Puppy Kindergarten: The New Science of Raising a Great Dog

by Brian Hare, Vanessa Woods

The New York Times bestselling authors of The Genius of Dogs take us into their "Puppy Kindergarten,” a center to study how puppies develop, to show us what goes in to raising a great dog.

When husband and wife scientists Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods fell in love with a trained service dog named Congo, they wanted to understand what made him such a great companion. Given that there hadn't been a large-scale study of puppy development since 1950, they decided to start one, inviting generations of Labrador and Golden Retriever puppies and dozens of student volunteers to come to their lab at Duke University, and the Puppy Kindergarten was born.

When and how do puppies develop key cognitive skills such as self-control or cooperative communication? Using the same kinds of cognitive tests and games that have become standard for understanding human infant development, they initially wanted to know if they could predict which qualities would make puppies grow up to be great assistance dogs. But they quickly realized that these special dogs have a lot to tell us about how all dogs navigate the world, solve problems, and learn from the people around them. Even the smartest dogs can't figure out how to make the water stay in their bowl, but they can read our gestures and respond to our emotions in a way that no other species can.

Introducing us to the many puppies who contributed to this research and synthesizing findings from cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and evolutionary anthropology, this delightful, informative book will teach readers how puppies begin to develop abilities that allow them to succeed as adults and flexibly solve problems, giving us a new window into who our dogs are, how they see the world, and the amazing things they can do.

Genres: Nonfiction, Dogs, Animals, Science

288 pages, Hardcover

Published August 27, 2024

About the author

Brian Hare is Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University, where he founded the Duke Canine Cognition Center. His research on 'dognition' has been published in the leading journals. With his wife Vanessa Woods, he cofounded the new dog intelligence testing and training company Canines Inc. To find out more, visit the Dognition website.

Reviews

[Ardys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course books like this make me feel totally inadequate because puppy training is a big commitment. However, love conquers all and I’m ready for a puppy to love.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love puppies? This book is filled with cuteness overload, but also provides research that is both helpful and informative in how puppies become adults eager to learn and help their owners. I felt the book and Puppy Kindergarten at Duke University was so interesting. The lab set on campus to study and raise puppies each semester in order to understand if environment plays a role in how puppies learn. I also found the pandemic impact on the study as a once in a lifetime opportunity to better understand these outcomes. This book provided me with a deeper understanding of how we need animals in our lives, and why dogs do indeed make the best companions.

[J Kromrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

“Puppy Kindergarten” takes us beyond the adorable antics of puppies to explore the fascinating science behind their development. Authors Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods invite us into their Duke Puppy Kindergarten, where they unravel the secrets of the puppy mind.

Through playful experiments, Hare and Woods investigate what factors predict whether a puppy will grow up to be an exceptional dog. From memory retention to self-control, they reveal the critical stages of puppy brain development.

Applying techniques used in child psychology, the authors introduce us to Arthur, Wisdom, and Ying—puppies with distinct personalities. We learn when puppies start retaining memories and how they navigate cognitive challenges.

Whether you’re a new puppy parent or a seasoned dog lover, “Puppy Kindergarten” provides answers. When do puppies sleep through the night? How can we raise them to be their best selves? Hare and Woods offer practical guidance.

“Puppy Kindergarten” is a firehose of knowledge infused with levity. The authors blend science and charm, making complex concepts accessible. Their passion for understanding puppies shines through, leaving us better equipped to raise great dogs.

For anyone curious about the magic behind puppyhood or seeking to foster a lifelong bond with their furry companion, this book is a delightful and informative read. Pre-order your copy—it’s a game-changer for dog lovers.

Sometimes the smallest paws leave the biggest imprints on our hearts. 🐾❤️

[Rebecca Sowards-emmerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written book that balances storytelling and science to explain their approach to understanding dog cognition to improve the numbers and success of different types of service dogs. But the lessons apply to regular dog owners, too. My main takeaway is that dogs are just like people - everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and we all do our best when we find a path that allows our strengths to shine. There is a lot of good information in this book for both new and experienced dog owners. As someone who has raised several lab puppies (and will most definitely be raising more in the future), this book still gave me good advice that I am looking forward to applying to my next pup.

Oh, also - adorable puppy pictures!

