s] down the science into easy-to-understand anecdotes. It's a must-read for anyone who wants a better understanding of dogs, reactive or not."
—Alexis Devine, author of I Am Bunny
“An extraordinarily informative read from cover-to-cover ... Bark! would be at home on the bookshelf of any professional trainer, experienced dog parent, or new adopter.”
—Si Wooler, acclaimed dog trainer
“Full of practical solutions and tips for even the most fearful of canines, all backed by extensive research, witty personal stories, and tales of Todd’s own beloved animals.”
—Kelly S. Thompson, national bestselling author of Still, I Cannot Save You
Praise for WAG by Zazie Todd
"A must-have guide to improving your dog's life."
—Modern Dog Magazine
“The author’s evidence-based analysis simplifies the science and reduces essential elements into practical, replicable activities geared toward enriching a dog’s life.”
—Library Journal, STARRED Review
“Dog owners and those considering becoming one should appreciate Todd’s substantial insight into how dogs and humans relate to one another.”
—Publishers Weekly
