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The Education of Will
The Education of Will: A Mutual Memoir of a Woman and Her Dog | Patricia B. McConnell
4 posts | 6 read | 3 to read
In this powerful, soul-searching memoir, beautifully written in the vein of A Pack of Two and Wild, animal behaviorist Dr. Patricia McConnell recounts for the first time the compelling story of her dark past, memories of which are triggered by a troubled dog named Will. World-renowned as a source of science and soul, Patricia McConnell combines brilliant insights into canine behavior—gained from her work with aggressive and fearful dogs—with heartwarming stories of her own dogs and their life on the farm. Now, she reveals that it wasn’t just the dogs who had serious problems. For decades Dr. McConnell secretly grappled with her own guilt and fear, which were rooted in the harrowing traumas of her youth. Patricia is forced to face her past by her love for a young Border Collie named Will, whose frequent, unpredictable outbreaks of fear and fury shake Patricia to her core. In order to save Will from this dangerous behavior, she must find her own will to heal, and along the way learn that will power by itself is not enough. Interweaving enlightening stories of her clients’ dogs with tales of her deepening bond with Will, Patricia recounts her fight to reclaim her life. Hopeful and inspiring, the redemptive message of her journey is that, while trauma changes our brains and the past casts a long shadow, healing, for both people and dogs, is possible through hard work, compassion, and mutual devotion.
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lennearb
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Loved this book. McConnell is always insightful, but I think this might be her best book yet. As a dog trainer, I have to admit that I also enjoy reading about more accomplished and noteworthy trainers so have also struggled with their own dog's behavior issues. Trigger warnings for discussions of sexual assault and violence.

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kiminreverse
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I fangirl out on really nerdy, technical animal behavior stuff, so Tricia McConnell isn't unusual pleasure reading for me. She's a great writer and storyteller, and her newest book is about traumas in her own life and the struggles of her dog, Willy. It's not as fluffy and feel good as many dog books, but if you're interested in behavior it's definitely accessible to the average reader. I listened to it in a day!

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bookishbitch
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This book packs a wallop. Much darker and serious than I expected it to be. Very well told. I cannot imagine having gone through what she did and be willing to share this story with the world. She says she doesn't feel brave for doing it but she is. Also a good example that knowing how to do something doesn't always mean it will be easy. (Reference the experience with her own dog.) An excellent read but may need a trigger warning for some readers.

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bookishbitch
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The new books arrived for my handlers on the K-9 Corrections prison shelter dog training program. I choose this one because it is about how a dog with serious issues helped her work through emotional trauma. It seemed fitting for their environment. You can follow us here: https://www.facebook.com/K9Corrections/ #memoir