[Paloma Pereira Mira · Rating 5 out of 5]

The clarity and thoroughness of this book are impressive, and the pace is engaging. The portrayal of the puppy characters is delightful, and I was truly amazed by the development of their behaviour.
I encountered numerous surprising facts, such as the puppy's remarkable ability to understand human cues and how this contrasts with wolves. Additionally, the revelation that a dog's cognition declines after 10 years, regardless of size, underscores that cognitive aging occurs independently of physical aging—this is invaluable knowledge.
As a veterinary behaviourist, I wholeheartedly endorse this book and all of Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods's work. Their insights are brilliant, and I am eager to apply this information in my practice.
Thank you!

[Christopher Brush · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fascinating. It dispels accepted myths and provides some new information about the life of dogs and the incredible bond humans and dogs have.

This book uses scientific methodology to deeply study the early life of dogs. I have four dogs and am constantly amused by their crazy antics and behavior. One thing you will find in this book is the special bond that develops early between humans and puppies. There is no doubt that this is a special bond developed over thousands of years. And what this book illustrates best is that our relationship with dogs is something special and profound.

[Sarah Bobarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having ADHD, I find it incredibly difficult to finish a book once I begin. That said, I found myself consuming this book almost as quickly as I would as a bookworm child. The descriptions of raising each puppy are compelling, poignant, and I found myself rooting for each pup to succeed the same way I’d root for my own dogs to succeed. This book had me in tears multiple times throughout, and I feel as though I have an entirely new outlook on the development and cognition of puppies. This book has been hugely insightful for when I will be adding another pup to my pack. This book was well-written and the team’s research was just as entertaining as it was fascinating.

[LadyRemy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book following various different puppies and approaches used on them. Enjoyed the pictures, because who doesn't like pictures of puppies. The schedule was pretty much what I was already using with my puppy.

While the index was fine, I would've preferred a more straight forward approach with the book like a section on certain issues that people may have with puppies. Example: Teething and biting. Instead of looking in the index to find the place for it, I had to read a chapter on a particular dog and what they did to help with his bad habits.

[Carole Nedzela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating Book

A book of remarkable intelligence, warm humor, and deep knowledge. Valuable to dog owners who want to learn how to raise their dogs, to readers who want to learn about what goes into creating a trained companion dog for the disabled, and for anyone who loves dogs and enjoys reading about them. Very well written!

[Dakota Tevis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this second to The Genius of Dogs, and it was a little disappointing in that it repeated a lot of phraseology presented in The Genius of Dogs - still an excellent read, and really great for people who have to think about raising a new puppy!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was easy to read. I learned so much about dog cognition and it doesn't hurt that there are a lot of cute pictures of puppies and a healthy dose of humor. Very helpful for trying to understand our furry friends!

[Kirsten Gesenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little short but super interesting!

[Jo-jean Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puppy Kindergarten gives tremendous insight into understanding how puppies grow and develop, along with sharing great tips and ideas for enhancing your puppy's life.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t expect to cry so much at the ending. Good book about dog behavior and how to help raise a puppy.

[Jessie Nabors · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you.

[Laura Smotherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Becky Zagor · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED IT!

[Weronika Zielińska · Rating 4 out of 5]

bardzo ciekawa. Książka naukowa, która wciąga :D

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puppy Kindergarten, The new Science of Raising a Great Dog was a fun and warm look at raising puppies. The authors, Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods work with Canine Companions who train puppies to become service dogs to help people with disabilities. Puppy Kindergarten is held at Duke University and involves many volunteers and staff members. The book begins with an introduction to Congo, the dog that helps to train the puppies. What a special dog! The book explains what they look for in a puppy and the traits that will enable the puppy to succeed as a support dog. Interesting topics include how the program continued through the turmoil of COVID, the puppy brain and how they learn, and the data they collected over the years of working with all of the puppies. This is a very interesting and informative book on raising a puppy. (We were lucky and had a wonderful lab and this book brought back many happy memories). I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley and Random House and I voluntarily leave this review. #PuppyKindergarten #NetGalley #RandomHousePublishingGroup #RandomHouse

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep reading books about puppies and feeling sad I don’t have one! Puppy Kindergarten is about the studies done on raising puppies at Duke, where student volunteers help raise puppies who go on to become service dogs. I enjoyed reading about the individual puppies and their personalities. Some of the science and research results were a bit harder to get through. The end of the book includes information on what supplies you need for a puppy as well as a puppy schedule. ⁣