Synopses & Reviews
What do dogs know? How do they think? The answers will surprise and delight you as Alexandra Horowitz, a cognitive scientist, explains how dogs perceive their daily worlds, each other, and that other quirky animal, the human.
Inside of a Dog is a fresh look at the world of dogs -- from the dog's point of view. As a dog owner, Horowitz is naturally curious to learn what her dog thinks about and knows. And as a scientist, she is intent on understanding the minds of animals who cannot speak for themselves.
In clear, crisp prose, Horowitz introduces the reader to dogs' perceptual and cognitive abilities and then draws a picture of what it might be like to be a dog. What's it like to be able to smell not just every bit of open food in the house but also to smell sadness in humans or even the passage of time? How does a tiny dog manage to play successfully with a Great Dane? What is it like to hear the bodily vibrations of insects or the hum of a fluorescent light? Why must a person on a bicycle be chased? What's it like to use your mouth as a hand? In short, what is it like for a dog to experience life from two feet off the ground, amidst the smells of the sidewalk, gazing at our ankles or knees?
Inside of a Dog explains these things and much more. The answers can be surprising -- once we set aside our natural inclination to anthropomorphize dogs. Inside of a Dog also contains up-to-the-minute research -- on dogs' detection of disease, the secrets of their tails, and their skill at reading our attention -- that Horowitz puts into useful context. Although not a formal training guide, Inside of a Dog has practical application for dog lovers interested in understanding why their dogs do what they do.
The relationship between dogs and humans is arguably the most fascinating animal-human bond because dogs evolved from wild creatures to become our companions, an adaptation that changed their bodies, brains, and behavior. Yet dogs always remain animals, familiar but mysterious. With a light touch and the weight of science behind her, Alexandra Horowitz examines the animal we think we know best but may actually understand the least. This book is as close as you can get to knowing about dogs without being a dog yourself.
Review
"Discover why your dog is so sensitive to your emotions, gaze, and body language. Dogs live in a world of ever-changing intricate detail of smell. Read this captivating book and enter the sensory world of your dog." -- Temple Grandin, author of andlt;iandgt;Animals in Translationandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;Animals Make Us Humanandlt;/iandgt;
Review
"andlt;iandgt;Inside of a Dogandlt;/iandgt; is a most welcome authoritative, personal, and witty book about what it is like to be a dog. This engaging volume serves as a corrective to the many myths that circulate about just who our canine companions are. I hope this book enjoys the wide readership it deserves." -- Marc Bekoff, author of andlt;iandgt;The Emotional Lives of Animals and Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animalsandlt;/iandgt; (with Jessica Pierce)
Review
and#8220;Many authors have tried to anecdotally capture the emotional bond between humans and dogs. Here at last is a book that digs deep into cognitive science to unravel the mysteries of the canine brain. Thoroughly researched and written in the likable voice of a brainy scientist sitting at your kitchen table,
The Genius of Dogs is a fascinating look at what goes on between the ears of the animals we share our lives with. I found it entertaining, fast-moving, and filled with gee-whiz insights that gave me a new appreciation for the complex social intelligence of manand#8217;s best friend.and#8221;
and#8212;John Grogan, author of Marley and Me and The Longest Trip Home
and#8220;The Genius of Dogs is a fantastic book. It makes it very clear that there are different kinds of intelligence. All dog lovers should read this book.and#8221;
and#8212;Temple Grandin, author of Animals Make Us Human and Animals in Translation
and#8220;The definitive dog book of our time by the researcher who started a revolution.and#8221;
and#8212;Daniel J. Levitin, author of This is Your Brain on Music and The World in Six Songs
and#8220;A masterful account of the way science is revealing just how smart dogs can be. Fascinating and highly readable.and#8221;
and#8212;John Bradshaw, University of Bristol, author of Dog Sense
and#8220;With the help of some wolves, Russian foxes, New Guinea singing dogs and a Labrador Retriever named Oreo, Brian Hare tells us about his fascinating search for an understanding of how dogs think and communicate.and#8221;
and#8212;Stanley Coren, author of Do Dogs Dream and Born to Bark
and#8220;Based on Brian Hareand#8217;s game-changing research, The Genius of Dogs brilliantly explains the canine mind and in doing so illuminates the natural history of all intelligence. This book will captivate anyone interested in dog, ape or human mentality.and#8221;
and#8212;Richard Wrangham, Harvard University, author of Catching Fire
and#8220;This is the best book in existence, by far, for learning about the recent revolution in our understanding of the minds of dogs. And its fun, too.and#8221;
and#8212;Mike Tomasello, Co-Director, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
and#8220;The Genius of Dogs is not just about dogs, and not just about genius. Itand#8217;s an exciting detective story by two comparative biologists with amazing discoveries to report.and#8221;
and#8212;Bernd Heinrich, author of Mind of the Raven
and#8220;A fascinating, riveting, utterly engaging romp through the mind of man's best friend. I promise: You will never look at your dog the same way again.and#8221;
and#8212;Maria Goodavage, author of Soldier Dogs
Review
"Jessica Pierce takes a brave and honest look at the hardest decision all of us who share our lives with dogs must face--whether and when to put to sleep, put down, euthanize, terminate, kill our boon companions.and#160;She does not make it easier--it never gets easier--but she does succeed in cutting through the euphemisticand#160;obfuscation that so often obscures every aspect of the subject."
