Loved it. I had originally checked this out from the library but liked it so much that I bought my own copy and marked it up. Since this book is mostly about having a good relationship with your dog, I was worried it would be a little New Age-y and weird. With the exception of the last 15 pages or so, it wasn't.The book is more about philosophy than about training. Clothier writes well and provides clear examples of what she means about getting into a dog's mind and considering things from his/her perspective. Her philosophy is all about communication and is very logical. There were a lot of nuggets of wisdom that apply as much to human-human relationships as to human-dog ones. She has convinced me that hitting a dog is no more appropriate than hitting a child, even in the name of "training," and has definitely influenced the style of training I will use with my next dog(s). It has also made me more aware of the need to look for subtle clues in a dog's behavior to see what they are trying to communicate.The final third of the book took an unexpected turn and included a good section on the grief of losing a dog. I found it comforting and reassuring, especially after our two losses last year. This is not a perfect book. It could easily be 50-100 pages shorter (cutting out the repetition and the last 15 pages) and sometimes tested my patience with stories of what the dogs "said" to her. If only we could all read the depths of an animal's eyes so easily! That said, I highly recommend it for anyone who has ever thought of a dog as a member of the family.
Having heard many comments and recommendations about how good this book is I must say I was really dissapointed.The author keeps repeating the same things over and over and the redundancies made the book a tedious read every now and then. After the book I was left with the feeling that I'd have wanted more anecdotes and descriptions of what kind of dogs she's worked with and what kind of things were done to make the dog's life better.I really love Clothier's article "He Just Wants to Say Hi" and expected same kind of insight and style of the book, but couldn't find it.I'm assuming one of her purposes with the book is to make people deepen their bond with their dog, trying to understand our more or less furry companions and to search for self-knowledge and reflection but for me the way she wrote about it gave an impression that this "magical dance" between a human and a dog would be something granted by higher powers or being something supernatural most people (apart from herself) would never experience.The book speaks for dog-friendly training methods and working with the dog instead of having the dog for for you, which is a good thing, but I learned nothing new from it.
“Even scientists fall in love, and it is said that some even talk to their dogs.”Not memoir, not a training manual, not quite a call to arms, Bones Would Rain From the Sky is a combination of all of these. And more. Clothier examines her own journey from child who longed to be an animal, to a person who helps people like you and me connect deeply with and better understand our pets.She points out that connection is “quite literally, a matter of life and death. The leading cause of death in dogs in Western countries is behavior – unacceptable, uncontrollable, inappropriate behavior.” She shares the mistakes she’s made along the way, but the really beautiful things lie in the stories of people she’s helped connect with their own pets. While not a training manual, I quickly came to gain a better understanding of my own dogs’ behavior. And we all benefit from well-behaved dogs…sometimes even when they aren’t your own.Encouraged at a young age to become a writer, it would appear the Clothier is both trainer and writer. Bones Would Rain From the Sky is rewarding on many levels and suggested for anyone who believes their pets are family.
—Helen
It took me a second try to read this book. And on the second try, once I got past the first few chapters, I was glad I gave it a second chance. This book validated a lot of what I think that others told me was wrong. For example, feeding your dogs after you eat. I too find it easier to feed them first. They eat, I clean up and then I prepare our dinner. It keeps them from standing around the kitchen and watching us eat and bugging me. I also found her comments interesting in regards to being a person that likes dogs better than people. It helped me realize the I might look at people with a more open mind...as a dog does.Upon finishing the book, I understood why she chose to write those first few chapters --- it all came together.I would recommend this book to my dog friends.
—Jessica
Of the books I've read this year, I think this one might have been my absolute favourite (so far!). Clothier writes in a way that I find it very easy to connect to.Ultimately, this book is the complete opposite of the one I read by Cesar Millan. The basis of the book is respect, love, compassion, and understanding. Clothier draws on her experiences with her own dogs and with her client's dogs to tell stories that illustrate each of her very well- explained points.I think the main point of the bo
—Michelle
