On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals

This book is a must for anyone who is keen on understanding their dogs better and wants to improve human-dog interactions. Being a pet parent and an animal rescuer who has to approach many dogs on a daily basis, this book has brought about a marked difference in how I interact with dogs and how they respond to my gestures and cues. In this book, Turid talks about a host of signals that dogs give out to themselves, to other dogs, and also to humans to express certain emotions such as "I come in peace, I mean no harm, I am scared, you are scaring me, I am trying to calm you down, I am friendly, do not approach me now, I don't intend to interact now, I am not interested, and so on". These signals are innate signals that all dogs use to communicate with each other, and in turn they also understand these signals when others are using them. Hence, no training is required. After reading this book, and after trying out some of these signals myself, I have noticed how the body language of a dog changes based on the signals I give out. I have used these signals on street dogs while approaching them and also while avoiding them (when walking my dogs) and they seem to work like a charm. Similarly, these signals have helped me understand when I should approach my dog, when they don't want interactions and I should let them be, what is stressing them out and how I can calm them now. I only wish I had read this book a few years back! A must read and a must buy for everyone who is interested in dogs. I am told cats and horses also seem to display some of these signals!

On Talking terms with Dogs: Calming Signals is one of the few many books written by the well known Norwegian author Turid Rugaas. I must say after going through her profile that it is a splendid lives’ work. She has not only done a lot for dogs but for us humans as well to bring about various forms of communication between the two different species. Dedicating almost her complete life and inspiring numerous thousands of lives through her works and trainings, she just sets an example for many more such souls like hers. This book is perfectly written to understand the different signals that help us communicate in both ways - to speak to our dogs and as well as to listen to them. Yes to listen to them. I say so because it creates that connection which can only be felt. The content of the book is apt and flowing in a very understandable matter. Each and every concept is explained giving different examples. It gives a lot of knowledge. Also I was taken aback when I read about a stressed out dog. The factors which are so very normal to us are actually so very different to them. Incredible! I must say that this inspires me to follow her and read even more about these wonders on Earth. - Meghna Sheth

'On Talking Terms with Dogs' is a pathbreaking book that demonstrates beyond doubt that it is possible for humans to communicate non verbally with dogs in the same way they do among themselves. It demonstrates that, with some observation, you can understand any dogs signals, thus setting a foundation to a calmer, more trusting relationship between human and dog. It is a great conflict resolver and greatly reduces stress and insecurity in any dog. A very insightful and invaluable read for me in my line of work as an amateur behaviorist. This book was instrumental in taking me down the path of my passion ie dog behaviour almost 7 years ago. I wish the DVD were easily available as well!

I was adopted by a dog and became a single pet parent... Parenting is challenging; inter-species parenting even more so... to cope I got in touch with a Canine Behaviorist; and the learning began... Quoting Turid from the book... "a good relationship is based on two-way communication"... and Turid's book is an absolute eye opener in terms of how dogs communicate via 'Calming Signals'... the book is very easy to read with a lot of stories and pictures... Reading and re-reading the book, and observing my dog has helped me understand and communicate with my dog better than I'd dreamed possible... I believe that I am a better pet parent because of this... I'd recommend this book to all dog parents and dog people...

Excellent book.I feel every pet parent and pet lovers in general should go through this book.Turid explains in detail about how our fur babies try to communicate with us through certain signs which we often fail to interpret otherwise.Thanks to my teacher Sindhoor Pangal who recommended me this book.I am able to understand situations when my pets are under stress and hence able to make necessary changes to make them feel more relaxed.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

This book should be owned by all the dog owners. This book will help you understand your dog's body language and helps you to communicate with your dog. Turid Rugaas has explained it in a very simple way.

I wish I had read this book before our first dog came into our lives. It's very easy read with anecdotes and pictures illustrating her point. And more importantly, what she says makes a lot of sense. Now that I do know the language I realise that my two dogs have always been talking to each other and possibly us as well. It's just that I had been deaf to what they had to say to me. Poor guys must've been so frustrated at having spoken to me and yet not being heard. But that's going to change from this moment on. So if you are like me, who would like to communicate with dogs even if its just to say, "I hear you", this book is the first step towards that.

I found the book to be really useful in understanding my dog. The fact that you can hold a meaningful means of communication with your pet is heartening indeed.

Très intéressant. Un must! Je conseille ce livre très agréable à lire à tous les propriétaires de chien. On s'énerve souvent sur son chien pour des petites choses bêtes comme quand il baille alors qu'on lui demande un ordre. Un chien ne se moque pas de son maître il s'exprime comme il fait avec les autres chiens mais nous humain nous ne comprenons pas son langage et du coup on s'énerve et notre relation avec notre chien se détériore. Lire se livre m'a permis de mieux observer mon chien interagir avec moi et avec l’environnement extérieur. Je le recommande vivement!

This is the book that taught me how to communicate with my dog. The author says that dogs do not want to have trouble, they want harmony. When i was going through the puppy period i did not know what he wanted from me and i had a heavy puppy blues, it was very close to depression. Then i read this book and it changed my whole perspective. I was finally able to understand what he was trying to say all the time to me: calm down. Rest. Sit down. Relax. All the things i was not able to do trying to raise him. I was in pure panic mode. And then i learned to read his body language and that was the door that i had to open. I am forever thankful to this author. She is an amazing human being and i still keep lending my book to dear friends who go through such hard times.

This has changed how we treat and think about our dog. We love it. Wish I lived in Norway near Turid.

Este livro da Turid Rugaas é de leitura obrigatória para que quer aprender sobre comportamento canino. É um clássico da literatura. Fácil leitura, muito contéudo, contém fotos.

I purchased a digital version many years ago but lost the certificate. I wanted to read the book again so this time I ordered the book. Good book as a starting point to get into dog calming signals.