Review
andquot;Decisions about how to treat an animal toward the end of her or his life are among the most difficult we have to make and it's our responsibility to do the best we can. Our companions trust that we will have their best interests in mind.and#160;Inand#160;
The Last Walk, Jessica Pierce considers all of the hard questions about sick and old animals. She seamlessly weaves in personal stories with scientific research to provide readers with an incredibly valuable guide--a must read--about when and how to end an animal's life in the most humane way possible. I learned a lot from reading this book, and I know others will as well.andquot;
Review
"
The Last Walkand#160;is an engaging tribute to the complexity of human relations to companion animals and the range of issues and concerns that arise for us as those companions' lives come to their ends. The nature of building relationships and forming families with companion animals who, in most cases, we know we will outlive, shapes those relationships in profound ways. Given the subject matter, it seems odd to say I 'enjoyed' this book--I was so moved by it at times that I wept--let me say instead that I was utterly gripped by this book and think it is a must read for everyone who shares their lives with animals."
Review
"In
The Last Walk bioethicist Jessica Pierce covers virtually every aspect of dealing with the aging and death of a companion animaland#8212;from doggie diapers to the morally complex and psychologically wrenching decision to euthanize a pet. This is an intelligent and deeply moving book that everyone who lovesand#8212;or will loveand#8212;an aging animal should read."
Review
"
The Last Walk rings with compassion for aging animals and charts a hopefuland#160;new course for those of us who care for them. Withand#160;herand#160;beautiful 'Ody's journal' passages, Jessica Pierceand#160;made me feel close to her beloved andand#160;high-maintenance old dog. It was through Ody's challenges, and Pierce's on his behalf,and#160;that I came to grapple in important new ways with issues of pet aging and death.and#160;This book is revolutionary, and and#160;I loved it with all my heart."
Review
"Pierce has made an important contribution to the small body of literature dealing with aging and death in companion animals. . . . While this will appeal to a fairly narrow audience, it should be required reading for every pet owner. Readers will identify with Pierce's feelings of ambivalence, and see something of their own pets as they read about Ody's antics and challenges. Recommended."
Review
"The best nature book this year (and also the best dog book) is immeasurably also the saddest. . . . This great little book is not a happy reading experience--but for dog people, it'll be a massively cathartic one."
Review
and#8220;
The Last Walk is a book that all loving pet owners should read. Nothing will make the prospect of ending a good friendand#8217;s life any easier, but at least it can help those awful decisions feel less of a stab in the dark.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;Using her experience caring for her elderly Vizsla as a springboard, Pierce, who is a bioethicist, explores the evolution of North American attitudes toward pets and their demise, while delving as deeply as she can into her own feelings as her dog Ody goes into decline.and#8221;
Review
"Kudos to the Veterinary Behaviorists!
