Synopses & Reviews
How well do we really know dogs?and#160; People may enjoy thinking about them as andldquo;manandrsquo;s best friend,andrdquo; but what actually drives the things they do? What is going on in their fur-covered heads as they look at us with their big, expressive eyes?and#160; Raymond Coppinger and Mark Feinstein know something about these questions, and with
How Dogs Work, theyandrsquo;re ready to share; this is their guide to understanding your dog and its behavior.
and#160;
Approaching dogs as a biological species rather than just as pets, Coppinger and Feinstein accessibly synthesize decades of research and field experiments to explain the evolutionary foundations underlying dog behaviors. They examine the central importance of the shape of dogs:and#160; how their physical body (including the genes and the brain) affects behavior, how shape interacts with the environment as animals grow, and how all of this has developed over time. Shape, they tell us, is what makes a champion sled dog or a Border collie that can successfully herd sheep. Other chapters in How Dogs Work explore such mysteries as why dogs play; whether dogs have minds, and if so what kinds of things they might know; why dogs bark; how dogs feed and forage; and the influence of the early relationship between mother and pup. Going far beyond the cozy lap dog, Coppinger and Feinstein are equally fascinated by what we can learn from the adaptations of dogs, wolves, coyotes, jackals, dingoes, and even pumas in the wild, as well as the behavior of working animals like guarding and herding dogs.
and#160;
We cherish dogs as family members and deeply value our lengthy companionship with them. But, isnandrsquo;t it time we knew more about who Fido and Trixie really are? How Dogs Work will provide some keys to unlocking the origins of many of our dogsand#39; most common, most puzzling, and most endearing behaviors.
Review
andldquo;Written by two of the most distinguished teachers and scientists ever to have studied dogs, Coppingerandnbsp;and Feinstein, this book explores theandnbsp;behavioral design of the dog most eloquently. The authors detailandnbsp;a modern perspective on our understanding of canine ethology thatandnbsp;began with Charles Darwin and continued withandnbsp;Konrad Lorenz, as they build on the pedagogical approach of a courseandnbsp;written by Ray for the UKandrsquo;s Centre of Applied Pet Ethology.andnbsp;How Dogs Workandnbsp;clearlyandnbsp;describesandnbsp;why a dog behaves like a dog as result of being physically,andnbsp;physiologically, genetically, and developmentally shaped like a dog, andandnbsp;steadily shapes our understanding of just how and why dogs are such a specialandnbsp;species. But this is no dry scientific tome;andnbsp;rather, it is delightfully and sensitively written and will surely strengthen yourandnbsp;love of dogs by enhancing your appreciation of their evolution alongside man,andnbsp;their emotions, and their behavior. It is quiteandnbsp;simply aandnbsp;andlsquo;must haveandrsquo;andnbsp;for all dog enthusiasts, dog behaviorists, and training professionals and is an illuminating joy to read for all dogandnbsp;owners.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;How Dogs Work draws on the authorsand#39; extensive knowledge from years of experience and field experiments. They have done more serious, hands-on experiments with dogs, over a longer period of time, than almost any other researcher, which makes their research worth paying close attention to. While offering an integrated perspective for viewing and understanding the behaviors of dogs, the book is also entertaining and informative due to its frequent use of colorful examples.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Coppinger and Feinstein reveal how dog behavior has built-in biological origins and constraints and how it is influenced by genetics, the environment, and the consequences of that behavior. andnbsp;If you really want to know more about animal behavior, and dog behavior especially, then this is a book for you. Be prepared to be challenged and you will learn a lot.andrdquo;
andnbsp;
About the Author
Raymond Coppinger is professor emeritus of biology at Hampshire College. His books include Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and Evolution, also published by the University of Chicago Press.and#160; Mark Feinstein is professor of cognitive science at Hampshire College.
Table of Contents
Foreword
1. What Are Dogs Like?
2. What Makes Ethologists Tick?
3. The Shape of a Dog Is What Makes It Tick
4. The Shape of Behavior
5. The Rules of Foraging
6. Intrinsic Behavior
7. Accommodation and Behavior
8. Emergent Behavior
9. Play
10. Minding the Dog
A Last Word
Acknowledgments
References
Index