How to Talk to Your Dog

Amazon.com

Dog talk is not merely whimpers, growls, sniffs, barks, and howls. According to award-winning author Jean Craighead George, it's in the tail ("the flag of feelings") and ear twists, too. In this irresistible picture book, you'll learn how to speak to your dog in his or her own language. Sniff his nose to say hello, for example. (You don't have to lick back, even though it would please him.) While you'll never be a match for your dog in the sniffing department, you can look deeply into his eyes or you can whimper to show you care. Don't growl or bark, however. ("Although it's fun, it is not very rewarding to bark at your dog. He doesn't understand your bad accent and may twist his head and look at you in confusion.")

Sue Truesdell's splendidly doggish illustrations interact with photos of Jean Craighead George herself--a woman who has been around dogs her whole life. Dog lovers of all ages will run in circles for this loving, funny celebration of the human-canine relationship. For those who prefer cats, investigate the companion title, How to Talk to Your Cat. (Ages 7 to 107)

Book Description

Find out what your dog is really saying -- and talk back!

Jean Craighead George, Newbery Medal -- winning author of over 80 books about nature and animals, demonstrates in words and photos how to communicate with your best friend.

Customer Reviews:

Book a danger to children who follow its recommendations.......2006-11-17

Do not put your children in danger! They will be if they follow many of the authors recommendations. Please see the review written by Julie Shaw it is right on the money. Ms. Jean Craighead George makes suggestions that if used on the wrong dog could result in a person being bitten. For canine behavior stick with books by Jean Donaldson, Karen Pryor, Ian Dunbar...not Jean Craighead George.

Great book.......2006-07-19

For such a small, easy to read book - LOTS of great, accurate information! Very helpful!

Great Book.......2004-06-24

Although this book is short it is great for younger children and is an over-all guide to "Dog talk". You should buy this book, I truly recommend it!

THE CAT'S MEOW! GREAT ADVICE AND HOWLING FUN ILLUSTRATIONS.......2003-02-13

Let's start simply and honestly, the same way these tomes approach their subject matter, and say these are the cat's meow! Jean Craighead George has penned two ultra-thin volumes on communicating with our best friends and felines, and each is a howling success. The Newberry Medal-winning author does what someone like Elizabeth Marshall Thomas has tried to do in books tens of thousands words and pages longer and could not. Jean, by George, had found the winning ways to teach pet lovers how to chat with their four-footed pals. Her writing is sparse: "A lick is not a kiss. It is a statement that says you're a wonderful leader." Her advice is refreshing: "Growling is aggressive
talk. Don't growl back. Dogs don't like that." As special as her words is the whimiscal use of arkwork: actual color photos of the animated author interacting with illustrations (by Sue Truesdell) of equally animated cartoon cats and dogs. (We just love the one of George on all fours, rubbing heads with a cat!) Four paws up!

More Harm Then Education.......2001-12-28

When I was given this book by a client I was thrilled. The book's a brilliant red front cover is beautifully illustrated with a cartoon dog. The inside pages are illustrated with more canine cartoons interacting with photos. At first glance it seems to be an intriguing children's book. Unfortunately the cover of this book is where all positive comments end.

I believe the author's intention in this book is to teach canine communication skills. If I am correct in this assumption, she not only failed miserably but may have caused more harm then education.

She advises "To say hello to your dog, sniff toward his nose. That's dog talk. He will answer by pulling his ears back and close to his head. What he is saying is 'Hello, Leader". Ms. Craighead-George is describing a dog who is telling their nose-sniffing-human "This is a bit uncomfortable, please stop". A dog's ears going back can be a conflict behavior.

She goes onto say "'Good night' in dog talk is physical. Rub your dog's head, ears and neck. Lower your lids and sigh into his fur. You are the mother dog licking her pup off to sleep." Although I often enjoy a nice snuggle with my dog I am relatively certain he knows I am not his mother or a dog. I was relieved that she did not suggest I lick my dog, we all have to draw the line somewhere.