Decoding Your Dog is a welcome addition to the voicesand#12288;supporting science-based and benevolent dog training. Read this book and your dog will thank you for it!" --
Patricia B McConnell, PhD, CAAB, author of The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs "Behavioral problems often risk damaging the canine-human bond. Veterinary behaviorists are uniquely qualified to consider potential medical explanations while also understanding how to appropriately treat a wide array of behavior problems. This wonderful, practical book can help dog owners to insure that their relationship lasts a lifetime. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a dog." --
Dr. Doug Aspros, 2013 president of the American Veterinary Medical Association "The very best information to help your best friend from top veterinary behavioral experts. A must buy for the caring dog owner. Two paws up!" --
Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman, Director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and author of The Well-Adjusted Dog "What makes your dog tick? Do you wish he could talk? You donand#8217;t have to! "Decoding Your Dog" is all you need speak the language, thanks to a Dream Team of top veterinary behaviorists. This is one book every dog-lover needs to have, for better-behaved companion whoand#8217;s as tuned in to you as you can be to him." --
Dr. Marty Becker, veterinary contributor for Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show and author of Your Dog: The Ownerand#8217;s Manual and Your Cat: The Ownerand#8217;s Manual "Well edited...Decoding Your Dog is an important addition to the canine canon, one that will go a long way toward increasing your understanding of your best friend."--The Bark
"The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists is an organization of veterinarians with advanced training and experience in the field of applied animal behavior. More than 90 percent of pet owners feel
that their dog is part of the family so the need for good communication between dog and owner becomes obvious if that familial relationship is to be positive for both species. Behavior problems in pets can erode that relationship, and without successful training or treatment, the result may be the loss of the dog to a shelter or to euthanasia. In 14 chapters, veterinary behaviorists walk dog owners through the stages of dog ownership. A basic chapter on learning to speak and#8220;dogand#8221; starts us off, followed by essays on choosing a dog, house training, behavior training, and training tools. Chapters on common issues, such as separation anxiety, aggression, sound phobias, and compulsive behaviors, teach how to retrain the dog, and a final chapter on the aging canine rounds out the book. Boxes defining terms used in the chapter or containing in-depth coverage of a behavior fill many sections, and each chapter ends with a and#8220;What Did We Say?and#8221; summary. Libraries and dog owners may have found the holy grail with this title."--Booklist, STARRED review
Synopsis
Containing up-to-the minute research and providing many moments of dog-behavior recognition, this lively and absorbing book helps dog owners to see their best friend's behavior in a different, and revealing, light. b&w illustrations throughout.
Synopsis
The bestselling book that asks what dogs know and how they think. The answers will surprise and delight you as Alexandra Horowitz, a cognitive scientist, explains how dogs perceive their daily worlds, each other, and that other quirky animal, the human.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Temple Grandin meets Stephen Pinker in this engaging and informative look at what goes on inside the minds of dogsand#8212;from a cognitive scientist with a background at andlt;iandgt;The New Yorkerandlt;/iandgt;.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;With more than 52 million pet dogs in America today, itand#8217;s clear we are a nation of unabashed dog-lovers. Yet the relationship between dogs and humans remains a fascinating mystery, as no one really knows what goes on in the canine mind. Now, in andlt;iandgt;Inside of a Dogandlt;/iandgt;, Alexandra Horowitz fuses her perspectives as both scientist and dog-owner to deliver a fresh look at the world of dogsand#8212;as seen from the animaland#8217;s point of view. Inspired by her years of living with her own dog, Pumpernickel, who was a constant source of delight and mystery, Horowitzand#8217;s mind became filled with questions and ideas. In crisp, clear prose, she draws on her research in the field of dog cognition to give readers a sense of a dogand#8217;s perceptual and cognitive abilitiesand#8212;and paints a picture of what the canine experience is like. Horowitzand#8217;s own scientific journey, and the insights she uncovered, allowed her to understand her dog better and appreciate her more.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Containing up-to-the minute research and providing many moments of dog-behavior recognition, this lively and absorbing book helps dog owners to see their best friendand#8217;s behavior in a different, and revealing light, allowing them to understand their pets and enjoy their company even more.
Synopsis
This New York Times bestseller offers mesmerizing insights into the interior lives of our smartest pets In the past decade, we have learned more about how dogs think than in the last century. Breakthroughs in cognitive science, pioneered by Brian Hare, have proven dogs have a kind of genius for getting along with people that is unique in the animal kingdom. is dog genius revolution is transforming how we live and work with our canine friends, including how we train them. Does your dog feel guilt? Is she pretending she canand#8217;t hear you? Does she want a ffectionand#151;or just your sandwich? In The Genius of Dogs, Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods lay out what discoveries at the Duke Canine Cognition Lab and other research facilities around the world are revealing about how your dog thinks and how we humans can have even deeper relationships with our best four-legged friends.
