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The Science & Secrets of Dogs: How Dogs Think, Feel, and Communicate — The Science of Dog Behavior Explained in Plain Language for Everyday Dog Owners
The Science and Secrets of Dogs — Amazing Facts About Dog Intelligence, Senses, Emotions, and Body Language
Book One of The Family Dog Series. Have you ever wondered what your dog is really thinking — or why they react the way they do?
The Science and Secrets of Dogs shows you how to understand your dog better using modern canine science, behavior research, and real-world insight. This book teaches you how dogs think, feel, remember, and communicate — so you can build a deeper, calmer, and more trusting relationship with your dog.
Instead of guessing at your dog’s behavior, you’ll learn how to read their emotions, body language, and decisions, helping you respond in ways your dog truly understands.
Important concepts are The book revisits its most important concepts about dogs in different ways to help them become second nature, giving you practical insight you can recognize, trust, and use in real moments with your dog. In this book, you’ll learn how
Understand how dogs think, reason, and solve problems
Recognize dog emotions like joy, fear, jealousy, grief, and love
Interpret canine body language and communication signals
Learn how dogs remember, dream, and experience time
Understand how dogs perceive the world through smell, sight, and sound
Strengthen bonding, attachment, and trust with your dog
Grounded in animal behavior science, this is not a dog training manual. Instead, it’s a practical guide to dog psychology and perception — helping you see the world through your dog’s eyes.
Perfect for dog owners, families, and anyone interested in dog intelligence, dog behavior, canine emotions, and the science of dogs, this book will change the way you understand and connect with your best friend.
👉 Start with Book One of The Family Dog Series and discover what your dog has been trying to tell you all along.
Continue the Journey in The Family Dog Series
This book is Book One of The Family Dog Series, designed to help families understand, communicate with, and enjoy life with their dogs.
Coming next in the
Book How to Speak Dog
A Complete Family Guide to Dog Body Language, Emotions, Signals, Stress Signs, and Understanding What Your Dog Is Really Saying (to be released January 22, 2026).
Book Fun Training & Games for Dogs
Easy Dog Tricks, Brain Games, Enrichment Activities, and Family-Friendly Ways Kids and Adults Can Train, Bond With, and Enjoy Their Dog (to be released February 19, 2026).
Start with The Science and Secrets of Dogs and continue building a stronger, happier relationship with your dog — one book at a time.
Book One of The Family Dog Series. Have you ever wondered what your dog is really thinking — or why they react the way they do?
The Science and Secrets of Dogs shows you how to understand your dog better using modern canine science, behavior research, and real-world insight. This book teaches you how dogs think, feel, remember, and communicate — so you can build a deeper, calmer, and more trusting relationship with your dog.
Instead of guessing at your dog’s behavior, you’ll learn how to read their emotions, body language, and decisions, helping you respond in ways your dog truly understands.
Important concepts are The book revisits its most important concepts about dogs in different ways to help them become second nature, giving you practical insight you can recognize, trust, and use in real moments with your dog. In this book, you’ll learn how
Understand how dogs think, reason, and solve problems
Recognize dog emotions like joy, fear, jealousy, grief, and love
Interpret canine body language and communication signals
Learn how dogs remember, dream, and experience time
Understand how dogs perceive the world through smell, sight, and sound
Strengthen bonding, attachment, and trust with your dog
Grounded in animal behavior science, this is not a dog training manual. Instead, it’s a practical guide to dog psychology and perception — helping you see the world through your dog’s eyes.
Perfect for dog owners, families, and anyone interested in dog intelligence, dog behavior, canine emotions, and the science of dogs, this book will change the way you understand and connect with your best friend.
👉 Start with Book One of The Family Dog Series and discover what your dog has been trying to tell you all along.
Continue the Journey in The Family Dog Series
This book is Book One of The Family Dog Series, designed to help families understand, communicate with, and enjoy life with their dogs.
Coming next in the
Book How to Speak Dog
A Complete Family Guide to Dog Body Language, Emotions, Signals, Stress Signs, and Understanding What Your Dog Is Really Saying (to be released January 22, 2026).