Ms. Craighead-George advises "'Good-bye' is a whisk of the tail, then turning and walking off. Since you don't have a tail, swish your hand downward and show your back. If your dog does not choose to hear this unwelcome message and races after you, tell him, `I am the boss,' in dog talk, then repeat the dog `good-bye'." I will admit to frequently suffering from serious bouts of tail-envy but I'm afraid my hand waving behind my rear end is a bit of a stretch in wishful thinking.

Ms. Craighead -George crosses the line from embarrassingly silly to potentially dangerous in her section titled "How do you say `I am the boss'?" She advises, "The most effective way is to put your mouth on his muzzle. That means in dog talk that you are the leader. His ears will go back and against his head, and his tail will lower. This is his way of saying, `Yes, you are my leader'." I suspect many people who attempt this will have time to contemplate what their dog was really saying ("You have totally lost your mind and you are frightening the heck out of me") while they wait patiently in the emergency room to have their dog bite treated.

She suggests if your dog becomes anxious or confused you should "Sniff his nose to tell him not to be angry or confused. Nose sniffs are peace talk." I have a sincere concern that for a dog that is in an anxiety situation, a human sticking their face in his to sniff his nose may increase the stress level to a point where the dog may feel he has no other option but to bite the face that sniffs him.

It is cautioned in "How to Talk to Your Dog" that children should not roll onto their backs while playing with their dog or they will be saying in dog language "I am your humble servant". My own dogs must be the most misinformed canines on the planet. They have three young humble servants in their household and they don't even realize it!

I would recommend that the author stay with ridiculous but harmless comments suggest as "You can pass other messages with your eyes. Think, `I love you. I love you,' and your lower lid will involuntarily come up and soften your expression. Your dog will read that and return this message by softening his eyes."

I am still uncertain to what population this book is directed. I can only hope it was not written for innocent children and will only fall into the hands of adults who will quickly realize this book for the nonsensical hogwash that it is.

The Beginner's Guide to Animal Communication: How to Listen and Talk With Your Animal Friends (The Beginner's Guides)
Average customer rating:

It works!

Organized to "reach" you.

The Beginner's Guide to Animal Communication: How to Listen and Talk With Your Animal Friends (The Beginner's Guides)
Carol Gurney
Manufacturer: Sounds True
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 159179109X

Book Description

The ability to communicate with animals is not a rare gift, but a skill we all possess. On The Beginner's Guide to Animal Communication, author and teacher Carol Gurney brings nearly 20 years' experience in interpreting the language of animals to anyone seeking a "heart-to-heart" connection with the special companions in their lives. From developing deep intuition into the thoughts and feelings of animals to learning how to verify the information you receive, here is an illuminating course of useful exercises and expert guidance to help listeners open to the unconditioned love animals freely offer.

Customer Reviews:

It works!.......2004-10-24

This is an excellent book, but I admit, I initially did not believe I would ever get results. I still need to work more on perfecting my communication skills, but this really does work! Also, just her stories of communicating with various animals are very interesting.

Organized to "reach" you........2004-05-03

This CD is very well thought out. Carol Gurney puts the information you need to know, in the order that makes the most sense. I have listen to other's ideas on the subject without success, but she reached me. I always had a difficult time meditating, or deliberately calming my mind down. She brought to light that I am relaxing my mind when I do needlework - my form of meditation, something I enjoy. I "hang up the busy phone" in my mind, in her own words, when I do needlework. This concept alone has raised my confidence level and enabled me to start communicating with my animals. I recommend this CD to all pet owners interested in the subject.

The Cat Whisperer: The Secret of How to Talk to Your Cat

Average customer rating:

A very good book to get you up to speed with modern theory
GREAT BOOK!
The Cat Whisperer: The Secret of How to Talk to Your Cat
The Cat Whisperer: The Secret of How to Talk to Your Cat
Do Yourself A Favor And SKIP This Book

The Cat Whisperer: The Secret of How to Talk to Your Cat
Claire Bessant
Manufacturer: Barron''s Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764121650

Product Description

Barrons Books The Cat Whisperer Book

Customer Reviews:

A very good book to get you up to speed with modern theory.......2007-07-23

I just brought home my first cat in 20 years, and find this book an excellent primer in getting to know this little creature & appreciate it as a friend. The book is identical to her other book titled "How to Talk to Your Cat", so no need to buy both. The book is not written in an 'owner manual' style, but rather as a long essay where the author dispenses her sage advice. All the author is doing in this book is tying together modern theory to explain what a cat is, & why it does what it does, so we can better appreciate it & have more fruitful interactions with it. Some people may prefer a more systematic & technical approach; it is all personal preference. But I agree, the title is very misleading & a slick marketing ploy.

