Why do dogs drink out of the toilet?
By Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori
Review by David Fry
Subtitled "101 of the most perplexing questions answered about canine conundrums, medical mysteries & befuddling behaviors", it is a quick read. Dr. Becker has been a veterinary contributor to ABC-TV's Good Morning America, as well as an author of a couple newspaper columns. He also co-penned "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul", as well as others. Ms. Spadafori has written a number of animal books, including "Dogs for Dummies". They have another title out together, "Do cats always land on their feet?"
As the title suggests, Dr. Becker has a bit of a sens of humor. His sense of humor erupts unexpectedly and can catch the reader off guard. The catchy title compelled me to read it. I hoped it would allow me to figure out Tula, my rescued Beardie's peculiarities.
I do now know why Tula helped herself to water from my toilet. Another demystified behavior that I had not thought to ask was, "Why do dogs circle, scratch and paw the floor before they lie down?" I have frequently observed Tula performing this ritual. Throughout the book, there are a number of "dog bone tips" located at the end of the answer of a related question. For example, after the answer to, "Why do dogs get car sick? A tip was given, "When dogs have upset stomachs for any reason, they drool. In some dogs this is the only sign of car sickness, and in other dogs it is the precursor to vomiting." I am afraid that Tula and I have not made much progress on this problem.
The reader will come upon the personal notes that are dispersed on occasion; "Pup-A-Razzi" details the inverse of the problem that celebrities have with the paparazzi. When Dr. Becker was confined on a flight, he had to spend the entire flight listening to the owner of a Cocker Spaniel, his seatmate, and viewing the owner's 3 ring binder of photos of the creature. He noted that a family's dogs are sometimes more predominantly displayed in family albums and on the walls of their homes than are the other family members themselves. Toward the end of the book, Ms. Spadafori has a personal note about a disparaged breed in "Quit Picking on Poodles!" She points out the many redeeming traits of the breed and explains why some sport outrageous hairstyles.
What is clearly emphasized in the book is that in order to change the dog behavior we do not want or wish to live with, the human must be willing to change his behavior. Many times, we humans create the dog's problem. Unfortunately, rescued dogs have had plenty of opportunities to acquire excess baggage. For the most part, every dog that I have ever owned has been a Rescue; Never-the-less, I recommend being the owner of one or one from the Humane Society.
Dr. Becker answered the question, "Is doggy day care a good idea?" I hope a resourceful citizen of Albany might toy with this idea. A dog park would be a great alternative for those of us that have a high-energy, well-adjusted dog.
If you like this book, I might also suggest that you visit "How Dogs Think: Understanding the Canine Mind", by Stanley Coren. I recommend both to all dog lovers.
intersting
enjoyed the book very much, answered alot of my questions about the behavior of my 3 dogs
A fun read
There are quite a few funny things to read about in this book that dogs do. Some seem slightly far fetched but others seem to make some sense. I actually really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any dog lover. Definitely a fun read!
funny and true
Very humorous account of our dogs less than civilized behavior. Great little gift for the novice dog owner.
Loved it
This is a great book for animal lovers. If you have a dog you may not miss Why Do Dogs Drink Out of the Toilet. You can lern so much about dogs behaviour, etc. Very much recommended reading. I also liked
The Dog Who Rescues Cats: True Story of Ginny, The
