Can overworked and overstressed humans learn how to live successful and meaningful lives by thinking like a dog? Yes, according to the authors, Ellen Galvin and Patrick Galvin, of the book Secrets of a Working Dog: Unleash Your Potential and Create Success.

Written from the perspective of an opinionated and slightly mischievous boxer named Bella, Secrets of a Working Dog: Unleash Your Potential and Create Success is for anyone who appreciates animals and seeks straightforward and simple advice on how to balance the responsibilities and challenges of modern life and still have fun. With help from her co-authors Ellen Galvin and Patrick Galvin, Bella blends wit and wisdom with good old-fashioned canine intuition to create an easy yet powerful read that takes humans on a walk of self-discovery.

Among Bella’s tips:
• Concentrate your time and energy on the things that you love and that you are good at—the things that make you “zoom” like an excited pup!
• Run with the ball. When an opportunity comes along, gather enough information to make a decision and make a decision.
• Become a better listener by wagging your tail more than your tongue.
• Shake off setbacks like a dog shakes off water. If you don’t fail, you don’t learn.
• Build your pack. The most successful people are those who surround themselves with colleagues, coaches, mentors and friends.
• Don’t just be grateful—show it. When something good happens, take a moment out of your busy life to kick up your paws and celebrate.
• Put away the gadgets and gizmos and play like a dog, where play is a full-body sensory experience that connects you to the real world and real people.