GREAT BOOK!.......2006-03-01

This book is one of the best I have seen on cat behavior and psychology. It is very in depth and easy to read. I recommend this to all users who want to get to know their cats better!

The Cat Whisperer: The Secret of How to Talk to Your Cat.......2004-11-05

Aside from the catchy title, I found little of use in this book that supposedly deals with cat communication. Any 'tasty morsels' were far and few between. Does the author even own a cat?

The Cat Whisperer: The Secret of How to Talk to Your Cat.......2004-04-28

At the beginning of this book, the author attempts to get us to understand from a cat's perspective on what it must be like to live with humans by comparing cats to Eskimos who suddenly move to the jungle. I nearly couldn't read any further. It is a distracting and unappetizing comparison with which Native people may be all too familiar.

Throughout the book, the author seems to go on and on about the relative popularity of dogs to cats. She includes far too much about dogs and their behavior characterstics in relation to people. If this were a book about cats and dogs that might have been appropriate. However, in this book, it was simply another distraction.

There are a few interesting things, but overall doesn't cover any new ground that Desmond Morris hasn't already covered.

Do Yourself A Favor And SKIP This Book.......2004-01-04

I've read dozens of cat books in the last few years, and frankly I just thought this one was a waste of money. There is no new info here, no new point of view, nothing that isn't available in a dozen other cat books, and better written at that. Someone who picked up "Cats For Dummies" would get more plentiful, useful information.

Average customer rating:

Book filled with inaccuracies
A great laugh... and it works too!
Cute for all ages
Understand house-cat behavior.
HOWLING GREAT FUN AND FABULOUS ILLUSTRATIONS!

How to Talk to Your Cat
Jean Craighead George
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060006226
Release Date: 2003-02-04

Amazon.com

Perhaps no one is better equipped to help us understand our cats than Jean Craighead George, award-winning author of over 80 books about nature and animals. This delightful picture book for cat lovers of all ages makes it perfectly clear who has the power in a human-cat relationship: the cat. But you already knew that. What you may not have known is that cats meow as many as 19 different meows (all interpreted here), that cats never purr when they are alone, that no one knows what part of the cat a purr really comes from, and what cats' various tail positions mean. Illustrator Paul Meisel's charming, cartoonish cats prance through the pages with photos of the author herself in a clever, endearing display of the human-feline relationship. Dog lovers will want to sniff out the companion title, How to Talk to Your Dog. (Ages 7 to 107) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

Find out what your cat is really saying -- and talk back!

Jean Craighead George, Newbery Medal-winning author of over 80 books about nature and animals, demonstrates in words and photos how to communicate with that ever-mysterious, ever-lovable animal -- the cat.

Customer Reviews:

Book filled with inaccuracies.......2007-10-06

My daughter and I read "How to Talk to Your Cat" and were amazed by the number of inaccuracies stated throughout the book.

The author states that cats are "completely self-sufficient and can leave you at any time and go off and make a living." It's this kind of ignorance that contributed to the explosion in the feral cat population we face today! People pick up and move and abandon their cats thinking they can fend for themselves. Hunting is learned by watching other cats, and then putting those lessons into practice until they are perfected. Offspring of non-hunting cats rarely make good hunters themselves. In other words, house cats that have never been outdoors could never just "leave at any time and go off and make a living." They'd starve to death!

She also states that "cats are loners" and they "don't like company, including other cats." Cats are not anti-social. They have intricate social interactions with their own kind. Two of my cats are very social; they love the attention of people (even those they just meet) and the camaraderie of other felines. Feral cat colonies are found in every city and town throughout the world--the perfect example of their social nature. Cats also possess the ability to form close friendships with people. I own 8 cats and I have a unique relationship with each one. They are my babies and I couldn't imagine life without them.

