Cats on the Counter: Therapy and Training for Your Cat Larry Lachman  and Frank Mickadeit ISBN 0312265662 amazon.com  USD $15.37 amazon.co.uk  £12.74 Overcome cat problems with techniques from human family therapy. More information ORDER YOUR COPY FROM AMAZON.CO.UK Please add the book to your shopping cart before you browse. You can always remove it later if you change your mind. Dogs on the Couch: Behavior Therapy for Training and Caring for Your Dog Larry Lachman  and Frank Mickadeit ISBN 0879519223 Learn to avoid and correct behaviour problems by concentrating on the dog and every other member of the household. More information ORDER YOUR COPY Click on your country of choice. Add the book to your shopping cart before you browse. You can always remove it later if you change your mind.

Reviewed by: Elizabeth Gredley

Does your cat hang out on your kitchen counters? Does your dog hog the couch? To learn why and what to do about it, read Cats on the Counter or Dogs on the Couch by Larry Lachman.

Dr Lachman is both a human clinical psychologist and a pet behaviour consultant. In these books, written with journalist Frank Mickadeit, he applies the concepts of family therapy to canine and feline family members.

Using actual case studies as illustrations, Lachman discusses common behaviour problems of family dogs and cats -- their causes, prevention and solution. He takes the approach that pets are members of the family and part of the family dynamic. Destructiveness, housetraining, aggressiveness, excessive vocalization and separation anxiety are some of the problems he covers. He also discusses human phobias about dogs and cats, managing children and pets, and dealing with pet loss. 

These are "how to" and "why is" books with both step-by-step training instructions and discussion of why an animal may be acting in a particular way. Read them cover to cover for interest or refer to a particular section for answers to a particular problem.

In Dogs on the Couch, Lachman is very pointed in his criticisms of traditional dog training methods based on force. Instead, his training techniques are based on understanding the animal's behaviour as a family member.

Cats on the Counter has very useful appendices including lists of contacts and web sites. Both books have extensive bibliographies for further reading

Chapter Titles

Cats on the Counter

1. The Freudian Feline and Family Therapy: The Personalities of Cats and Their Humans
2. The Fictional Feline: Common Cat Myths
3. Good Housekeeping: Introducing Cats to New Homes
4. Lassie Meets Morris/Morris Meets Simba: Introducing Dog to Cat/Cat to Cat
5. Feline Fastidiousness and the "Turf" Cat: Solving Litter Box Problems and Stopping Your Cat from Spraying Indoors
6. The Jeckyll-Hyde Kitty: Cat Aggression
7. The Piranha Cat: Cat Destructiveness
8. Cat Calls: Chronic Meowing and Crying
9. Kidproofing Your Cat: Training Your Children to Care for Your Cat
10. Ailurophobia: Overcoming the Fear of Cats
11. Kitty Prozac?: Your Cat's Mental Health and How to Preserve It
12. The Final Feline Moment: Pet Loss, Grief, and How to Say Good-bye
13. "Holy Cats, Batman!": Kitty ESP, Afterthoughts, and Loose Ends
APPENDIX A: Cat and Veterinary Organizations to Know
APPENDIX B: Cat Bytes: Web Sites to Know
APPENDIX C: Glossary of Structural Family Therapy and an Outline of Jungian Analytical Psychology concepts
APPENDIX D: Statistics on Cat Ownership and Cat Breeds
APPENDIX E: Inspiring News Article/Web Site excerpts on Cats and Their People
APPENDIX F: The Diary of a Cat Owner--A Comprehensive Treatment Review of the Case of "Wolfie and the Trespassing Tom," by Wolfie's Mom: From Beginning to End
Notes
Bibliography and Suggested Reading

Dogs on the Couch

Part One: Crisis Intervention and Short-Term Therapy
1. Puppy Nipping and Chewing
2. Housebreaking and How to Make Your Home Safe for Your Dog
3. Digging
4. Non-Violent Obedience Training for the Whole Family
Puppy Kindergarten
The Sit Command
The Lie Down Command
Jumping Up
Basic Obedience for Older Dogs
The Come-When-Called Command
The Heel Command
The Stay Command

Part Two: Moderate Therapy and Ongoing Training
5. Nuisance Barking
6. Destructiveness
7. Introducing a Second Pet into the Home

Part Three: Long-Term Therapy and Re-Parenting the Personality
8. Separation Anxiety
9. Aggression
10. Sibling Dog Fighting
11. Introducing a Baby into the Home

Part Four: Family Systems Therapy: Changing the Structure and System of the  Family
12. Rescuing the Shelter Dog
13. Pet Loss and the Grief Process
Pet Loss and Grief
Children and Pet Loss
"The Story of Lizzy and Chester"
14. Cynophobia: The Fear of Dogs
15. Dangerous Doggy Lifestyles
16. Knowing When to Adopt Out

Part Five: Canine Mental Health
17. How Traditional Training Can Be Harmful to Your Dog
18. Your Dog's Mental Health Needs
19. Matching Your Personality to the Right Dog
20. Puppy Prozac? When to Consider Psychiatric Medication

Appendices
1. Dog Bytes: Favorite Animal-Related Sites on the World Wide Web
2. Animal Organizations to Know
Bibliography