How we review this book: We present the core takeaways of the book along with our HonestDog perspective—based on publicly available content, expert reviews, and interviews with the author. This review is neither a traditional critique nor a substitute for reading the book itself; it's designed to help you decide if it's worth your time.
Clocking in at just over 100 pages, "On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals" is the slimmest book on our list—and one of the most influential. Turid Rugaas popularized a concept that every quality dog school relies on today.
What It's About
Norwegian dog trainer Turid Rugaas spent years observing how dogs use subtle signals—such as yawning, lip-licking, turning away, and slowing down—to defuse conflicts and communicate stress. Her book explains when and why dogs show these signals, how to spot them, and how you can even use them yourself to help calm your dog. Numerous color photos make the signals easy to recognize.
Our Perspective
Rugaas' observations are more practical than strictly scientifically derived—and it's worth keeping that in mind. But their practical value is immense: learning to read these signals lets you spot when a dog is overwhelmed before it escalates into fear or aggression. For us, this is animal welfare in everyday life. This knowledge is pure gold, especially for insecure dogs, such as rescues.
What Puppy Buyers Should Take Away
- Learn your dog's early stress signals—they prevent most escalations.
- Never force your dog into situations where they are clearly displaying calming signals (like being hugged).
- Rest and downtime are part of training, not doing nothing.
What Breeders Should Take Away
- Puppies that make positive communication experiences early on grow into more confident dogs.
- An introduction to dog calming signals should be part of every handover to new families.
What HonestDog Makes of It
Dogs with a past especially need people who can read their signals. If you want to give a rescue animal a second home, you'll find animal shelters and rescue dogs with us. And if you want to make sure a dog's temperament and background fit your lifestyle, the best place to start is with our breed finder.
Book Overview
- Title: On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals
- Author: Turid Rugaas
- Publisher: animal learn
- ISBN: 978-3-936188-01-1
Transparency note: This review is based on publicly available information about the book rather than a complete read-through by our team. Factual statements regarding breed health and breeding on HonestDog are additionally supported by FCI, AKC, and veterinary sources.