Who's a Good Dog?: And How to Be a Better Human

by Jessica Pierce

Who's a Good Dog? is an invitation to nurture more thoughtful and balanced relationships with our canine companions. By deepening our curiosity about what our dogs are experiencing, and by working together with them, we can become more effective and compassionate caregivers.

With sympathy for the challenges met by both dogs and their humans, bioethicist Jessica Pierce explores common practices of caring for dogs, including how we provide exercise, what we feed, how and why we socialize and train, and how we employ tools such as collars and leashes. She helps us both to identify potential sources of fear and anxiety in our dogs' lives and to expand practices that provide physical and emotional nourishment. Who's a Good Dog? also encourages us to think more critically about what we expect of our dogs and how these expectations can set everyone up for success or failure. Pierce offers resources to help us cultivate attentiveness and kindness, inspiring us to practice the art of noticing, of astonishment, of looking with fresh eyes at these beings we think we know so well. And more than this, she makes her findings relatable by examining facets of her relationship with Bella, the dog in her life. As Bella shows throughout, all dogs are good dogs, and we, as humans and dog guardians, could be doing a little bit better to get along with them.

Genres: Nonfiction, Dogs, Animals

304 pages, Hardcover

Published September 6, 2023

About the author

Bioethicist Jessica Pierce, Ph.D., is the author of the book The Last Walk: Reflections on Our Pets at the Ends of Their Lives (University of Chicago, 2012). Some of the questions she explores are: Do animals have death awareness? Why is euthanasia almost always considered the compassionate end point for our animals, but not for our human companions? Is there ever a good reason to euthanize a healthy dog? Why do people often grieve more deeply for their pets than they do for people? What is animal hospice?

Her other books include Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals, Morality Play, Contemporary Bioethics: A Reader with Cases and The Ethics of Environmentally Responsible Health Care.

Reviews

[Mateusz Płocha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Z wieloma rzeczami się nie zgadzam. Mam wrażenie, że autorka wpada w pułapkę myślenia o psie w dokładnie takich samych kategoriach jak o człowieku. Ogromną zaletą tej książki jest natomiast wytrącanie z poczucia samozadowolenia wobec naszej relacji z psami. Pytania stawiane przez autorkę zostają w głowie i czuję, że mogą się przyczynić do polepszenia mojej własnej relacji z psem. Polecam!

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In her insightful book, Who's a Good Dog? And How to Be a Better Human, bioethicist Jessica Pierce invites readers to embark on a journey of understanding and compassion with our beloved canine friends. With a blend of scientific research, personal anecdotes, and practical advice, Pierce delves into the complexities of our relationships with dogs and offers fresh perspectives on how we can enhance their lives—and ours.

Pierce encourages us to be curious about our dogs' experiences. By observing their behavior, understanding their needs, and working together, we can create more meaningful connections. It's not just about training them; it's about learning from them.

The book addresses common practices in dog care, such as exercise routines, feeding habits, and socialization. Pierce emphasizes empathy for both dogs and humans, acknowledging the challenges faced by both parties.

From collars to leashes, Pierce examines the tools we use and their impact on our dogs. She advocates for mindful choices that prioritize their well-being.

We often have high expectations of our furry companions. Pierce reminds us that all dogs are good dogs, and our expectations can shape their behavior. Adjusting our outlook can lead to better outcomes.

Pierce combines scientific knowledge with personal anecdotes, making the book engaging and relatable.

Whether you're a seasoned dog owner or a newbie, you'll find practical advice on improving your relationship with your pet.

Pierce shares her experiences with Bella, her own dog, making the content warm and authentic.

Who's a Good Dog? is a delightful read for dog lovers, offering a deeper understanding of our four-legged companions. Pierce's call to be better humans resonates beyond the pages, reminding us that our dogs deserve our best selves. So, grab a copy, curl up with your furry friend, and explore the art of being a better human—for both of you.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every dog guardian who wants to truly help their dog live his or her best life should read this book.