Book Fun Training & Games for Dogs
Easy Dog Tricks, Brain Games, Enrichment Activities, and Family-Friendly Ways Kids and Adults Can Train, Bond With, and Enjoy Their Dog (to be released February 19, 2026).
Start with The Science and Secrets of Dogs and continue building a stronger, happier relationship with your dog — one book at a time.
- GenresAmazon
187 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 22, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 23, 2026
Amazing book
This book should be read by anyone who has a dog. You will be amazed as you read in the truth of the words.
I have told so many of my friends about this book. Ones,who have read are also amazed how true it is.
I'm sure I will reread this book many times.
If there was a way to give more stars I would.
It will leave you in awe
This book should be read by anyone who has a dog. You will be amazed as you read in the truth of the words.
I have told so many of my friends about this book. Ones,who have read are also amazed how true it is.
I'm sure I will reread this book many times.
If there was a way to give more stars I would.
It will leave you in awe
May 10, 2026
Wealth of information
I've had dogs all my life, and I still learned new stuff reading this book! Very well written with a little humor. Explains a lot of the relationship between dogs and humans. What amazing and loving creatures they are!
I've had dogs all my life, and I still learned new stuff reading this book! Very well written with a little humor. Explains a lot of the relationship between dogs and humans. What amazing and loving creatures they are!
February 26, 2026
I learned a lot of things I never thought about or knew throughout this entire book. I knew dogs are dichromatic seeing yellows and blues brighter than reds and greens. I learned a lot about the dog nose and scent. I really enjoyed the pages with illustrations on them as well! A good light quick read that makes you realize your furry best friend. Thank you netgalley for letting me review this book and post my honest review
May 6, 2026
The Science & Secrets of Dogs is a clear, engaging, and highly practical exploration of how dogs experience the world, written in a way that makes complex behavioral science accessible to everyday dog owners. Bruce Miller successfully bridges the gap between research and real life application, offering readers a deeper understanding of their dog’s thoughts, emotions, and communication.
What stands out most is the book’s focus on interpretation rather than instruction. Instead of presenting rigid training methods, it equips readers with the ability to read their dog’s body language, emotional states, and decision making patterns. This shift in perspective encourages a more thoughtful, empathetic approach to building trust and connection.
The explanations of canine perception, especially how dogs process smell, sound, and visual cues, are particularly insightful. By grounding these ideas in everyday scenarios, the book helps readers move beyond guesswork and respond to their dogs in ways that feel natural and effective. The repetition of key concepts reinforces learning without feeling excessive, making the material easy to absorb and apply.
Balanced, informative, and genuinely useful, this book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to strengthen their relationship with their dog through understanding rather than control. It is both an introduction to canine psychology and a practical guide to more mindful pet ownership.
What stands out most is the book’s focus on interpretation rather than instruction. Instead of presenting rigid training methods, it equips readers with the ability to read their dog’s body language, emotional states, and decision making patterns. This shift in perspective encourages a more thoughtful, empathetic approach to building trust and connection.
The explanations of canine perception, especially how dogs process smell, sound, and visual cues, are particularly insightful. By grounding these ideas in everyday scenarios, the book helps readers move beyond guesswork and respond to their dogs in ways that feel natural and effective. The repetition of key concepts reinforces learning without feeling excessive, making the material easy to absorb and apply.
Balanced, informative, and genuinely useful, this book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to strengthen their relationship with their dog through understanding rather than control. It is both an introduction to canine psychology and a practical guide to more mindful pet ownership.
February 8, 2026
The Science & Secrets of Dogs by Bruce Miller is an engaging and accessible guide that blends modern canine science with real world observation to help dog owners truly understand their pets. The book excels at translating complex concepts from animal behavior, cognition, and emotion into practical advice for everyday life.
