This book explores what every dog owner knows - that a dog is never just a dog. They are our companions, best friends, members of the family and for some the most important part of our lives. Our ability to make meaningful connections with other animal species and their ability to return the favour is, perhaps, never more beautiful than the bond we have with dogs. Simon Wooler, trainer to social media's most famous fearful dog, Sophie from Romania, unlocks the heart of the special relationship we have with dogs. He explores how over millennia, they have inveigled their way into our homes and hearts and evolved to live alongside us. He explains how dogs learn (and why they sometimes seem immune to our efforts to train them), how they communicate and what influences the powerful bond they form with their people. He unpacks the problems of fear and reactivity and with insight and humour acts as a guide for all dog lovers navigating life's changes and challenges. Demystifying the science of dog behaviour and debunking the sticky myths that all too often can get in the way of understanding, this is a celebration of the joy of life with dogs in all its messy, loveable reality.

Simon Wooler runs a dog behaviour training school in Scotland with many clients paying up to £300 for his advice His most famous client is Sophie from Romania a rescue dog who went viral when she was adopted by Rory Cellan-Jones (a BBC reporter) and his wife Diane Coyle (economist and author). He regularly travels to train with Sophie and is responsible for rehabilitating her. As more people adopt dogs, dog training manuals have never been more popular. Particularly from dog training schools. This promises to be a Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read for dogs. Competition: listening to animals;all dogs great and small;easy peasy puppy squeezy;be right back separation anxiety;keira;how to raise the perfect dog. Noel Fitzpatrick;Adam Spivey;Steve Mann;Julie Naismith;Graeme Hall;Monty Don;Matt Baker;Jeremy Clarkson;Peter Wright;Phillipa Perry.