Jessica Pierce covers all angles of dog care from nutrition to cooperative veterinary care to training. She points out how the average American dog’s world has shrunk over the past several decades. Gone are the days of dogs freely roaming and exploring, except for the few who live in the country.

So given this more limited existence, what’s a dog lover to do?

For one thing, start considering things from your dog’s point of view. To that end, Pierce poses some thought-provoking questions throughout the book to help. She had me rethinking how I structure training sessions with my two.

I found myself agreeing with Pierce a great deal. When I’m enjoying a meal, I share a bit with my dogs just as she described. I don’t view their behavior as “begging”. Instead, I see my two good dogs sitting and waiting patiently for me to share a little with them.

She has a great section on DINOS, dogs in need of space, which I truly appreciated. My smaller dog needs space. She’s not a pandemic pup, but it seems like pandemic pups struggling with reactivity may have prompted bioethicist Pierce to tackle this book.

If you’re a fan of Kathy Sdao’s book Plenty in Life is Free, Pierce’s approach to dog care will resonate with you.

Thank you NetGalley and University of Chicago Press for providing me with an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Serena]

DNF @ 20%

I recieved this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book makes stupid points without ever providing citation, which is unacceptable in any non-fiction book that aspires to be informative. The misinformation she spreads doesn't even deserve being discussed, but I'll mention "training your dog to sit gives them irreparable psychological damage" as the funniest one.

[William Schram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jessica Pierce explores the ethical implications of dog ownership. She must have met some atrocious human beings to mention the things in these pages.

Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bioethicist Jessica Pierce who also wrote 'Run Spot Run' was a featured author on 2024's BarkFest ... this was absolutely terrific and I'll be looking for more of her books!

[Anne Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who owns a dog, “Who’s a Good Dog and How to be a Better Human” by Jessica Pierce, to be released in September this year is essential reading. Families with dogs these days are very much in the majority. According to statistics there are around 180 million dogs kept as pets around the world, a figure which has surged in recent decades (and spiked during the pandemic).

Paradoxically, while dogs today have access to advanced veterinary technology and treatment, better food, high standards of housing and all manner of toys and accessories, there’s been a staggering increase in the number of dogs suffering from anxiety-related and behavioural problems. Living in close proximity to humans is nothing new for dogs, who have been “man’s best friend” for hundreds of years. Nevertheless, there’s something about what Pierce describes as the “very unnatural ‘ecosystem’ of the twenty-first-century human home” that’s cultivating a canine crisis.

Pierce explores this anomaly to try and identify just what it is that's making the human-dog relationship so fraught. One of her findings that resonated with me is that dogs are being unreasonably “de-dogged”, in other words are being expected to suppress their canine instincts so as to fit more amenably into the human home environment. More and more, we are demanding that dogs behave in a manner that suits us, not them – not to bark, shed hair, chew, dig, sniff disgusting (to us) things or react to other dogs or humans in an impolite or aggressive way. We want dogs to provide comfort and companionship but not upset the tidy, controlled and constrained environment we’ve provided for them. We want them to be, as Pierce says, “therapists and fur-covered antidepressants”.

Harmonious co-existence then between our beloved dogs and ourselves is increasingly threatened by our unrealistic expectations and assumptions. What Pierce sets out to do in her book is to take a magnifying glass to the space we share, ethically, emotionally and physically with our dogs. Her aim is not to offer a “how to” manual for bringing up dogs but to show us how we can develop a more mindful approach to the relationship. There are many ways of doing this, but in summary they amount to respecting dogs as complex individual creatures, not toys and not unpaid providers of unconditional love. With instincts and needs that don’t often mesh with those of their owners, dogs rely completely on us for their welfare. But as they can’t advocate for themselves, they also rely on us to understand the complexities of being a dog in an “intensively homed” environment.

