What Dogs Want interprets all the postures, expressions, sounds and actions exhibited by dogs individually and in their interactions with other dogs and people. The 100 behaviours are described over one or two pages each with a photograph and an explanation of why the dog is doing it and what he is telling its owner, such as showing attentiveness or being aggressive. Vet's Notes provide insight into potential medical causes and Breed Boxes shed light on genetic predisposition to certain behaviours. The 100 specific behaviours are divided among six types: Postures: Cowering, exposing belly, raising front paw, twitching while sleeping. Expressions: Opening mouth when snif!ng, lip licking, eyebrow raising, head tilting. Sounds: Yelping, high-pitched barking, howling, whining. Actions: Gutting stuffed toys, eating grass, shredding paper, circling before sleeping. Dog-to-Dog Actions: Placing head over another dog, licking another dog's muzzle, humping. Dog-to-People Actions: Shadowing, leash yanking, hogging bed, bringing objects. An informative appendix organizes behaviours into 16 types - e.g.
Submissive, Attention-seeking, Compulsive, Fearful - and crossreferences them to the detailed explanations earlier in the book, e.g. Postures, Expressions, Actions. Where appropriate, advice on how to respond to the behaviour is provided. Suitable for all dog breeds, What Dogs Want will be welcomed by all dog owners who seek to better understand their beloved pet.