Dogsitivity: A Guide to Living with Highly Sensitive Dogs

Dogs can be highly sensitive to the sights, sounds, and smells from their environment. They can even be highly sensitive to the moods of their family members. Highly sensitive dogs can be perceived as timid, withdrawn or easily frightened, but they can also come across as reactive or aggressive. They might pull on the leash or bark excessively. They may attack your broomstick, react furiously to traffic, and exhibit peculiar habits that leave their caregivers puzzled and sometimes desperate. These dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but they share one thing in common: conditioning methods such as obedience training or traditional behavior therapy do not contribute to the dog's long-term well-being. This book is an invitation to let go of old ways, and explore a new way of living with dogs based on insight, empathy and equality.Dogsitivity uses real-life examples and the latest research on high sensitivity in both humans and dogs to inspire a more conscious, empathetic approach to the dogs we share our lives with. This revised edition focuses on our responsibility as loving caregivers, and inspires the reader to create a healthy living environment and lifestyle for both dog and human.With contributions from Geert De Bolster, Nadieh Cuijten, Dr. Pascale Trimpeneers, and Veerle Van Vlierberghe.This book has sold thousands of copies and serves as required reading material for several courses on dog behavior therapy in Europe.