Pierce has enunciated the problem succinctly and with a great deal of insight, but more than this she’s provided clarity and a new perspective on the many issues that trouble owner/dog interactions. She writes as an owner of a dog herself who has made many mistakes and encountered many problems. Bella, her current dog, is lame in one leg, has a number of behavioural issues and is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a consistently “good dog”. Pierce’s honesty and realistic approach to the kinds of things that can and do go wrong make her book relatable and engaging. She doesn’t offer any quick makeover solutions, as many dog owner advice books do, but she does put forward a comprehensively researched examination of the problems both dogs and their owners face. It’s a big picture approach rather than a pedantic one. Most of all though, and what made the book especially rewarding for me, Pierce has made me think about how I have been compromising the “dogness” of my own dogs in trying to make them conform to my unrealistic human standards. That alone makes the book worth reading, but there’s much more enlightenment to be found as well.

Thanks to University of Chicago Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy.

[Alice · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was ready to have my feelings hurt and question everything. What I wasn’t ready for was to be utterly confused at the scattershot presentation of random ideas with no clear explanation

[Nicky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pierce brings up many ethical dilemmas and issues in dog 'guardianship', but does so with scant research and in a scatterbrained, erratic manner. For many of them, such as the removal of puppies from their mother, she offers no real solution. She rewords many terms but does so in an idealistic, pointless way that frankly annoys me. She chooses to use the term 'dog guardian', for instance, but in reality, even if you don't like reality, we are talking about dog owners. About ownership of animals. That's what it is. If you want to ban animal ownership, say so and argue your point, otherwise, don't pussyfoot around it IMO.

I take personal offense to her bashing of cages and dismissiveness even in cases where dogs willingly and voluntarily choose to crate themselves. She had the audacity to compare them to prisoners who reoffend and end up back in jail. The research she used to support her point was a study done on beagles where they were isolated in crates continuously for 6 weeks. Who does that? Seriously, I've never heard of anyone just leaving their dog in a crate for 6 weeks straight. That's not normal behavior on an owner's part. So using that as evidence is absurd. And then she hypocritically throws out there that she owns a crate for vet visits and emergencies!

My other big complaint is about her generally kind-of-yet-flip-floppy stance on spaying and neutering. While she doesn't seem to take an absolute stance, she seems to be in a general sense against spaying and neutering. But my question is what is going to happen when these dogs inevitably reproduce? The owners wouldn't have wanted or planned for these litters, and mixed breed dogs, with a few exceptions, especially when you don't know what they're crossed with, are in low demand. Most of them will end up in an already stressed rescue environment and if shelters can't feed them and home them they'll be euthanized. Bottom line. Breeding, especially profit breeding, inbreeding and selecting for extreme/ harmful phenotypes, can go to far. I admit that. But humans have been selectively breeding dogs for thousands of years and that's part of the agreement. It produced dogs that we more highly wanted, desired, and found useful. It helped with the bond between dog and man because it literally changed the personalities, abilities, and appearances of the dogs. It made it easier for both man and dog to coexist in harmony with as little stress as possible. Giving them back that right en masse without intervention over hundreds or thousands of years will likely just lead to a lot of dogs being born with behavioral incompatibility to humans that are unwanted and possibly uncared for.

Pierce also completely misses some of the most controversial topics in the dog community today, such as puppy mills, how to handle overpopulation, and the ethics of breeding brachycephalic dog breeds (which I believe was recently debated in the RI legislature). These are all specifically relevant to dog owners-who have to buy their dog from somewhere, and also have to consider their dog's future.

[J Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who's a Good Dog? by Jessica Pierce is the kind of dog book I really enjoy. Offers insight and suggestions for the reader to develop a human-dog relationship that works rather than a mostly prescriptive (in the sense of "this works and this doesn't) stance.