She recommends only having one cat. She goes on to state "cats dislike other cats and will fight." Cats are social beings; they do like other cats and the only time they fight is to establish territory or male dominance, not because they dislike one another.

The author tells us that cats are o.k. with our leaving; they will not sulk. She doesn't know my cat Amber. Once I pull out the suitcases, she knows what's about to follow. She follows my every move when I go from room to room to gather things to pack all the while whimpering. I once had to cut a vacation short when her caretaker told me she wasn't eating or using the litter box. She was so upset by my absence.

Finally, she states that "the deeper the claws dig [into furniture], the more status the cat has." Huh? Scratching is a way of marking territory. Depth of the scratch has nothing to do with status. Feline social standing is measured by the amount of land a cat can lord over it. At the top of the hierarchy are unneutered males, followed by females that haven't been spayed, spayed females and at the bottom are the neutered males.

Her book would have been better suited for the fiction, not non-fiction classification.

I find it ironic that the author doesn't even own a cat, yet somehow she feels she has the knowledge and expertise to write a book about them.

A great laugh... and it works too!.......2007-09-26

I have had cats for quite sometime... and I was always saying to myself and my girlfriend... "I wish our cat could talk." To be honest, she never wanted to know what they were saying, I think becuase she would be afraid of what they are saying, even though our cats love her more than they do me.
ANYWAY, this book has been a great way to understand better what our little friends are trying to say to us. I would not say that we are having conversations, but, at least I know that I should not take somethings as personal as what I was in the past.
For example, I loved to hold up our big cat, Toolsie, and put my nose to his (as kind of a kiss). Well, he let me do that without any resistance. What his relaxed body but squinting eyes were telling me was that he thinks this is fun but does not undrestand what or why i am doing this. A nice scratch on the back. Our other cat, Cuckoo, puts her paw up to my nose/face as I put my nose to her nose. It is quite funny and I was always wondering what she was thinking... well, from what I understand, Cuckoo thought I was more cuckoo and she was saying "hey, stop that, get out of my face. you are irritating me." Ok, i probably knew that without this book, but it has been good fun and i recommend it to any person who has a cat or give it as a gift to a friend that has a cat.
Keep up the conversation :)

Cute for all ages.......2006-08-27

This book tells how to interact with your cat. It is a very cute story that I enjoyed along with my family.

Understand house-cat behavior........2006-01-19

"How to talk to your cat," by Jean Craighead George.
Formerly published as part of a book called "How to talk to your animals."

Not to be confused with: "How to talk to your cat," an earlier book by Patricia Moyes. "How to talk to your cat," by Claire Bessant. "How to talk to your cat," by Lynn Allison. It's a common title!

A book about house-cat behavior, body language, and communication by vocalizations and pheromones. It is not about (nor does it mention) telepathic animal communication. The book has three chapters; the first and last are about various other kinds of animals, and the middle chapter is about house cats. It has simple black-and-white line drawings that serve as diagrams of gestures, and illustrations of anecdotes. While the illustrations are good, I would have liked to see more of them. [Note: this refers to the 1985 printing; it appears that the newest printing has more illustrations!]

The author used to believe (as science used to dictate) that animals behaved unthinkingly and without emotions, as automatons, and that they should not be thought of as being like humans. However, her stance changed to the opposite. She now sees animals as being intelligently, sensitively, and as being only a little different from humans, if at all. She has a convincing collection of case studies for this argument.

The chapter about cats tells of how they were domesticated. It describes and explains their social interactions with one another, including parenting, mating, fighting, hunting, and communicating with pheromones. As the title promises, it gives you advice on how to use body language and vocalizations that your cat will understand.

I'm familiar with this subject, but I did learn some new things from this book. There were a few feline behaviors whose reasons were mysterious to me that this book explained. The last chapter brought up several examples of animal tool use that I hadn't heard of before. As the author has raised "173 wild and 50 domestic animals," there were some amusing personal anecdotes about ravens, coyotes, and so on. I didn't spot any mistakes or false factoids.