Miller explores how dogs think, feel, remember, and communicate, giving readers tools to interpret body language, recognize emotions, and respond in ways that foster trust and attachment. Importantly, this book is not a training manual; rather, it focuses on dog psychology, perception, and the science behind canine behavior, making it ideal for families, pet enthusiasts, and anyone interested in deepening their relationship with dogs.
The book’s clarity, practical examples, and repeated reinforcement of key concepts make it easy for readers to apply insights in real-life interactions with their dogs. It’s the perfect starting point for The Family Dog Series, promising a comprehensive journey into understanding dogs, their intelligence, and their emotional lives.
Miller explores how dogs think, feel, remember, and communicate, giving readers tools to interpret body language, recognize emotions, and respond in ways that foster trust and attachment. Importantly, this book is not a training manual; rather, it focuses on dog psychology, perception, and the science behind canine behavior, making it ideal for families, pet enthusiasts, and anyone interested in deepening their relationship with dogs.
The book’s clarity, practical examples, and repeated reinforcement of key concepts make it easy for readers to apply insights in real-life interactions with their dogs. It’s the perfect starting point for The Family Dog Series, promising a comprehensive journey into understanding dogs, their intelligence, and their emotional lives.
February 24, 2026
This is not a dog training manual, but it will improve your relationship with your dog. It is not a science book, though it includes scientific breakthroughs and the latest results from behavioral experiments. Add a sprinkle of real-life anecdotes and a large helping of humor and you’ll get this adorable, charming look at how our canine companions experience emotions, how they perceive the world and show us their intelligence. By reading their body language, humans can respond in a way that they will understand. I’ve read some of the references that Miller uses, like Gregory Berns’ account of his MRI experiments in awake dogs, or Alexandra Horowitz’s Inside of a Dog, and this book summarizes their findings in a very approachable way. There is a little repetition of some concepts, but I really didn’t mind it. Every dog parent should read this book. Adding the rest of this series to my TBR. 2 paws up.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Bruce Miller.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Bruce Miller.
February 24, 2026
Firstly I want to thank Bruce Miller, Pacific Trust Holdings NZ Ltd, and NetGalley for access to this fantastic book.
As a German Shepherd owner as a young boy, I went into this with high expectations given the subject matter is close to my heart, and this book did not disappoint. It is meticulously well researched, citing sources for a large number of studies, which gives excellent grounding to the otherwise emotional and sentimental tone the book carries throughout.
It gives a considerable insight into the way Dogs align with us, and also sheds light on the ways in which they differ that provide much needed context to their actions and body language, which might not always make sense to us in the moments we share with them.
I can't recommend this book strongly enough for anybody who is seriously considering adopting a dog, or even for someone who already knows the joys of a dog's life as I have. I certainly won't hesitate to read the follow up books in this series if the quality of this first entry is any indication.
As a German Shepherd owner as a young boy, I went into this with high expectations given the subject matter is close to my heart, and this book did not disappoint. It is meticulously well researched, citing sources for a large number of studies, which gives excellent grounding to the otherwise emotional and sentimental tone the book carries throughout.
It gives a considerable insight into the way Dogs align with us, and also sheds light on the ways in which they differ that provide much needed context to their actions and body language, which might not always make sense to us in the moments we share with them.
I can't recommend this book strongly enough for anybody who is seriously considering adopting a dog, or even for someone who already knows the joys of a dog's life as I have. I certainly won't hesitate to read the follow up books in this series if the quality of this first entry is any indication.
March 27, 2026
I downloaded this book to help me get past the doggie smells and shedding hairs and open my heart to dogs. It has 100% won my over, this is a book clearly written by someone who clearly knows his stuff around the science of dogs and loves them!
I have learned so much about dogs - what all those little quirks mean, how they show love, how they have elvolved from wolves with some beautifully human nuances, how they remember, how they dream....the list goes on!
Thanks to this book I feel I can drop like nuggets of info into conversations and feel interesting!!
A great book I would absolutely recommend to anyone who owns a dog, loves dogs, or just wants to know how those canine minds work!
My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.
