Product Description

Do our dogs experience the equivalent of infancy and puberty? Do they go through terrible teens or struggle with mid-life crises? And what can we do to ensure they take each step in their stride? Best-selling author Jan Fennell leads us through the key stages of a dog's development by uniquely defining the seven ages of man's best friend. All owners know their dogs pass through distinct, often dramatic phases during their life. But what are those phases? In a fresh, new approach to the subject, Jan charts the dog's life from the buoyant, boundless energy of the Puppy and the Pioneer, through the troublesome teens that are the ages of the Playboy and the Protege and the difficult middle years of the Pretender and the Protector to the twilight years of the Pensioner. The book is also a comprehensive guide to coping with the problems that crop up at particular times in a dog's development -- from toilet training and vaccinations, to puberty and parenthood. In The Dog Listener, Jan Fennell changed the way we think about our dogs. Now, in her most important book since, Jan once more challenges conventional thinking to put forward an alternative view of the dog's world. It is a book dog owners everywhere will want to read -- then keep close to hand for years afterwards.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33730 in Books
• Published on: 2005-08-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Review
'British dog owner Jan Fennell has devised a revolutionary method of training. It's gentle, simple and remarkably effective.' Mail on Sunday 'Jan Fennell may not have danced with wolves, but she's stood nose to nose with them -- and if she was given half a chance, I'm sure she could make lions lie down with lambs.' Daily Record

About the Author
Jan Fennell became well known through Channel 5's programme The Dog Listener ('It was amazing.' -- The Daily Mail). Her first book by the same title proved to be an international success, and she has since published 3 more titles with us. Jan has appeared on Yorkshire TV, in the series Problem Pooches and is often on the radio. She lives in Lincolnshire but her work takes her all around the country.

Customer Reviews

Haynes Manual for Dogs :-)
"The Dog Listener" books have provided many dog owners, myself included, with the opportunity to restructure their relationships with their canine companions. I was therefore very eager to read what Jan had to say about how dogs grew up and the changes (and challenges) we could expect as my young rescue friend grew into a hopefully happy and contented dog.

As the title suggests the book breaks down a dog's life into seven distinct phases. Each 'Age' incorporates a small section describing what would occur in a wolf pack at that age, followed by a brief overview of the development of the dog. The chapter then relates to any particular developmental or behavioural needs asscoiated with that age of dog. At the end of each chapter, there was also a 'health'section, which highlighted various aspects of canine health associated with that particular phase of their development, from the usual vaccinations to how to spot signs of cancer, deafness and blindness.

Key areas that I found beneficial at this point in time included "How long will my dog live?", "Being aware of your dog's limitations in communicating with other dogs" and the First Aid and Health sections.

This book is a good Dog owner's Manual and will probably be very well thumbed by me over the next few years

I rated this book with only four stars as the book did not benefit from Jan's easy reading style of her Dog Listener books, and I felt there was some repetition of content between this book and her previous ones, although this was minor.

A Practical Guide for the Dog Lover
Having already bought 3 previous publications by Jan Fennell, I seriously wondered whether this could add anything to the wisdom already gleaned from this author. However, I have found this book to be a goldmine of information.

It covers the seven ages of a dog, the stage which it goes through, understanding the mind set of the animal, the health and behavioural problems which may accompany it and how to address them. This is done in a clear manner but without the anecdotal style of it's predecessors.

A book which helps you understand your dog - and the only manual you are likely to ever need.

A very handy manual!
I now have every publication by Jan and this one is different. It does express some of the same information as in the others, but it is laid out very differently and is not a one-night read!
Full of very interesting and helpful information and insights,and something I found particularily useful was the section on how different dogs read each other. (how bassetts and boxers can be perceived as aggressive by other breeds)
A must-have manual for any dog owner, which will guide you through all seven stages.
In some ways it is easy to navigate-in others its more difficult than others. Depends on what you want from it.