Ever wish you could talk to your dog? I talk to Daisy all the time, but must confess that I don’t always know what SHE is trying to tell me! Now we can all learn to decode dog language, thanks to How To Speak Dog, A Guide To Decoding Dog Language, a new book about pet behavior from National Geographic. It’s being released today, and we were super excited to receive an early copy and have been thoroughly enjoying the photos, along with great info and helpful tips from authors Aline Alexander Newman & Gary Weitzman, D.V.M.

Although the book is categorized as a kid’s book, I strongly recommend it for every pet parent and all members of the family. Whether you’re a first-timer or have years of experience caring for dogs, you are guaranteed to learn something new that will help you understand dog behavior and the signals dogs send through body language, poses and facial expressions. It’s also set up in a way that is perfect for reading aloud and discussing together in a fun and entertaining way.

For example, one section in the book is titled ‘Telling Tales’.  It details what different tail positions and movements mean. Each section of the book covers a topic using great photos, entertaining text, fun facts, Vet Tips from Dr. Gary and then each topic end with ‘What Is This Dog Saying?’ where you’re presented with a Doggie Dilemma scenario to translate and address, then a sidebar of Training Tips. Topics include Body Talk, Read My Face, Hound Sounds, and several more.

How to Speak Dog: A Guide to Decoding Dog Language is available now in paperback ($12.95 list price). It’s currently on sale at Amazon and you can go here to view the current price and check out some sample pages. You may want to pick up a few extra copies, as it makes an excellent holiday gift idea or Thank You present for a special pet sitter, dog walker or other VIP (very important pet person) in your dog’s life!