All in all: the book was short enough to finish reading in a morning, I enjoyed reading it, and I learned some new things. Very good!

HOWLING GREAT FUN AND FABULOUS ILLUSTRATIONS!.......2003-02-13

Let's start simply and honestly, the same way these tomes approach their subject matter, and say these are the cat's meow! Jean Craighead George has penned two ultra-thin volumes on communicating with our best friends and felines, and each is a howling success. The Newberry Medal-winning author does what someone like Elizabeth Masrshall Thomas has tried to do in books tens of thousands words and pages longer and could not. Jean, by George, had found the winning ways to teach pet lovers how to chat with their four-footed pals. Her writing is sparse: "A lick is not a kiss. It is a statement that says you're a wonderful leader." Her advice is refreshing: "Growling is aggressive talk. Don't growl back. Dogs don't like that." As special as her words is the whimiscal use of arkwork: actual color photos of the animated author interacting with illustrations (by Sue Truesdell) of equally animated cartoon cats and dogs. (We just love the one of George on all fours, rubbing heads with a cat!) Four paws up!

Average customer rating:

A must for any dog owner unless you've had other materials on this subject or training.

How to Talk with Your Dog
David Alderton
Manufacturer: Howell Book House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764544152

Book Description

Ever wondered why dogs sniff each other when they meet? Or what drives your puppy to chew your sneakers? In How to Talk with Your Dog, discover the complex language and behavior of dogs. Find out what your pet is really trying to say when he flattens his ears, barks persistently, or seems to smile. Learn from dogs themselves how to deal with problem behavior or integrate your new puppy into the family pack. By mastering your pet's language, you can get the most out of your relationship, whether you're training or just having fun together.

Bring up your puppy responsibly by using the language he will instinctively understand
Discover how to read your dog's complex body language–from ear positions to resting postures–through lavish color photographs
Get expert advice on spotting–and dealing with–an agressive, sick, or anxious dog
Learn how to discipline, train, and care for your puppy just like his mother would

Customer Reviews:

A must for any dog owner unless you've had other materials on this subject or training........2007-04-04

This should be on of the first books any dog owner reads. I was fortunate enough that I got it within two weeks of receiving my new AKC puppy. This will teach you about how your, and others behaviors affect and what they mean to a dog. It explains the instinctive pack mentality of dogs and the way they interpret dogs, animals and persons around them and their places in the pack. It explains how to understand the visual signs and actions of your dog so you will know what to do in the best way possible. My puppy peed in the house twice and pooped three times over a period of the first three weeks. I did not put his nose in it or yell at him. I reacted properly thanks to this book with my actions, care and love. My dog has not repeated this action indoors anywhere. My dog is cooperative in my training techniques and does what I coax him to do. The potty training alone makes the book worth the money but teaching is a breeze as well as knowing what he wants and the way he understands. I've had the precious baby for 10 weeks now. He is happy, intelligent, responsive and very loving. (A very cooperative relationship) It's great!

You Can Talk to Your Animals: Animal Communicators Tell You How

Average customer rating:

why must i chase the cat?
Didn't work for me
A captivating book
Great book!
you can talk to your animals

You Can Talk to Your Animals: Animal Communicators Tell You How
Janine Adams
Manufacturer: Howell Book House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

The Language of Animals: 7 Steps to Communicating with Animals
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Animal Reiki: Using Energy to Heal the Animals in Your Life
Learning Their Language: Intuitive Communication with Animals and Nature
Hands-On Healing for Pets: The Animal Lover's Essential Guide to Using Healing Energy

ASIN: 158245177X

Book Description

You CAN talk to Your Animals offers advice from the top animal communicators in the country. What readers learn will help them open their minds and hearts to form stronger bounds with their animals and will provide a unique opportunity for them to have a real, open dialogue with their pets. Author Janine Adams and thousands of others have found a way to communicate with their animals beyond guessing.

