Book Review: The Official Guide to Living with DINOS (Dogs in Need of Space)

The Official Guide to Living with DINOS (Dogs in Need of Space) by Jessica Dolce (CreateSpace, 2015, 52 pages, $7.99)

Best Blog

“Notes from a Dog Walker” was a superbly funny, endearing blog a couple of years ago but blogs don’t seem to last, despite the fact that it remains on a webpage even though there is only one blog written - or even though life has become too busy for more than a couple a year. 

I loved "Notes from a Dog Walker" so when I heard Jessica Dolce was  speaking at a conference I was attending, DogEvals decided to purchase her book. I had missed her blogs and finally knew why she had not been posting – a book was being born!

Personality Plus

Ms. Dolce is quite the personality and has quickly become known around dog training circles and, even more so, in the world of dog walkers and dogsitters, no doubt. She gave the closing presentation at a recent animal behavior conference that was quite touchy-feely: many animal behaviorists are less touch-feely than analytical, with advanced academic degrees, so this may have caused them to stretch a bit – a good thing.

Back to the Book

The Official Guide. . . . it isn’t exactly, but since there is no official guide on this subject, I guess Dolce has as much right to the title as anyone. It certainly sounds professional and official and it is quite informative for the average newbie dog person.

The first chapter (lesson) defines DINOS which may be the major take-home lesson of the book. In essence, not all DINOS (dogs in need of space) are leash reactive: don’t forget those dogs who are recovering from surgery and need to take it slow and easy for a while but still want to go on walks, or the dog-in-training, or the blind dog or elderly canine and even service dogs (wearing an ID vest or not). This expands the definition of DINOS that we all need to remember so we will give them room (I cross the street with my dog to avoid any walked dog that I do not know, just to be on the safe side).

Eleven chapters later, you will have hope if you have a DINOS. You will have laughed and you will have a slew of references to help you and Fido, from websites to books and everything in between. Dolce defines various pieces of equipment to help you and your dog and gives their pros and cons (there is nothing wrong with a muzzle – that’s the first thing I teach puppies and the first thing we go over in my Red Cross Dog First Aid classes).

You can’t take a fence on a walk but you can take dog treats and spray deterrents in case you meet an off-leash dog. You can also take another person along for company (or just a cell phone). Page 22 tells you what to do if you see a loose dog or if that dog starts following you: these are things every person needs to know, even if they don’t have a dog.

And each chapter ends with a recap and some humor – don’t leave home without it!

  

The book will get you started and the DINOS website will reel you in with the most fun and varied information we have ever seen on a dog site. Do not miss it or you will miss out on additional interviews and articles for every chapter plus a support group. Dolce also has an online class and provides online coaching.

All of this will give you help and hope (and ideas for indoor exercise during inclement weather to boot!).

(Available at www.DogWise.com)