PUBLISHING YEAR: 2012 SUMMARY: Lively essays on critical dog questions through popular science. AUDIENCE: If you are an owner struggling with inconsistencies with traditional training methods, this book has your name written all over it. It’ll be the launching platform you need to discover the fascinating world of dog fact, so you can, once […]
PUBLISHING YEAR: 1990 SUMMARY: Interpretations (often pack theory-based) of commonly observed dog behaviour. AUDIENCE: The audience is, in theory, dog owners looking to debunk myths about dogs. Unfortunately, it disseminates the occasional myth by itself, so to be taken with a pinch of salt. So I would put it in the hands of critical readers […]
PUBLISHING YEAR: 2004 SUMMARY: Observations of a scientist couple on the dog’s evolution. Also touches on training and sports. AUDIENCE: A little too technical to be read for entertainment purposes without being rigorous enough to be used quotable in mainstream academia. Perhaps the person who will enjoy it the most is the scientifically literate owner with […]
PUBLISHING YEAR: 2011 SUMMARY: Dog Sense is a giant research literature survey, written in layman’s terms, about dogs’ behaviour through: evolution, domestication, cognitive abilities, emotions, genetics, and training methods. AUDIENCE: It was tough selecting a readership stamp, as: Owner: It’s a long read, but in layman’s term. It will help you shed the clinging few old wife’s […]
AUTHORS: Brian Hare & Vanessa Woods PUBLISHING YEAR: 2013 SUMMARY: An informal journey through the research into canine cognitive abilities, with some philosophical and societal discussions. AUDIENCE: You won’t need to know scientific/technical jargon to follow the book, but it goes waaaaay beyond what a the average dog owner is looking for. So I would […]
AUTHOR: Barry Eaton PUBLISHING YEAR: 2010 SUMMARY: List of pack theory counter-arguments (I mean, against the pack theory) AUDIENCE: For those of you who have developed a real aversion to the dominance theory, it will crystallise your arguments. For those of you who interpret every dog behaviour in terms of dominance, it might make a dent. REVIEW: Another must-read […]
AUTHOR: Ben Goldacre PUBLISHING YEAR: 2008 SUMMARY: A toolbox for the critical thinker, and a scathing account of the large-scale abuses of pseudo-scientific practices: from big pharma to flower remedies. AUDIENCE: This book does not focus on dogs but if every dog trainer and behaviourist embraced its values, our unregulated profession would be rid of the […]
Inside of a dog: What dogs see, smell and know AUTHOR: Alexandra Horowitz PUBLISHING YEAR: 2009 SUMMARY: A critical and exhaustive look at what we know about dogs’ mental worlds. Written by a cognition researcher, the book takes us through the research milestones on dogs’ cognitive and sensory abilities. AUDIENCE: Written for the layman, this […]
PUBLISHING YEAR: 2005 SUMMARY: Modern dog training perspectives in layman’s terms. This is the best summary I can muster. There’s no way to do it justice in a few words. AUDIENCE: If you’re professional, read it now, recommend it to your customers, give it to shelter adopters! REVIEW: The Culture Clash lays out the pillars of […]
PUBLISHING YEAR: 2009 SUMMARY: 100 common myths debunked. One by one. AUDIENCE: The book takes an extreme position on a few controversial points, which may unduly sway the layman’s view. So, not to be put in the hands of complete beginners in dog behaviour. REVIEW: This book is a little gem. It has a backyard […]