I have learned so much about dogs - what all those little quirks mean, how they show love, how they have elvolved from wolves with some beautifully human nuances, how they remember, how they dream....the list goes on!
Thanks to this book I feel I can drop like nuggets of info into conversations and feel interesting!!
A great book I would absolutely recommend to anyone who owns a dog, loves dogs, or just wants to know how those canine minds work!
My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.
February 22, 2026
I thought I knew my dog… and then this book proved I only knew about five percent of what was going on behind those adorable eyes.
Okay, dog people, you need this book. I tore through it because every chapter made me stop and say, “Wait… they can do that?” From smelling illness and sensing our emotions to solving problems like tiny furry geniuses, this book shows just how smart and emotionally tuned in our dogs really are. I loved how it explains why dogs do weird things, what that “guilty” look actually means, and how they read us better than most humans do. It made me appreciate my dog more and honestly made me want to hug him every five minutes. If you think your dog is amazing, this book will prove you are right. 🐾
Okay, dog people, you need this book. I tore through it because every chapter made me stop and say, “Wait… they can do that?” From smelling illness and sensing our emotions to solving problems like tiny furry geniuses, this book shows just how smart and emotionally tuned in our dogs really are. I loved how it explains why dogs do weird things, what that “guilty” look actually means, and how they read us better than most humans do. It made me appreciate my dog more and honestly made me want to hug him every five minutes. If you think your dog is amazing, this book will prove you are right. 🐾
February 24, 2026
I picked this up because I’ve always wondered what my dog is actually thinking, and I ended up learning so much more than I expected. This book explores how dogs think, feel, remember, and communicate, using real research but explaining it in a way that feels easy to understand. I loved the sections about how dogs smell emotions and how they read our faces and body language, because it made so many of my dog’s little quirks suddenly make sense. It made me see my own dog differently, especially in moments when I used to think she was being stubborn. If you love dogs and want to understand them on a deeper level, this is such a fascinating and surprisingly heartfelt read.
March 7, 2026
We have a part time dog training business, but I want to say this book is not really for dog trainers- but anyone who loves dogs.
I plan to recommend it to our clients.
The books was well written but isn't too much cut and dry science that will bore the reader.
We have two dogs ourselves, and they baffle me at times with their behavior. This book helped me get some insight into their world.
I highly recommend this book. It's particularly helpful for before you choose a pup. You'll have a better understanding.
Thank you to the author, Pacific Trust Holdings NZ, and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I plan to recommend it to our clients.
The books was well written but isn't too much cut and dry science that will bore the reader.
We have two dogs ourselves, and they baffle me at times with their behavior. This book helped me get some insight into their world.
I highly recommend this book. It's particularly helpful for before you choose a pup. You'll have a better understanding.
Thank you to the author, Pacific Trust Holdings NZ, and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 19, 2026
What a great book
I just wanted to add my experience to this great book. I rescued a dog that had been returned several times. In return he told me I had breast cancer. It was detected early so I had a great out come. So happy I have Scooby in my life.
I just wanted to add my experience to this great book. I rescued a dog that had been returned several times. In return he told me I had breast cancer. It was detected early so I had a great out come. So happy I have Scooby in my life.
April 20, 2026
Insightful
A very insightful look into to psyche of our favourite canine companions. Lots of practical and logical information about man's best friend. This book helps us understand why that is such an appropriate description of dogs in our lives.
A very insightful look into to psyche of our favourite canine companions. Lots of practical and logical information about man's best friend. This book helps us understand why that is such an appropriate description of dogs in our lives.
Read
May 2, 2026Good fun read with lots of interesting facts.
May 5, 2026
A must-read for everyone who loves dogs and can't get enough of the information to help to understand these furry creatures of our hearts.
May 14, 2026
Highly recommended for dog lovers who want to understand the dogs in their lives.
January 9, 2026
Understand your dog
This book put into words what I already knew. I didn't like the repetition in the chapters. The references for the book were excellent sources
This book put into words what I already knew. I didn't like the repetition in the chapters. The references for the book were excellent sources
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews