Oh Behave!: Dogs from Pavlov to Premack to Pinker

Book Synopsis: Jean Donaldson is widely recognized as one of the most influential leaders in the fields of canine behavior and dog training. Known for her rigorous scientific thinking, Jean turns her attention in her latest book to questions and issues that touch on a wide variety of topics of interest to dog professionals and enthusiasts. Readers will be challenged to think, to learn how to separate fact from myth, and evaluate the variety training methods currently being espoused in the popular media. Oh Behave! contains a series of 55 articles, grouped into six sections: Behavior, Training, Behavior Problems, Fear and Anxiety, Aggression, and Genetics and Evolution.

Learn about Dominance: separating fact from fiction. The nature vs. nurture debate. Fixed action patterns in dog behavior. How to use classical conditioning in dog training. How the owner’s personality affects the dog’s behavior. Are you a dog mom—or dad? Jean treats every conceivable problem a dog might have…at both a practical and theoretical level. You will know what to do, and why you should do it, covering both major methods of training – operant conditioning and classical conditioning. In a book centered on the behavior of dogs, an unexpected treat are the nuggets of neurotransmitters and genes. In a few lucid strokes, Jean brings you up to date on these timely subjects. If you find yourself with a free afternoon, you might drive to the nearest college, and take a final in advanced psychology, and gain credits toward your graduation!

David Premack, Ph.D., author, Professor Emeritus, University of Pennsylvania Read more