The techniques in this book will allow the reader into their animals' thoughts to:

locate the center of a behavior problem or illness

uncover the latest mysterious history in the case of an adopted shelter animal

aid in the rescue of a lost pet

contact a deceased animal

and much more!

Actual case studies are used to illustrate the effective power of animal communication, and experts in the field reveal their own secrets for tapping into the animal mind.

Customer Reviews:

why must i chase the cat?.......2007-10-10

any idiot can talk to their pet but it takes a special kind of idiot to expect a conversation

Didn't work for me.......2007-02-06

I read and studied this book thoroughly. Then I got a racing form, and picked a race. I telephoned the owners of the horses and only 1 of them would actually discuss their horse with me. I told them their horse told me that he would run faster if he got to breed a mare the night before the race. The owner hung up on me, so I bet against that horse. However, the horse won the race. I could have come out $1000 richer. I think the owner must have taken the advice I gave them. Wanna bet?
Recommended reading: james randi dot org

A captivating book.......2002-02-01

This is a very enjoyable book, well worth its money.

It will make you cry, it will make you laugh, it will make you think and it can help you start communicating with your animal friend.

This book has many stories from various professional animal communicators. Stories of lost and hurting animals, of troubled and happy ones. What never seizes to amaze me is the capacity of those creatures to love. While their owners/guardians are troubled by guilt, the animals rarely hold bad feelings about them.

The greater part of the book is consumed on these stories. However, the last chapter is a "How to" guide, compiled of exercises and techniques of various professionals. Some are easy, some are impossible, but most of them have results. The info on many animal communicators (phone number, web site etc) are also listed there.

In the US there are workshops on animal communication. However, if you are unable to attend one, this book is a good place to start.

Great book!.......2002-01-30

All I can say is that I loved this book about communicating with animals! The more I read about animals trying to communicate with humans - the more I want to listen!

you can talk to your animals.......2001-12-15

I first found this book when I was searching for information when my cocker spaniel companion,Sissy, was diagnosed with cancer. This book will give you a whole new perspective on what your animals thought processes are and show you how much more your animal friends are a part of your life than you think. The chapter on illness and on death of your loved ones quite possibly kept me sane as we went through the grieving process. I will gaurantee this book will amaze you. I have given it as gifts to many other people,who love it.

Average customer rating:

Could be better
Entertaining and Useful
If you really want to learn something, find another book.
I Haven't Hated A Book This Much In A Long Time...
Mostly Siamese If You Please

How to Talk to Your Cat
Patricia Moyes
Manufacturer: Gramercy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0517092964
Release Date: 1993-04-04

Amazon.com

How to Talk to Your Cat won't necessarily transform you into a fluent speaker of kitty lingo--but it will provide a blueprint for interpreting those chirruping mews, silent miaows, and deep throated demonic growls. Of course there is nothing scientific here, but furry fun is guaranteed along the way. A strong emphasis is placed on listening and talking to your cat, (hopefully your neighbors won't think you're too strange). Recognizing your kitty's needs and wants through her sounds will ultimately strengthen the bonds between cat and human, so try not to feel too self-conscious! Cat talk is far more complex than just vocalization; non-verbal cat communication is also explored in depth, and the classic postures (sad, happy, anxious, nervous) are exemplified with pencil drawings. Anecdotes and oodles of kitty tidbits and trivia make this a charming read for cat fanatics and prospective Dr. Dolittles! --Naomi Gesinger

Book Description

Entertaining and informative guide for the cat-lover packed with charming anecdotes and home-spun advice, cat-calls and a vocabulary of gestures. B&W drawings throughout. 128 pages.

Customer Reviews:

Could be better.......2007-05-22

I didn't find this book to be very creative or interesting. There seemed to be a lot of filler and little substance. I had expected something more entertaining.

Entertaining and Useful.......2004-07-04

How To Talk To Your Cat is divided into ten sections, each devoted to a different aspect of cat care and communication.
I immensley enjoy Patricia Moyes's style of writing; her tone is both professional, yet she also has a good sense of humor. This makes the book fun to read, while also providing helpful information.
A lot of the verbal communication that she mentions (including the silent miaow, the "welcome home!" chirp, etc.) I could smile and nod my head at, knowing that my cats do the exact same thing.