Don't get me wrong, I have learned a lot from all of the books I've read, but it has largely been a case of understanding why what they are prescribing works then formulating my own way to use that information to better suit my dogs and myself. While they do generally incorporate at least some nod toward making the material your own, they are largely a one size fits all approach. Okay, maybe a three or so sizes fits all, but there is a different size for each human-dog relationship. In other words, it isn't that there isn't good information in those books, but they don't encourage enough flexibility, it is almost like they don't trust the humans to know their own companions well enough.

Pierce offers ways of approaching the relationship. The mindset, how to be alert to what is going on. Basically, a mindfulness toward yourself, your dog, and the environment you both share. Just like in human-human relationships, there is always room for improvement, it is an ongoing dynamic that can't, or shouldn't, be taken for granted. The places where she talks about setting aside, or bracketing, what you already (think) you know and experiencing things anew through your dog's eyes, ears, and nose spoke to me the most.

While a large part of the benefit I gained from this book has to do with outlook and perspective, I don't want to give the impression there aren't any concrete suggestions. There are, and they are very useful. The resources in the back can be an important part of both learning about and caring for your dog. Therein lies the key: learning. We need to be always learning and observing our canine companions just as we do (or at least should) our human companions. We can't know something has changed if we weren't aware of what had been the norm. We can't know, or at least make an educated guess, about whether our dog enjoys something if we didn't observe closely how they reacted. They will often do what we want to please us, so the fact they might not balk, or bark, doesn't necessarily mean they wanted to do it. Learn from them, just as they are learning from us. Not through commands but through mindful coexistence.

Highly recommended for those who don't always feel comfortable with following standard "rules" for cohabitating with a dog. We all have a lot to learn and being reminded of what we can do is always a positive thing.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Paul B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I am a fan of Jessica Pierce's philosophical work on animals, especially Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals. This book does interweave her acute judgments on the species-typical experience of dogs, but the book is clearly written for dog owners (Pierce prefers to call them "dog guardians") who want to do a better job of caring for and relating to their pets. Her philosophical vision comes in through framing this as a book on ethics. Here, that means a book on how both dogs and their guardians can be better persons.

I think anyone who comes to the book with that goal in mind will be richly rewarded. I won't say I was disappointed, but I was looking for something less oriented toward a "how-to" book of dog guardianship. Hence, my three star rating. It's been over a decade since I shared space with a dog, but I wish I had had this book at the time. I'm sure that the beagle living in my home would have been happier if had read it.

If I were to say anything critical about the book, Peirce does assume that anyone with a dog in the house either aspires to be in respectful interpersonal relationship, or is ethically deficient. To be clear, all of us, she thinks, could stand some improvement, herself included. That attitude is what truly makes this a philosophical book on ethics. But as I wander about our neighborhood, I have the definite sense that many of the dogs are there to do a job. They aren't there to be friends; they are there to look after the house, alerting the humans when any strange creature gets into their space and maybe scaring a few of them off. From what Pierce does say, I suspect this is not so contrary to a dog's nature.

Now, some dogs are better suited for this than others. Pierce tells us that we should be sensitive to the individual character of any dog; they aren't all alike. Some of them are probably not suited to the watchdog role. I take the point that anyone who wants a watchdog inherits some ethical responsibilities that go along with being a watchdog's guardian, but I became curious as to what a good ethical relationship to a working dog might be. Like a relationship to a human employee, it should be respectful, but I'm not sure it requires the concern for developing the animal's total dogness that runs through much of this book. The larger ethical problem may be that unlike our human friends and employees, society doesn't give either the dog or the human much of an opportunity to back out of the relationship, once it gets started.

