“My dog is a genius” is a very informative book. It is written by David Taylor, a highly respected veterinary surgeon. He founded the International Zoo Veterinary Group in 1969 and now travels the world, treating any animal he finds that needs help. He is the author of more than 40 books on pet care, including the best sellers ‘The Ultimate Dog,’ ‘You and Your Dog,’ and ‘Think Cat.’
It begins with the author explaining about dogs and their history and how humans began to domesticate them. As you read on, David Taylor went on to talk about the scientific evidence for the intelligence of dogs. Times are different now and many behaviorists are studying animals and their way of communicating.
David Taylor also goes on to discuss dog intelligence such as different breeds fall into a certain category and so do their intelligence, emotions, smell, hearing and even how to communicate with your dog. What surprised me the most was his proof that dogs do have memories! And they have 5 different memories. I have always thought that dogs forget events and incidents easily. Now I understand why my dog always barks at the same people. That’s because he has a social memory!
When I started reading this book, I thought that it is made up of all the words and theoretical analysis. However, as I venture further into the book, I came across this chapter. It’s called “How Smart Is Your Dog”. David Taylor actually provided many games and tricks for dog owners to play with their pets. Most of the games and tricks (tests) are intended to determine the intelligence of your dog. I couldn’t help but bookmark the cool games and couldn’t wait to try it out on my dog! We had a great time! My dog enjoyed the treats from him and in turn I found out that he is really smart! There are so many games and tricks that I have yet to finish trying on my dog.
After the fun and games, it’s time to relax a bit. The following chapters cover obedience and basic behaviors. What about the training method that David uses?
“Corporal punishment of any kind should never be used on a dog. Hitting, kicking, pressing lips hard on the teeth – these are all absolutely taboo. Acceptable punishments are to interrupt whatever the dog is doing in a strong way , high-pitched, even startling manner, perhaps through the use of an air horn, the rattle of a can, a puff of citronella spray, a spray of water, or simply a firm scolding, ‘No!'” (D. Taylor, p. 100)
David Taylor uses the reward method in training his dog. Commands like look, sit, lie down, come and give are some of the training commands covered in step-by-step illustrated guides. Advanced commands and cheats are covered later in the chapters. Tips on agility training are also shared.
This book contains a lot of information about dogs, as well as practical work. To date, I think this is the most interesting and informative book I have come across. In fact, I even thought I could trust this book without having to research others! This book will definitely help keep your dog’s brain sharp and both entertained and bonded.