If you really want to learn something, find another book........2004-05-08

This book has very little content pertaining to how to talk to your cat. When I first picked the book up, I flipped to the middle, which happened to be the "good" part, so I gave it a try. The beginning contained some "historical" information, which I found sketchy considering the author had no credentials or references. The argument that this woman gave for how cats became domesticated wasn't convincing. Regardless, there was a decent section in the middle about picking a cat (if you got past her feelings about purebreds), communicating with your cat, and what the different "miaows" and body language mean that I found interesting and useful. Otherwise, the book is filled with stories of her Siamese cats and their world travels, unlikely circumstances involving the one cat being lost for 2 weeks, and many, many opinions. The author seemed haughty most of the time and was very opinionated. Overall, I'd guess this author had money and thought it would be fun to write a book about her cats.

I Haven't Hated A Book This Much In A Long Time..........2004-03-01

I bought this title along with several others in earnest, seeking to better my relationship with my cat, & then honestly could not wait to finish the book...

There was a small handful of nuggets of helpful information, mostly concerning a cats' body language & basic needs, that was useful. The most important concept I came away with is the advice to speak to your cat intelligently, & to treat him as a sentient being who bears personhood & with respect. I agree with the author that this is crucial. Even if your cat does not fully pick up on all of your complex human vocabulary, as Ms. Moyes elaborately fantasizes that hers do - your cat *will* pick up on your intent, the tone of your feelings towards him, & the spirit in which you speak to him. Her method of developing a call signal to find a lost cat is also of practical value. If you come away with these points, you've got the basics.

That said...

This author's narcissistic "snitty british" arrogant writing tone propelled by almost purely emotional reasoning drove me up a wall........ The author struck me as overly self-involved & almost completely lost in her own personal fantasies about what is going on with her cats to the point of living in a dream world, made for one. After page 20 this slowly became nauseating, & a stifling urge to scream settled in & stayed.

In this book, the author haughtily purports herself to be everyone's Conscience concerning their pet. She makes striking statements that anyone who would ever opt to declaw a cat - or to solely house them indoors - is better off not having one at all. Apparently, this individual would rather see stray animals piled up dead on the floors of kill shelters, than to be adopted to live by apartment pet regulations concerning declawing, or kept safely indoors. My thought was, "How dare you..." The author needs to reach beyond a myopic, single-minded love of Siamese cats & an upper class lifestyle to develop some concept of how many hundreds of thousands of cats are left unclaimed & unadopted to die in shelters every single day, claws intact. This is reality.

But then...she imagines that in spite of the plethora of feline breeds & mixes available, every person would *only* want to keep a Siamese cat, if they only knew their nature, as a matter of course. After reading her descriptions of her cats' behavior, I've never been more glad to have a DSH in my care. However, if you do keep a Siamese - get the book. It may help you realize you're not alone in your Siamese's unique antics. Most of the information here pertains only to them & does not generalize out well at all to other breeds. I could not relate at least 60% of the content to my own cat's personality, habits, feelings, & behavior. Or any other cat I've known, for that matter. Or, if you are interested in a purely anecdotal personal "case study" account of one person's experience of Siamese behavior - you may find this book's giddy ramblings entertaining. Be prepared to wade through mounds of ego & narrow subjectivity to get to the informational content you seek.

However - if you are looking for a truly resourceful book on how to communicate with your cat...look elsewhere. Don't let one woman's endless egocentric carrying on bend your mind concerning your cat. Some far better suggestions for books on this topic would be:

* "The Language of Animals: 7 Steps To Communicating With Animals" by Carol Gurney
* "CatSpeak" by Bash Dibra, reknowned animal trainer
* "The Cat Whisperer" by Claire Bessant
* "Animal Talk" by Penelope Smith
* "277 Secrets Your Cat Wants You To Know: A Catalog of Unusual & Interesting Information" by Paulette Cooper & Paul Noble
* "Cat Owner's Manual" by Dr. Bruce Fogle - written by a Veterinarian, this is the single most helpful cat book I've found yet.

