A First Guide to Dogs: Understanding Your Very Best Friend [Paperback]

Perceptive and engaging—essential reading for anyone seeking greater understanding of their four-legged best friends. —Kirkus, starred review.

Featuring fun illustrations and easy how-tos from animal expert Dr. John Bradshaw!

Uncovering the secret lives of pets, Dr. John Bradshaw invites young readers to learn more about their closest companions: their dogs! Told from the point of view of Rusty the Terrier, this lively, illustrated book gives kids a front-seat view to the everyday lives of dogs, sharing lessons and growing children into the best pet owners they can be.Dr. John Bradshaw (he/him) is an anthrozoologist, animal welfare scientist, and Director of the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Bristol. He is also a New York Times bestselling author.

Clare Elsom (she/her) is an illustrator and author, and the creator of the Harriet & Horace series. She has illustrated dozens of children’s books and has been a guest at multiple literary festivals.Rusty
 
Meet Rusty Barker. He’s a terrier, a kind of dog whose original purpose was to keep rats away from farms and houses. These days most terriers are just household pets, but they still know how to sniff out a rat!

Of course, Rusty’s not his real name, because he’s a dog. When dogs are talking to each other, they use smell-names, not sound-names. But he knows that when humans say “Rusty,” that means him, so that’s what he answers to.
 
Smells, Smells, Smells
 
What’s it like being a dog like Rusty? It’s not like beinglÓ*