Synopsis
From the moment when we first open our homesandmdash;and our heartsandmdash;to a new pet, we know that one day we will have to watch this beloved animal age and die. The pain of that eventual separation is the cruel corollary to the love we share with them, and most of us deal with it by simply ignoring its inevitability.and#160;With
The Last Walk, Jessica Pierce makes a forceful case that our pets, and the love we bear them, deserve better. Drawing on the moving story of the last year of the life of her own treasured dog, Ody, she presents an in-depth exploration of the practical, medical, and moral issues that trouble pet owners confronted with the decline and death of their companion animals. Pierce combines heart-wrenching personal stories, interviews, and scientific research to consider a wide range of questions about animal aging, end-of-life care, and death. She tackles such vexing questions as whether animals are aware of death, whether they're feeling pain, and if and when euthanasia is appropriate. Given what we know and can learn, how should we best honor the lives of our pets, both while they live and after they have left us?and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
The product of a lifetime of loving pets, studying philosophy, and collaborating with scientists at the forefront of the study of animal behavior and cognition, The Last Walk asksandmdash;and answersandmdash;the toughest questions pet owners face. The result is informative, moving, and consoling in equal parts; no pet lover should miss it.
Synopsis
The top dog behaviorists in the country - the top researchers, scientists, and veterinarians - have teamed up with a renowned media personality to create the most cutting-edge, scientifically accurate, definitiveand#160;book on and#160;why our dogs do what they do and how we can prevent or solve common canine behavior problems.
Synopsis
More thanand#160;ninety percent of dog owners consider their pets to be members of their family. But often, despite our best intentions, we are letting our dogs down by not giving them theand#160;guidance and directionand#160;they need.and#160;Unwanted behavior is the number-one reason dogs are relinquished to shelters and rescue groups.
The key to trainingand#160;dogs effectively isand#160;first toand#160;understand why our dogs do what they do. And no one can address this more authoritatively than the diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Behavior, whose work, the culmination of years ofand#160;rigorous training, takes them deep into the minds ofand#160;dogs in an effort to decode how they think, how they communicate, and how they learn.
In Decoding Your Dog, these experts analyze problem behaviors, decipher the latest studies, and correct common misconceptions and outmoded theories. The book includes:
and#8226; Effective, veterinary-approved positive training methods
and#8226; Expert advice on socialization, housetraining, diet, and exercise
and#8226; Remedies for behaviorand#160;problems such as OCD and aggression
With Decoding Your Dog the expertsand#8217; experts deliver a must-have dog behavior guide that ultimately challenge the way we think about our dogs.
Synopsis
A neuroscientist finally and definitively answers the age-old question: What is my dog thinking?
Synopsis
The powerful bond between humans and dogs is one thatand#8217;s uniquely cherished. Loyal, obedient, and affectionate, they are truly and#8220;manand#8217;s best friend.and#8221; But do dogs love us the way we love them? Emory University neuroscientist Gregory Berns had spent decades using MRI imaging technology to study how the human brain works, but a different question still nagged at him:
What is my dog thinking?and#160;
After his family adopted Callie, a shy, skinny terrier mix, Berns decided that there was only one way to answer that questionand#8212;use an MRI machine to scan the dogand#8217;s brain. His colleagues dismissed the idea. Everyone knew that dogs needed to be restrained or sedated for MRI scans. But if the military could train dogs to operate calmly in some of the most challenging environments, surely there must be a way to train dogs to sit in an MRI scanner.
and#160;
With this radical conviction, Berns and his dog would embark on a remarkable journey and be the first to glimpse the inner workings of the canine brain. Painstakingly, the two worked together to overcome the many technical, legal, and behavioral hurdles. Bernsand#8217;s research offers surprising results on how dogs empathize with human emotions, how they love us, and why dogs and humans share one of the most remarkable friendships in the animal kingdom.
and#160;
How Dogs Love Us answers the age-old question of dog lovers everywhere and offers profound new evidence that dogs should be treated as we would treat our best human friends: with love, respect, and appreciation for their social and emotional intelligence.
