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Rating: 
Summary: Dictionary of Dog Language
Review: dictionary of dog language, that would be the perfect title for this book.it lists a comprehensive array of 'dog language', ie facial expressions, signs and signals, behaviours etc. it also describes what each signal or expession means. however, it stops here, it doesnt tell you how to deal with it. an example is 'faeces eating', it tells you what it is, touches on why they do it but offers no solution. for a few items, it frustratingly neglects to tell the 'why' as well. if you're looking for a book to tell you how to deal with our dear little friend who always growls at someone wearing pink, you won't find answers here. after reading though, you should know, if you observe carefully, if your dog is growling out of nervouness or anger or if it was a 'friendly growl' (haha)... this is a good reference book if you're interested in knowing what certain signals mean, but it doesnt tell you how to solve any problems you have with dogs, nor to understand thoroughly how any problems develop. you'll learn to be able to tell if your dog is confident, happy, worried etc. not a bad book to have for dog owners.
Rating: 
Summary: Ok as a quick reference
Review: I rate this book as an absolute "must have" for any person serious about understanding dog behaviour.
Rating:
Summary: ... A good reference source ...
Review: Please place emphasis on the word "Encyclopaedia" as it appears in the title ...
Apart for the first 30 odd pages of introduction, where the author explains aggression & fear as perceived by dogs ... the rest of the book is arranged in alphabetical manner ...
The book covers a wide range of dog behaviours ranging from Abnormal Behaviour, Body Control, Classical Conditioning to Visual Communication and Xenophobia ... making the book a good reference source.
For example, under the title "Dominance & Submission" ... the author explains the role that dominance plays within a dog hierarchy, and how the "dominance - submission" relationship between dogs, is more of a learned behaviour based on experience, rather than just based on the physical appearance/size of the dogs.
The drawback with the format is that it makes for rather disjointed reading and is not quite a book to read from cover to cover ... and requires the reader to jump from topic to topic ...
Content-wise, the book provides reasonable information, very sufficient for the new or first time dog owner. The more experienced dog owner will probably want to look at books by Patricia McConnell, Clarence Pfaffenberger and/or Stanley Coren.
That said ... it remains a useful book to have in the library ...
4stars ...
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Quick Reference on Behavior
Review: This book is incorrectly titled -- which is probably what disappointed the negative reviewer. Far more than a look at dog language, this book covers in bite-size portions all aspects of physiology and ethology (body language and behavior). I have read many (many) works that focus on specific aspects of what this one book covers, but this is the one I will reference most often for the simple, straightforward, and easily organized information.
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Summary: Bite Sized Dog Information
Review: This is a well written, interesting book. It is not a chapter-book, but a dictionary-like assembly of dog behaviour/postures/physiologic/biologic information. Good for understanding the workings of dogs based on wolves, not good for trying to get tips on how to housebreak your dog or teach him/her to sit and not chew up your things.
Rating:
Summary: Ok as a quick reference
Review: You'd be better off buying a more thorough discussion as contained in How to Speak Dog: Mastering the Art of Dog-Human Communication by Stanley Coren.
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