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Your Dog Is Your Mirror

The Emotional Capacity of Our Dogs and Ourselves
by Kevin Behan
Your Dog Is Your Mirror: The Emotional Capacity of Our Dogs and Ourselves. New World Library, dist. by PGW. 2011. c.320p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781577316961. $23.95. PETS
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Scientific evidence on the extent of dogs' emotions has been slow in coming, but the concept has recently become more widely accepted and studied (see, e.g., Stanley Coren's The Modern Dog). Here, veteran dog trainer Behan takes a quantum leap, theorizing that dogs are driven by nothing but emotions, which manifest as energy; he argues that training a dog involves knowing how to change energy states. Behan expands on the method he explains in Natural Dog Training, which emphasizes the roles of prey and predator and their complementarity, completely opposing both Cesar Millan's pack theory (Cesar's Way) and Karen Pryor's positive-reinforcement approach (Don't Shoot the Dog!).
VERDICT Part biography and part New Age philosophy based solely on Behan's observations, this is a difficult read, replete with abstract concepts such as "group consciousness," "heart energy," and "emotional counterbalance." Patrons seeking a training manual would be better served by Pat Miller's Play with Your Dog. Those wanting a novel interpretation of dog behavior and the human-canine bond will find Behan's work thought-provoking.
Reviewed by Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY , Feb 01, 2011
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