• In a Dog's Heart

  • What Our Dogs Need, Want, and Deserve--and the Gifts We Can Expect in Return
  • By: Jennifer Arnold
  • Narrated by: Jennifer Arnold
  • Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (30 ratings)

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In a Dog's Heart  By  cover art

In a Dog's Heart

By: Jennifer Arnold
Narrated by: Jennifer Arnold
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Publisher's summary

What our dogs need to live a good life, and why we must come through for them.

Over the two decades she has spent raising and training service dogs for people with disabilities, Jennifer Arnold has come to a unique and profound understanding of the human-dog bond. Though it may seem simple and instinctive, the friendship and devotion we share with our pets is a wondrous evolutionary development. Our two species have come to rely on each other for protection, companionship, comfort, and happiness—needs and benefits that go both ways. Yet when we step outside our designated roles and take on practices that require us to display dominance over our canine charges, we misread cues and misinterpret behavior, sometimes with disastrous results. Conversely, when communication between dog and keeper is clear and based on kindness and a willingness to see things through a dog’s eyes, the payoff for both dog and owner is tremendous. When respect and care are brought together, we come to know the inalienable goodness in a dog’s soul.As the founder of Canine Assistants, Arnold has implemented and advanced a methodology—Choice Teaching—that pairs scientific and behavioral knowledge about dogs with gentle incentive and encouragement to extraordinary effect. But she does not consider herself a dog trainer; rather, she sees herself as a relationship expert who improves the connection between humans and dogs and in the process betters the quality of life for both.

In a Dog’s Heart offers Arnold’s offers her best practices and useful tips that range over a dog’s whole life, including:

• how to choose the puppy that’s destined for you from a bustling litter and what you need to have on hand before you bring that puppy home;

• what to stock in your doggie first-aid kit;

• how to keep your pet safe from dangers at home and in the outside world;

• the challenges and rewards of adopting an older dog;

• how to help your dog overcome anxious behavior, from separation anxiety to thunderstorm phobia;

• when to recognize that it’s time to let go.

As in her bestselling first book, Through a Dog’s Eyes, Arnold illustrates what she’s learned through captivating and moving stories drawn from her experience. We learn about Grace, a black Lab who was rescued after she was thrown from a truck and delivered to Canine Assistants emaciated, dehydrated, and with a broken pelvis. As Grace recovered she displayed an usual gift for scent detection and now spends her days sniffing out bombs on the Israeli border. We meet Casper, a Lab-golden mix who works full-time at Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in Atlanta, a best friend to kids undergoing cancer treatment, and a buddy ready to offer comfort as needed to the doctors on staff. We also discover the myriad ways in which dogs improve our lives—and what they need and deserve from us in return.

©2011 Jennifer Arnold (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“With insight and compassion, Jennifer Arnold guides us through the inside of a dog’s heart and teaches us how to build a relationship of love and trust on both sides. This guide is as practical as it is wise, a keeper book for ready reference.” (Susannah Charleson, author of Scent of the Missing: Love and Partnership with a Search-and-Rescue Dog)

“Vivid, memorable, moving . . . This book’s message is simply the truth.” (Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants and Ape House)

What listeners say about In a Dog's Heart

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Some much to be learned by this wise teacher!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Jennifer Arnold's compassion, knowledge and understanding towards dogs is amazing. I wish that everyone was made to read this book before becoming a dog parent! She is bridging the gap between the dog and human world.

What was one of the most memorable moments of In a Dog's Heart?

I loved all the stories that had happy endings, especially the one about one of Vic's Victims. Bless that woman for giving that poor dog another chance at life.

Which character – as performed by Jennifer Arnold – was your favorite?

I love listening to Jennifer's soothing voice and it is clear by listening that she truly is passionate about her work.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Love the "war stories!"

This author tells some wonderful stories, and her chosen field of training assistance dogs certainly must be a wonderful opportunity for both her and the canines. The book itself would be an excellent beginner's book for new dog corners who have minimal or no experience with dogs.
The only stroke against her as a narrator is her deep Southern accent. I am a Southerner, and most of my accent has been educated out, but hearing the narration was a jolt at first. I finally got used to it, but I am sure that many, many listeners will not, which will be a sad shame.
I highly recommend this story, and fervently hope that it gets wide, wide distribution:
SPREAD THE WORD!!!

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Started it but couldn't get into it.

What would have made In a Dog's Heart better?

This book seems to celebrate exceptional dogs not the wonderful everyday dogs we all have. I started it but it didn't interest me enough to keep listening.

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Good

I'm sure was good book but after listening was not interested in it or in the mood.

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