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Alexandra Horowitz andlt;/bandgt;is an assistant professor of psychology at Barnard College. She has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Science and has studied the cognition of humans, rhinoceros, bonobos, and dogs. She has researched dogs professionally for eight years. Before her scientific career, she worked as a lexicographer at Merriam-Webster and was on the staff at andlt;iandgt;The New Yorkerandlt;/iandgt;. She currently lives in New York City with Finnegan, a dog of indeterminate parentage and determinate character, and the fond memories of dogs past.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgmentsand#160;and#160;and#160;xi
Foreword by Victoria Stillwelland#160;and#160;and#160;xv
Preface by Barbara L. Shermanand#160;and#160;and#160;xvii
Introduction by Steve Daleand#160;and#160;and#160;xxi 1.and#160;and#160;and#160;Canand#8217;t We Just Talk?and#160;and#160;and#160;1
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Learning to and#8220;Speak Dogand#8221;and#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Jacqueline C. Neilson, DVM, DACVB
2.and#160;and#160;and#160;Choosing Your New Best Friendand#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;How to Find the Best Match for You and Your Puppyand#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Meghan Elaine Herron, DVM, DACVB
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Patrick Yves Melese, MA, DVM, DAVCBand#160;and#160;and#160; 3.and#160;and#160;and#160;Creating a Mensa Dogand#160;and#160;and#160;38
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;What Learning Really Is, and How Dogs Learnand#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Katherine Albro Houpt, VMD, PhD, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 4.and#160;and#160;and#160;Housetraining 101and#160;and#160;and#160;59
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Do It Here, Do It Nowand#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Leslie Larson Cooper, DVM, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160;
5.and#160;and#160;and#160;Tools of the Tradeand#160;and#160;and#160;83
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Humane and Safe Training Toolsand#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Lori Gaskins, DVM, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 6.and#160;and#160;and#160;School Daysand#160;and#160;and#160;107
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Practical Advice on Getting from a Puppy to a Dog and#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Gerrard Flannigan, MS, DVM, DACVB
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Ellen M. Lindell, VMD, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 7.and#160;and#160;and#160;I Know Theyand#8217;re Normal Behaviors, but How
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Do I Fix Them?and#160;and#160;and#160;127
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Common Problems That Can Drive
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Any Dog Owner to Howland#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Jeannine Berger, DVM, DACVB
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Lore I. Haug, MS, DVM, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 8.and#160;and#160;and#160;Lassie and Timmy: Kids and Dogsand#160;and#160;and#160;150
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Creating a Family That Worksand#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Valarie V. Tynes, DVM, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 9.and#160;and#160;and#160;All Dogs Need a Joband#160;and#160;and#160;177
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;How to Keep Your Dog Happy and Mentally Healthyand#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Mary P. Klinck, DVM, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 10.and#160;and#160;and#160;Aggression Unleashed: Do Dogs Mean to be Mean?and#160;and#160;and#160;199
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;If Aggression Leads to More Aggression, How Do You Respond?and#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Ilana Reisner, DVM, PhD, DACVB
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Stefanie Schwartz, MS, DVM, DAVCBand#160;and#160;and#160; 11.and#160;and#160;and#160;Loyalty Gone Overboard: Separation Anxietyand#160;and#160;and#160;235
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;The and#8220;Velcro Dogand#8221; Dilemmaand#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Eand#8217;Lise Christensen, DVM, DACVB
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Karen L. Overall, MA, VMD, PhD, DACVB, CAABand#160;and#160;and#160;
12.and#160;and#160;and#160;I Know Itand#8217;s Going to Rain, and I Hate the Fourth of Julyand#160;and#160; and#160;and#160;and#160;263
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Dogs Who Are Phobic About Soundand#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Emily D. Levine, DVM, DACVB, MRCVSand#160;and#160;and#160; 13.and#160;and#160;and#160;Tail Chasing, Leg Lickingand#8212;Canand#8217;t You Stop?and#160;and#160;and#160;281
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Compulsive Behaviorsand#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Melissa Bain, MS, DVM, DACVB
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Marsha Reich, DVM, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 14.and#160;and#160;and#160;Dogs with an AARF Card: Growing Old with Graceand#160;and#160;and#160;296
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Old Dogs Should Learn New Tricksand#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Gary Landsberg DVM, DACVB, DECAWBM (Behavior)
Conclusionand#160;and#160;and#160;317
Appendix and#160;and#160;and#160;319
Glossary and#160;and#160;and#160;321
Recommended Resourcesand#160;and#160;and#160;333
About the Editorsand#160;and#160;and#160;337
About the Authorsand#160;and#160;and#160;341
Members of the American College ofand#160;
Veterinary Behavioristsand#160;and#160;and#160;351
Index