Tender Paws: How Science-Based Parenting Can Transform Our Relationship with Dogs by Wendy Lyons Sunshine begins with the author's real-life account of adopting a puppy during her marriage, and follows how daily life unraveled as the dog’s needs exceeded her expectations. When familiar correction strategies produced injury and distress, Sunshine turned to her background in caregiving research to reconsider what behavior communicates across species. Sunshine moves from lived experience into an explanation of how biological conditions, early experiences, safety, and nurturing responses shape behavior over time. Sunshine breaks down HEARTS as an evaluative model that connects science on development and attachment to everyday decisions. Using documented research and applied examples, she presents a structured way to understand behavior in dogs as a product of conditions that can be assessed and adjusted.

My goodness, I went into Tender Paws thinking I'd pick up a couple of tips, but I learned so much from Wendy Lyons Sunshine on so many areas of my approach to pet-parenting. I like that Sunshine shows how understanding a dog’s inherited tendencies makes a huge difference in changing daily decisions, such as choosing scent work for a dog driven to search, or structured retrieval for one inclined to chase. As someone with a wildly busy household, I have already started implementing her practical routines to signal rest, including teaching our pup to settle on designated mats, and alternating activity with quiet, cognitive tasks. Sunshine's writing style is conversational, like a chat with a knowledgeable friend, and her case studies are totally relatable, like a spaniel whose escalating distress eased once performance demands stopped, and consent-based activities replaced them. Overall, this is a wonderful guide. Very highly recommended.

Tender Paws by Wendy Lyons Sunshine offers a thoughtful, research-informed approach to understanding dogs through the lens of science-based parenting. Drawing on Sunshine’s background in child development literature and her personal experience with rescue dogs, the book reframes common canine challenges as communication rather than misbehavior. The opening chapters introduce readers to the idea that many struggles with puppies and dogs stem from unmet needs, early trauma, or developmental stages, a perspective that immediately changes how everyday interactions are understood. Sunshine carefully draws parallels between child development and dog care, incorporating attachment theory, neurobiology, and sensory processing in ways that remain accessible to a general audience. Case studies and real-life examples help translate theory into daily practice, showing how small changes in caregiver behavior can influence outcomes.

Wendy Lyons Sunshine acknowledges the frustration, fear, and exhaustion that can accompany life with a challenging dog while consistently guiding readers toward empathy and curiosity. The writing balances compassion with clarity, avoiding oversimplification while offering concrete strategies that can be achieved in real households. Throughout the book, the author reinforces the idea that behavior is shaped by context, history, and biology, an insight that invites patience and thoughtful problem-solving rather than quick fixes. Tender Paws stands apart from conventional training manuals by centering relationships and well-being. It is especially meaningful for those welcoming puppies, adopting rescue dogs, or seeking a more reflective way to live with animals. Sunshine’s work encourages readers to rethink long-held assumptions and to approach dogs as individuals shaped by experience. The result is a book that broadens understanding, supports humane care, and offers a clear path toward stronger, more trusting bonds between people and the dogs who share their lives.

Tender Paws by Wendy Lyons Sunshine offers readers a comprehensive guide on training puppies and dogs the right way. This is more than just your standard training guide, though. Wendy’s first puppy floored her—a stray pup, abandoned and sickly; she had no idea what to expect, and conventional advice simply didn’t work. Years of experience working with child development experts provided her with the answer, but could child development principles really work with dogs? Yes, they could and did. Now Wendy shares her experiences in turning a frightened, out-of-control pup into a calm, cooperative pet who shared a deep, trusting bond with her new owner. Tender Paws educates dog parents in reading their pet’s behavior and understanding what they are trying to say, giving them the perfect framework to help their pets go from reactive and scared to gentle, emotionally well members of the family.

In Tender Paws, Wendy Lyons Sunshine offers a unique take on pet parenting. Instead of your usual dog training book, this guide follows the science-backed principles of child development, and it is fascinating to read. Most of my dogs have been rescues, and some have been challenging, but having had dogs for many years, a lot of what is in this book came to me naturally—for others, it will be an eye-opener in terms of how it can change their relationship with their pets. The guide offers plenty of real-life examples that show how compassion and understanding, not to mention being able to read and understand your dog’s behavior, can totally change things. This is about learning to relate to your pet and helping them relate to you, and Wendy provides plenty of tools to help. Tender Paws is an excellent guide, especially for people taking on their first pup or anxious rescue dogs with traumatic backgrounds. The HEARTS principle used for children is perfect for pet parenting, and it just goes to prove that we don’t have to follow the so-called expert guides on dog training when something that already works elsewhere is just as good, if not better. If you are planning on getting a pup or rescue dog, or are at your wits' end with your dog now, I highly recommend giving this book a go.

For dog parenting, we need to understand and respect the needs of the dogs in our care. However, sometimes there are subtle factors that we must consider, such as our pet's personality or any difficult experiences they may have had. In Tender Paws, Wendy Lyons Sunshine teaches us how to address these issues with a respectful and mindful approach. The author begins by narrating the difficulties she faced while caring for Hazel, a puppy abandoned behind a gas station. Traditional training methods failed, and she felt she had no alternatives. However, when she investigated the subject further, she noticed similarities with some child-rearing techniques, and in this way, she solved the problem. Now she shares her experience and gentle practices that consider the developmental needs of dogs. In this way, we can evaluate our dogs' particular situations with neutrality, respect, and love.

I loved Wendy Lyons Sunshine's writing style. She speaks to us from both her personal experience and real-life cases involving other people. Using accessible language, she shares creative, compassionate, and well-informed solutions. She also explains ideas from experts in dog training and behavior, which I found useful. The empathetic approach is evident in the stories of people seeking to help their dogs. What I liked most is how this book reminds us that both children and dogs share biological needs and go through development in stages. That's why it's necessary to establish fluid communication to make dogs feel safe, detect what triggers their unusual behaviors, and work through possible traumas. Tender Paws shows that positive reinforcement is one of the most effective ways to strengthen your relationship with your dog.

The book Tender Paws: How Science-Based Parenting Can Transform Our Relationship with Dogs has been honored by multiple organizations and is endorsed by Temple Grandin and leading dog behavior experts in the US, UK, and Canada.

* 2025 Winner, Book Award, American Society of Journalists & Authors
* 2024 Winner, Rescue / Adoption Book Maxwell Medallion, Dog Writers Association of America
* 2024 Finalist, IAN Book of the Year

You're invited to visit wendylsunshine.com for more details.