Beyond Behaviour
The Ethics of Dog-centred Training
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 14. December 2026
Book
Hardback
472 pages
978-1-032-96596-3 (ISBN)
Description
Every chapter in this book begins from the same place: the dog in front of you, their body, their signals, their experience of the world. Not the method. Not the tool. Not the tradition you were trained in or the certification on your wall. The dog first, always.
As society evolves in its understanding of animal welfare and the responsibilities inherent in caring for dogs, the need for ethical frameworks in dog training becomes crucial. Beyond Behaviour critically examines various training methodologies through the lens of moral philosophy, exploring questions of autonomy, consent, and the psychological wellbeing of dogs in their role as our "pet."
Delving into the complex interplay between ethical principles, moral questions of control and power, and the practicalities of training our canine companions, behaviour consultant Erin Jones draws on interdisciplinary perspectives from philosophy, psychology, and animal behaviour science.
Whether you be a trainer, behaviour consultant, veterinarian, canine caregiver or curious dog guardian, Beyond Behaviour will help you navigate ethical challenges to create a just relationship where dogs can thrive. This isn't just another dog training book. It is a gateway to more compassionate, effective, and ethically sound approaches to dog training in contemporary practice.
As society evolves in its understanding of animal welfare and the responsibilities inherent in caring for dogs, the need for ethical frameworks in dog training becomes crucial. Beyond Behaviour critically examines various training methodologies through the lens of moral philosophy, exploring questions of autonomy, consent, and the psychological wellbeing of dogs in their role as our "pet."
Delving into the complex interplay between ethical principles, moral questions of control and power, and the practicalities of training our canine companions, behaviour consultant Erin Jones draws on interdisciplinary perspectives from philosophy, psychology, and animal behaviour science.
Whether you be a trainer, behaviour consultant, veterinarian, canine caregiver or curious dog guardian, Beyond Behaviour will help you navigate ethical challenges to create a just relationship where dogs can thrive. This isn't just another dog training book. It is a gateway to more compassionate, effective, and ethically sound approaches to dog training in contemporary practice.
Reviews / Votes
"This book is captivating in an intellectual and emotional way. Right from the preface I was caught by the vivid descriptions and call to activism; to the importance of teaching another being by listening to their needs and meeting them where they are. This is not a boring, dry ethics dissertation but a text that makes you reevaluate learning theory, what you have done, and what you want to do for the animals you teach. Something very special."Amy Learn VMD, DACVB, CABC, Animal Behavior Wellness Center, USA
"This book challenges the dog training profession to grow up ethically. Jones moves beyond technique to ask what our methods demand of dogs, whose comfort they prioritize, and what kind of relationships they normalize. Essential reading for anyone who works with dogs."
Jessica Pierce, PhD, bioethicist and author of Who's a Good Dog? and How to Be a Better Human
"Erin Jones asks what is best for the dog in this examination of the moral choices we make in dog training. Thoughtful, fascinating, and grounded in real-life examples, Beyond Behaviour illuminates the ethical dimensions of the decisions we make every day about dogs."
Zazie Todd, PhD, author of Bark!, Wag, and Purr
"The dog behaviour field has long needed a book willing to ask the questions it mostly avoids - Beyond Behaviour is that book. Rigorous, compassionate, and unflinching, it examines what we genuinely owe the dogs we share our lives with."
Mia Cobb, PhD, Canine Welfare Scientist, The University of Melbourne, Australia
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
General, Professional Practice & Development, and Professional Reference
Illustrations
5 s/w Tabellen, 5 farbige Zeichnungen, 11 Farbfotos bzw. farbige Rasterbilder, 16 farbige Abbildungen
5 Tables, black and white; 5 Line drawings, color; 11 Halftones, color; 16 Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-032-96596-3 (9781032965963)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
approx. 12/2026
1st Edition
CRC Press
€36.50
Not yet published
Person
Erin Jones, PhD, is a researcher, author, and dog behaviour consultant working at the intersection of animal ethics, applied behaviour, and the dog-human relationship. Her work critically examines human exceptionalism, power, agency, consent, and the moral dimensions of training and behaviour support. She holds a PhD in Human-Animal Studies, an MSc in Anthrozoology, a BSc (Hons) in Anthropology and Psychology, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Animal Welfare.
Erin is a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant and Accredited Dog Trainer with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed and holds animal training and behaviour certifications in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is the founder of Merit Dog Project, Director of the IAABC Foundation Journal, and an international speaker and educator. Her previous books include Constructing Canine Consent and the co-edited collection Topics in Non/Human Coexistence. She is a Canadian based in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Erin is a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant and Accredited Dog Trainer with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed and holds animal training and behaviour certifications in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is the founder of Merit Dog Project, Director of the IAABC Foundation Journal, and an international speaker and educator. Her previous books include Constructing Canine Consent and the co-edited collection Topics in Non/Human Coexistence. She is a Canadian based in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Content
Introduction Part 1: Foundations 1. Laying the groundwork: Learning theory 2. A dog's perspective: Mental lives 3. Theoretical foundations in animal ethics **Interlude: On trusting cats and leashing dogs ** Part 2: Power and Paradoxes 4. Ethical dimensions of the dog-human relationship **Interlude: Entitlement** 5. The lineage of training dogs **Interlude: Animal Bodies** 6. Agency and the canine learner Part 3: Reimagining 7. How we decide: Ethical reasoning and justified action in dog-centred practice 8. Methods, morality and the politics of calm **Interlude: Willie** 9. A dog-first ethic: Design, repair, and capacity 10. Gremlin's story: A case study in liberation 11. Beyond the page: Building an ethical future for dogs and humans