Love Is All You Need

April 1, 2016

The author, who contracted multiple sclerosis as a teenager, founded Canine Assistants, a nonprofit that prepares and provides service dogs for people with disabilities and special needs. Her first book, Through a Dog's Eyes, has an accompanying PBS documentary and was followed by In a Dog's Heart. This third book employs "nontraining" in the subtitle because Arnold believes in teaching dogs to tap into their natural abilities and make decisions rather than in forcing them to wait to be told what to do in every situation. This technique, labeled Bond-Based Choice Teaching(R), enables service dogs to act quickly when their handlers are unable to direct them (e.g., during seizures or a sudden collapse). Arnold believes all dogs, not only those prepared for service, can be educated with these methods, which underlie a partnership-centered approach to dog-human interaction. VERDICT Readers who enjoyed Arnold's previous books will find in this volume the same warm style and attitude toward our relationships with dogs. This welcoming tone combines with references to scientific and social science research, anecdotes from the author's work, and stories from her clients. The "canine coursework" of exercises is explained clearly for a general audience, adding to the book's value as a teaching tool.--Meagan Storey, Virginia Beach

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