There are SO MANY better titles out there on the topic of human/feline communication with helpful, useful information surpassing this stifling narration.

To be perfectly honest... And I can't believe I'm saying this... I finished the book thinking, "I am so grateful I am not Ms. Moyes' cat....." And screamed into a pillow.

Mostly Siamese If You Please.......2003-12-06

If you have a Siamese cat, this might be interesting, but only one chapter applies to the title claim of "how to talk to your cat," and I suspect Siamese must speak a different language than other cats. This was written in 1978 and sounds old-fashioned in the style of writing.

Average customer rating:

Funny, Fascinating, and Fabulous Guide Like No Other

How to Talk to Your Animals
Jean Craighead George
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Animal Husbandry | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Funny, Fascinating, and Fabulous Guide Like No Other.......2001-11-25

For as long as she's been writing (more than half a century now), Jean Craighead George has been studying the behavior of many animals that inhabit North America. Her research on gray wolves is obvious in JULIE OF THE WOLVES, winner of the prestigious Newbery Medal, and its sequels JULIE and JULIE'S WOLF PACK, in which wolf communication, which extends farther than its famous howl, is brought to light in a new way, combining science with firsthand experience. With the recent publication of the picture books HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOG and HOW TO TALK TO YOUR CAT, adapted from this novel, Ms. George gives readers a new way to connect with their pets. HOW TO TALK TO YOUR ANIMALS is one of Ms. George's few adult novels, although all ages should be able to learn something from it. It was published in 1985 and is out of print. The book is definitely one of Ms. George's most fascinating. It delves into the world of animal communication in a very personal and enlightening way, showing the average person, without copious amounts of dry science, how to talk to the dog, cat, bird, and horse. In the first chapter she gives a preface and explains why she wrote the book. Then enters that wonderfully social and loyal animal, the dog. Ms. George writes about the dog as she does no other animal, as if she is eternally intrigued with its life. Those who have read JULIE'S WOLF PACK and HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOG will know about alpha wolves, nose-sniffing, and play-bowing, but there's still much to be learned in this chapter. After the dog comes a much different creature, the independent cat. It's interesting to see how the cat's communication differs from the dog's. Cats are solitary, and if dog-lovers are frustrated with the seeming snobbiness of felines, they may be turned around with this chapter, as I was, and feel more connection with them after they learn the secrets of head-bumping, the various meows, and movements that can be used when talking to our whiskered friends. On to the birds, even different from dogs and cats in that they are not often domesticated. Besides discussing how to talk to your cockatiel or parrot, Ms. George gives insight into how wild birds like sparrows communicate. As a birder I learned some important information. The horse chapter is an interesting read even if you're not a horse owner or rider, and if you are, you'll learn lots of helpful tips. People usually don't give much credit to horses, they may think they don't talk and are boring, but as soon as you read this chapter, you'll be inspired to go out to the nearest farm and use the arm-around-the-neck move to signal friendship with a horse. In the last chapter, Ms. George discusses the controversial and mysterious subject of animal communication. Can animals talk? It's up to you to decide. I'm pretty sure this book, which is as funny and heartwarming as it is interesting, will help you come to a conclusion.

Average customer rating:

Best cat book I have ever read.

How to Talk to Your Cat
Claire Bessant
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Animal Husbandry | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
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Cat Vs. Cat: Keeping Peace When You Have More Than One Cat
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How to Talk to Your Cat

ASIN: 0812017498

Book Description

Entertaining and informative, this manual helps owners understand the noises their cat makes, what makes one cat friendly and the other not, how a typical cat adjusts to new owners and a new home, plus much more. Black-and-white instructive line drawings are included.

Customer Reviews:

Best cat book I have ever read........2002-03-01

Many cat books seem to be based on anecdotal knowledge. This is not. It is simple, concise, authoritative, and very practical information. It also answers questions as to why cats behave as they do. It is the single cat book that I recommend to all my cat-loving friends.

Average customer rating:

How to talk to your cat
Lynn Allison
Manufacturer: Globe Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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