Think Like a Dog
How Positive Psychology Can Help Your Dog Thrive
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected Sep 1, 2026
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
The surprising science that explains how and why your dog thinks and acts from Jen Golbeck, the “internet’s dog mom” behind the popular Golden Ratio Squad online community and the author of the “fascinating” (First for Women) The Purest Bond.
Do dogs’ brains work the same as humans? Are they capable of the same spectrum of emotions as us? Do they have a sense of self? What the heck is wrong with this crazy dog?
Like many of us, Jen Golbeck looked at her rescue golden retrievers and affectionately wondered what exactly was going on in their cute, fuzzy heads. But as a left-brained scientist, Golbeck set out to seek concrete answers—research and data—to back up the hunch that there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface of our pups’ funny looks and adorable, occasionally destructive, behaviors.
What she finds is a surprising relationship between positive psychology and how we might learn to think about how our dogs think in a whole new light. She introduces a mold-breaking concept that shifts our focus from solving problems and scolding “bad behavior” to building on strengths based on qualities like focus, vitality, and curiosity. Through fascinating case studies, real data, and paws-on-the-ground research and with Golbeck’s signature “encouraging” (Library Journal) prose, Think Like a Dog shows how to apply these ideas thoughtfully, consistently, and with compassion, to help our dogs not just behave better, but to truly thrive.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Computer scientist Golbeck (The Purest Bond), who chronicles her experience rescuing golden retrievers with special needs on the social media account The Golden Ratio, delivers an enlightening exploration of what human psychology can teach about dog behavior. Wanting to understand the motivations behind her dogs' actions, she dug into studies on canine psychology and animal cognition and discovered that positive psychology, a school of thought that explores the strengths that allow humans to flourish, is a useful framework for understanding the emotional lives of dogs. She posits focusing on dogs' core strengths, rather than constantly correcting them, can help them, and their people, live happier lives. Using her dogs as test subjects, she reveals how positive psychology methods can foster seven character traits: focus, vitality, fairness, curiosity, kindness, persistence, and humor. For example, after discovering her young, energetic rescue Guac calmed down when chewing on a plush toy, she encouraged this self-regulating behavior—a form of focus—whenever he showed signs of stress. Eventually, he began to do it on his own. Similarly, she finds offering her dogs nourishment and companionship helps them bounce back from past traumas. Golbeck's love of dogs is palpable, and she elucidates hard science with accessible and entertaining storytelling. It's a must-read for anyone eager to better understand their canine companions.
