YOUR DOG: The Seven Ages of Man's Best Friend

By Brian Alan Burhoe
2007-01-10

YOUR DOG: The Seven Ages of Man's Best Friend

Collecting a Canine Library is easy. There are thousands of good books out there covering every aspect of dog breeds and behavior.

From the classic "How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend" by the Monks of New Skete to the latest "Dummies" title, there is no lack of good material on raising our beloved canines.

One book you might consider adding to your bookshelves is Jan Fennell's THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN'S BEST FRIEND: A Comprehensive Guide for Caring for Your Dog Through All the Stages of Life.

Jan Fennell is an English dog trainer and the author of the international best-seller THE DOG LISTENER.

In THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN'S BEST FRIEND, she guides us through the key phases of a dog's development by defining the seven ages of our dogs.

The Seven Stages, of course come from Shakespeare ("Man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages."), not a bad source of inspiration.

After a brief Introduction -- "From Wolf to Wolfhound: the Evolution of the Modern Dog" -- Fennell takes us through the Seven Ages:

ONE -- PUPPY: 0 - 8 WEEKS. Here, she starts with the Early Hours, the First Turning Point -- the Extended Pack Forms -- Personality Testing, Teeth and much more...

TWO -- PIONEER: 8 - 12 WEEKS. Feeling at home in the Human world. A safe haven. A space of its own. The dog's senses. Different breeds -- different needs. Typical problems...

THREE -- PLAYBOY: 3 - 9 MONTHS. Growing up fast. The physical change. Pushing the boundaries. Moving into the wider world. Puberty...

FOUR -- 9 - 18 MONTHS. The Apprentice. The Stay and Recall. Off the leash. Freedom. Dogs behaving badly -- how to establish leadership.

FIVE -- PRETENDER: 18 - 28 MONTHS Challenging times. The ultimate sanction. Breeding. Pregnancy. When to call the Vet.

SIX -- PROTECTOR: 28 MONTHS TO 7 YEARS. The die is cast. The best days of their lives. Mixed-up dogs. Potential behavior problems. Rescue dogs. Well-being. Middle-age spread...

SEVEN -- PENSIONER: 7 YEARS AND UP. Longevity. Your dog's age in human terms. Emotional old age. Growing old gracefully. Diet. Medical problems.

In THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN'S BEST FRIEND, Fennell disagrees with some of the prescribed wisdom of other writers, but her points are valid. This is an interesting, essential book. Worth finding. If your local book store doesn't have a copy (it's a Collins hardcover), you can always find one on Indigo, Amazon or even Abebooks.

Article Pages:
» YOUR DOG: The Seven Ages of Man's Best Friend

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