‘Katz on Dogs’ author offers training tips and a mirror

Jon Katz truly loves dogs. He offers readers a journey into his passion and shares his theories on human-canine coexistence in his latest book, “Katz on Dogs: A Commonsense Guide to Training and Living with Dogs” (Villard Books).

Katz, the author of 14 books, including the nonfiction bestsellers “A Dog Year,” “The New Work of Dogs” and “The Dogs of Bedlam Farm,” has compiled stories, advice, input from veterinarians, breeders and trainers and his own personal insight into 13 chapters about loving and living with dogs. The result is not a how-to manual for training. Rather, it’s “an approach to living with dogs, a philosophy.” Katz does not claim to have all the answers, but he does pose valid questions to readers about ownership, argue for researching the right breed for each individual, and write candidly about society’s obsession with pets and the problematic transference of human characteristics to animal behaviors. He openly discusses the mistakes he’s made with his pets and confesses those he continues to make. He offers guidance about multi-dog households, violent dogs and losing dogs.

Katz draws on research from B.F. Skinner’s work with “operant conditioning” to pack theorists such as the monks of New Skete. For the dogs, he highly recommends common sense with positive reinforcement. But the strongest advice in this book emerges from his discussions about our fast-paced, multi-tasked society. The number of households with dogs is rising, but unfortunately these animals are experiencing less and less training. Inadequate training is being compounded by the emotional responsibilities that humans place on their pets.

Because we are aware and self-conscious, we think others, both human and animal, are aware as well. Many dog owners unknowingly use this “theory of mind” to explain pet behaviors, complaining that Sparky tore up the house because he was angry at being left alone, Brutus is behaving like the children, or that Bubbles is acting hyper and stubborn.

Realistically, science offers no evidence to suggest that dogs can replicate human thought processes, think in narrative and sequential terms, or understand human minds. “Despite our habit of anthropomorphizing dogs, they don’t understand what we’re thinking and can’t possibly grasp the nuances of the emotional roles we sometimes ask them to fill,” Katz writes. Still, the theory of mind is a common, very “powerful, persuasive view of dogs.” Katz offers multiple examples of training gone wrong because of this way of thinking. He provides case studies to support the benefits (to dogs and owners) of establishing healthy routines and rules. He emphasizes that setting rules does not mean we love our dogs any less. Training is easier and more effective when people avoid thinking about their dogs as “human.”

Proper dog training takes years, not weeks. Dogs live an average of 8-10 years, and like any relationship, to maintain it well takes time and work—work that should be rewarding to both the owner and the dog and create strong, healthy relationships. “To live well with a dog requires looking at and within yourself,” he notes. We all own dogs for different reasons, and with rational thinking and by using commonsense, we can co-exist in harmony. At least, that’s the theory. 


Jon Katz and “Katz on Dogs”
Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
Barnes and Noble, Newington 
603-422-7733