[Diana]

What the f**k did I just read? I was prepares to question things while reading this book, to learn of new ethical ways of doing things, but the ideas that come across in this book are just... Let's say wrong? Not all of them, she makes some good points (giving agency, having respect, adapting ourselves and teaching ourselves alongside our dogs, etc), but also:

- dogs are caged at home and she kinda advocates for free roamers. She says in the past they lived like this and had no need for training, leashes or vets... Giiiirl... Do you know about life expectancy of free roamer cats for instance versus cats who have a home? 5-7 years if they make it versus 15...
Nowadays world aren't safe for dogs on their own on the streets alone

- food. We also should feel bad for providing food for dogs instead of letting them hunt and scavenge but it could be good if we complement it with some activities so they feel more like scavengers/hunters... Er... Agreed on providing different things like raw bones of adequate size and such (specifics were never told on the book or if it did flew me by), licking mats, etc; but not on providing quality food for our pets...

- also... Training could be a good thing done with love but is also a form of slavery as wearing a collar with tags is?

I mean... I get the idea of creating a gentler world where we look for the wellfare of animals and advocate for them so they are treated more ethically and have, in this case, their dogness celebrated instead of being reduced to robots, but some of the ideas on the book are ridiculous...

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really made me think about how I interact with my dog. And how often I try to stop her from doing things - barking, sniffing, begging for food - that she is hardwired to want to do, and, presumably, gets satisfaction from. After reading it, I no longer try to rush her on walks or feel guilty when she begs for food and I share table scraps.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to make their dog happier, which basically involves sometimes letting your dog be a dog. If you want to learn to exercise more control over your dog and force them to change to fit into your lifestyle at all times, then this is probably not the right book for you. Well, it is actually the perfect book for you, but you may not like the message.

Speaking of which, another reviewer said that the author writes that making a dog "sit" is psychological torture. That not what the book says and the review makes the author sound like a kook . The author says that sitting is likely painful for many dogs because it is not a natural position, and that other commands, like "come" or "down", are more useful.

Overall, very interesting book and has definitely made me more patient with my dog and what I considered her "annoying" habits.

[Ivory Castle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owning a rescue dog called Bella with a few behavioural kinks challenged the authors thinking about dogs and what it means to be a good dog. Written from an ethical perspective the writer looks at dogs brought into the human home environment as pets and companions and the challenges faced by both parties.
I found quite a few interesting and/or valid points. Although I didn’t agree with all of them I think it’s important to consider different views and if possible learn something. I agree that our love for dogs is inadvertently harming them in a variety of ways.
I am lucky to have a vet/dog behaviourist as a friend and am aware how important it is to be alert for signs your dog isn’t comfortable and reacting before it escalates. Also I am very glad that research testing has improved since Pavlov’s famous “restraining harness,” which held dogs in place as electric shocks were delivered.
There is also a list of references and/or links to further information as well as notes made by the author.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the book in return for an honest review.

[TL Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure the point here. It raises some very valid and interesting questions about the roles dogs play in modern life. But it doesn't go into depth into any of them. Basically a chapter will mention how everything you do or think of doing with your pet (collars, training, activies, crating, etc.) is immoral and unethical and then....nothing. No further look into how it could change or what owners should do with the knowledge that this author believes everything they do is wrong. Just move on to another thing that is wrong. I do agree there are lots of issues for dogs in modern society, which is why I was interested in this book, but most individuals are not professional trainers and almost no one can allow their dog to just "be free" so this needed more about actions or the common owner (she does frequently point out she does things correctly and says "no judgement!" while...making judgements. It's a strange book that does have good things to think about but ultimately goes nowhere and is pretty doom and gloom.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't recommend this to dog trainers, or to dog guardians who have already taken a deep dive, but I *would* recommend this to new dog guardians, dog guardians who have only had relatively "easy" dogs, and the general public. It's a very good summary of important, and hot button, topics related to dog welfare and training, as well as some suggestions about how to behave more ethically in our relationships with dogs (and by extension the natural world), and respect them as the individuals that they are.

[Arianne Padilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐ Jessica Pierce raises a lot of ethical questions when it comes to keeping dogs as companions. I felt that mostly I agreed with the things she brought up. Some of them made me feel guilty, some validated. The fact that she's had her own dogs who have had their own issues was also comforting as she's not like some Cesar Milan type on a pedestal. Overall it was very informative and interesting.

