Making Dogs Happy ― Expert Advice on Decoding and Positively Influencing Your Dog's Emotions, Behavior, and Activities

Expert insights into your dog’s life—with dozens of photos of happy dogs, thanks to their human companions!

Gauging your dog’s well-being can be difficult, given how much a dog’s instincts, emotions, and behavior differ from ours. Now, two world-leading experts marshal their combined decades of experience to describe exactly what most dogs want—and don’t want. We learn how dogs rely on their sense of smell, communicate through body language, and absorb the big picture rather than details. Here are rules for canine contentment (most dogs don’t enjoy hugging) and advice on subtle signals (like lip licking), plus how to help dogs cope with stress, how to pick the perfect puppy, and more!

Melissa Starling, PhD, an expert in dog behavior and cognition, works as a trainer and behaviorist.

Paul McGreevy, PhD, MRCVS, is one of three specialists in veterinary behavioral medicine recognized by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. A professor at Sydney University’s School of Veterinary Science, he has received the International Canine Health Lifetime Achievement Award.