So You THINK You Want A Dog...

Welcome to the best book you will ever read!Whether you’re trying to convince your parents to get a dog, your children not to, or your significant other to start with fur first, you’ve come to the right place. This masterpiece contains the answers you never knew you needed, to the questions you never knew you had. Regardless whether you’re contemplating a cuddly companion, have a headache hound at home, or you're just trying to convince mom to get a mixed-breed, I’m glad you’re here. Half of you are trying to train your puppy, half to fix your broken dog, and half aren’t even reading this page. Be prepared to laugh, to learn, to love a little, and to lose your shit a time or two.We start our journey in the thick of training, tackling some of the most common and least desirable qualities our canine companions display, as we begin to understand the reasoning behind those behaviors we deem as bad, and break down why our dogs are the way they are, unfolding the many layers of communication that are in constant exchange. As we move along our trip, we’re introduced to a wide range of thoughts, theories, and expertise, not all of which are going to apply to everyone, but from which everyone will gain a greater understanding of humanity and canines alike. We unpack our own behaviors, habits, and undesirable qualities, exploring the underlying causes of, and solutions to many of them. Before one can correctly understand another, they must first understand themselves… for understanding is the underlying driver that enables effective communication.We take numerous detours through intertwined topics to gain a better understanding of our dogs, ourselves, and our connection to one another. We touch on nutrition and exercise, toxic foods and CPR, and playtime and training… dipping our toes in psychology along the way. There are suggestions on how to find the time to enact everything we’ve read, how not to parent our pups, and what alterations we can expect to make (to everyday life). My Australian Cattle Dog, Elektra, will field some questions, shedding light on the topics we've always wondered about. Finally, we’ll round off our exploration with a few true stories expressing the power our pets can have on us. Word to the wise, have Kleenex on hand.This isn’t simply a book of answers like those you read in school. The story is woven in a way to engage each of you, not just in the reading, but in the execution of the knowledge you acquire. Everyone is meant to join in the journey, to try out the tips, tricks, and techniques, and to learn along the way. We root for our own success, our dog’s success, and even for our main antagonist’s success. There will be knowledge, humor, interaction with the readers, a healthy bit of sarcasm, a side of statistics (only some of which are true), and ultimately, some stuff about dogs. This un-biased, non-binary, all-inclusive, judgement-free, future (or present) bestseller may make you yearn for more… or may make you chuck it across the café. I accept no responsibility for any injuries, physical or mental, that you (or others) sustain while reading this work of art. Buckle up, because we are in for one hell of a ride! Read more