Beyond Obedience: Reframing Canine Behaviour as Communication
When our dogs struggle, the world is quick to label them. Terms like reactive, stubborn, or problematic are often used as shortcuts to describe complex emotional states. But as animal psychologist and trainer Amy Curran illustrates in her profound new work, behaviour rarely appears without reason—and it almost never comes out of nowhere.
We are delighted to be giving away 5 copies of this essential new release to our community.
In Think Like Your Dog (published by Southern Ground Press), Amy Curran invites readers to step out of judgement and into a deeper state of empathy. Drawing on decades of lived experience—spanning breeding, high-level performance, and the nuanced reality of life in the family home—Amy reframes behaviour not as a challenge to our authority, but as a vital form of communication shaped by stress, emotion, and environment.
This is not a manual for control, dominance, or the allure of the "quick fix." Instead, it is a grounded, compassionate guide to recognising how our well-intentioned expectations and social pressures can quietly push a dog beyond their capacity to cope.
Through clear explanations and real-life insight, Amy explores:
The Calmness Myth: Why tolerance is frequently mistaken for genuine calm.
The Drivers of Behaviour: How stress and the immediate environment dictate external actions.
The Safety Gap: Why punishment fails to create lasting safety or trust.
Life Transitions: The reality of social pressure and how life changes affect canine well-being.
Ethical Support: What truly effective, respectful support looks like in practice.
Written for dedicated owners and canine professionals alike, this book offers a steady, sophisticated alternative to blame and urgency.
"Understanding behaviour doesn't lower standards. It raises them—earlier, calmer, and with far better outcomes." Amy Curran
Book Details:
Format: Paperback, 156 pages
Published: 22 January 2026
Publisher: Southern Ground Press
RRP: $43.95
Buy your copy here at Amazon AU or Booktopia.
To be in the running to win one of 5 copies, please complete the following steps:
Like our giveaway post (01/03/26) and Follow our Facebook page and/or Instagram account.
The Entry Question: Share a moment when you realised your dog wasn't being "difficult," but was actually trying to tell you something. What did you learn from looking at the world through their eyes?
Entries should be submitted via our Facebook or Instagram page. Sharing a photo or video of your dog is encouraged!
- Dates: Competition opens Sunday 1st March 2026 (12:00pm, AEST) and closes Monday 9th March 2026 (11:59pm, AEST). Open to Australian residents only. Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery directly from the Author.
- To Enter: Like our post (01/03/26) + answer the prompt above via the Australian Dog Lover Facebook or Instagram page.
- Judging: This is a game of skill. Entries will be judged by the Australian Dog Lover team based on the most creative, informative, or useful statement.
- Limits: Entrants may only enter once.
- Claiming: Prizes not claimed within 48 hours will be redrawn.
*Entry into the competition is deemed acceptance of all terms and conditions.