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a how-to book about training your dog or how to be a good pet companion. It is a discussion of the many ethical issues involved in having a dog in your family. I particularly liked the author's focus on the dog's point of view and how to be mindful of it. We have had dogs for over 40 years and I always considered myself a "dog" person. However, this book gave me a new perspective that made me see things I thought I was doing well differently and showed me how I can do them better.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an academic treatise with an inviting cover. If you want to feel bad about having a dog and to question the morality of owning a pet, then this is the book for you. Three stars for academic research and effort. DNF.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who's a Good Dog? was a thoughtful insight guide to create better relationship with our dogs. This book had interesting approaches because although the series guide almost similar with something we already knew and learned but it also adjustable for accommodate our unique companion characters.

Alongside with the normal treatment such as feed, exercise, play, training and socializing this book also digging deeper into the topics. For example for feeding activity we starting with the dog's mindset. Why they still stealing food although the owner already serve the best for them?
How to choose best route for our walking activities with them. I really like this type of approach and would love to practice one or two with my own pet.

Thank you University Chicago Press and Netgalley for provided my copy. My thoughts and opinions always become my own

[Daniel Galligan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. Don't bother...

[Sue Gaunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting perspective. A bit too intense for me. I really was just looking for good advice on living with my Bonnie.

[Pusiu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nie zawsze wygodna, nie że z wszystkim się zgadzam, ale dla psiarzy pozycja obowiązkowa!

[Amanda Lucero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this books. It has some interesting concepts. I have learned a lot more about dogs. Some things I already knew but other things I didn't know. I will use some of the tools I learned here with my own dogs.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the overall takeaway from this book; that it's far better to look at our relationships with dogs collaboratively. They are living in increasingly artificial circumstances, living without large yards, being walked on a leash vs. free roaming etc. I think it's also worth looking at mutual "training" so you don't just insist on a certain behavior from your dog, but try to see things from their point of view and arrive at a solution that works for you and your dog vs. labeling your dog as "bad".

I had two main issues with the book. Firstly, she has a section on spaying and neutering that says we should consider sterilization more carefully because it inhibits a dog's natural behavior and is basically only for the owner's convenience. I used to be 100% pro-spay/neuter, but I do understand that early spaying and neutering can have detrimental effects, particularly on larger breed dogs, so I totally accept that following your vet's individual advice is best and in some cases, delaying surgery or even avoiding it in some cases is the right decision. But I felt her emphasis on considering a decision for your own dog neglects the fact that ~400,000 dogs are euthanized by shelters each year in the US. Most of us cannot 100% guarantee our un-fixed dog could never conceivably breed and add to this problem. I'm not sure if the ethical considerations for an individual dog owner outweigh the ethical considerations of trying to minimize the pain and suffering of hundreds or thousands of dogs who live short, stressful terms in a shelter before being euthanized for space. Of course it's more convenient for me to not have to deal with my dog going through heat. But it also means she's not going through pregnancy and birth, which can be dangerous (she is a small dog), and we're not putting litters of puppies out there in the world who could wind up in shelters, regardless of my best efforts to find them good homes.

My other (smaller) complaint is that she recommends dogs not be left alone for more than 4 hours. I agree with this in some cases; if your dog is crated with no bathroom access or anything for entertainment, sure, being left alone longer than that can be a problem. But I think looking for the perfect situation can be the enemy of good; plenty of dogs are left alone for a full workday and as long as they're not showing any signs of stress (I leave my dog alone three workdays a week and she sleeps the whole time, though she has a dog door so she can go outside any time), I think this is preferable to dogs sitting in shelters waiting for the absolutely perfect home.

Overall worth a read, but I think some of the recommendations should be taken with a grain of salt.

[Magen - Inquiring Professional Dog Trainer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down because she overdramatized some things, but overall, a useful book to think through the ethics of having a dog.