Books for Pet Parents

Many of our library staff members are dog moms or cat dads. Some have both! There are often discussions about all the weird/frustrating/goofy shenanigans that our pets get up to, often involving articles of clothing or furniture. Luckily, the library has a great collection of books that can help decipher the language of our pets, how to properly care for them, and interesting facts about our fur babies. Here are some great options if you would also like to understand why your pet ate your new cashmere sweater!

Canine Confidential

By Marc Bekoff

For all the love and attention we give dogs, much of what they do remains mysterious. Just think about different behaviors you see at a dog park: We have a good understanding of what it means when dogs wag their tails, but what about when they sniff and roll on a stinky spot? Why do they play tug-of-war with one dog, while showing their bellies to another? Why are some dogs shy, while others are bold? What goes on in dogs’ heads and hearts and how much can we know and understand? Canine Confidential has the answers. Written by award-winning scientist and lifelong dog lover Marc Bekoff, it not only brilliantly opens up the world of dog behavior, but also helps us understand how we can make our dogs’ lives the best they can possibly be.

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What Cats Want

by Dr. Yuki Hattori

Dr. Yuki Hattori is Japan’s leading cat doctor, and to him cats are the most beautiful animals in the world. His advice comes with little illustrations showing exactly what to look for as a cat owner, including charts showing how to interpret their different meows, the direction of their whiskers and the way their tail is pointing! Cats may seem low-maintenance but thoughtfulness about where you put their water, how warm or cool they like to be, and how to groom them properly will make a life-changing difference. With understanding, affection and respect, your cat will be more healthy and contented and you’ll feel happier too.

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Do Dogs Dream? Nearly Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know

By Stanley Coren

Do dogs dream? Can they recognize themselves in the mirror or understand what they’re seeing on television? Are they more intelligent than cats? People have a great curiosity, and many misunderstandings, about how dogs think, act, and perceive the world. They also wonder about the social and emotional lives of dogs. Stanley Coren brings decades of scientific research on dogs to bear in his unprecedented foray into the inner lives of our canine companions, dispelling many common myths in the process. Coren answers the questions dog owners have most frequently asked during his nearly fifty-year career as a dog researcher, combining the authority of an expert with the delivery of a guest at a cocktail party.

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Decoding Your Cat

By Megan E. Herron

Decoding Your Cat is a comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide to decode your cat. This is the first book of its kind to provide an in-depth understanding of the underlying reasons for a cat’s problem behavior, the essential key to unlocking the best for your cat. Armed with the newest science on cat behavior, effective, veterinary-approved methods, and real-life examples, this must-have book empowers cat owners to understand why their cat acts the way it does, address behavior problems, and ensure a happy life for their pets. Decoding Your Cat gives owners new insight on promoting their cat’s physical and psychological health and wellness and maintaining a long and fulfilling relationship together.

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How Stella Learned to Talk

By Christina Hunger

When speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger first came home with her puppy, Stella, it didn’t take long for her to start drawing connections between her job and her new pet. During the day, she worked with toddlers with significant delays in language development and used Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices to help them communicate. At night, she wondered: If dogs can understand words we say to them, shouldn’t they be able to say words to us? Can dogs use AAC to communicate with humans? How Stella Learned to Talk is part memoir and part how-to guide. It chronicles the journey Christina and Stella have taken together, from the day they met, to the day Stella “spoke” her first word, and the other breakthroughs they’ve had since. It also reveals the techniques Christina used to teach Stella, broken down into simple stages and actionable steps any dog owner can use to tart communicating with their pets.

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Canine Confidential

What Cats Want

Do Dogs Dream? Nearly Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know

Decoding Your Cat

How Stella Learned to Talk

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Tool Library

SEARCH THE

FOR

BLOG & NEWS

Canine Confidential

What Cats Want

Do Dogs Dream? Nearly Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know

Decoding Your Cat

How Stella Learned to Talk