Inside of a Dog -- Young Readers Edition: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know

by Alexandra Horowitz, Sean Vidal Edgerton (Illustrator)

From an animal behaviorist and dog enthusiast comes an adorable and informative guide to understanding how our canine friends see the world based on the #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon, Inside of a Dog —now adapted for a younger audience!

Have you ever wondered what your dogs are thinking? What they’re feeling? Now you finally can! The answers will surprise and delight you as scientist and dog-owner Alexandra Horowitz explains how our four-legged friends perceive their daily worlds, each other, and that other quirky animal, the human.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Dogs, Middle Grade, Science, Childrens, Nature

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 22, 2016

About the author

Alexandra Horowitz is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Barnard College in New York, where she teaches courses on psychology and animal behavior. She is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller “Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know.” Her studies on dogs have explored their ‘guilty look,’ sense of fairness, play signaling, and olfactory abilities, among other topics. She received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from the University of California, San Diego, and a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Jacqui Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Inside of a Dog” What dogs see, smell, and know, By : Alexandra Horowitz, is an amazing and creative book about dogs. This book shows everything the author knows about dogs, and her opinion about dogs too. I rate this for 5th grade and above, because there may be some literature that younger kids wouldn’t understand. Out of 5 stars I give this a 4 star rating because this book is just giving facts that we may or may not know. It doesn’t really have a story that much, but it does give interesting facts. The blurb is pulls you into this book as well. It says to forget everything you know about dogs, and to learn her way of seeing dogs.

[Abigail S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. It was sadly shelved wrong (which was not Ms. Morgans fault). This book is an informational book about dogs, not a biography. I learned new tricks for my dog and learned how to get his attention and what his body language means. After I read this book I was more patient and observant of my dog. If you are training a puppy or just want to learn what they are trying to tell you, this is a perfect book. The thing I liked about this book was the author would explain it in a way everyone would understand. She said that puppies were a lot like children, just based on there learning development and their body development. After reading this book Remy(my dog) knows three more tricks because I was able to communicate with him better. This would be a good book for anyone to read.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pitched to a younger audience than its predecessor for adults, this book offers much insight into the behavior, characteristics, and world of dogs. The author clearly loves canines, and the inserted bits about her beloved Pumpkin--seemingly taken from her field notes or journal--offer insight into her relationship with Pumpkin and what she learned from spending time with her dog. Although Pumpkin wasn't the subject of her research since she studied many other dogs, she certainly was able to connect her work and her play as well as the time she spent in the office and her daily walks with Pumpkin. Even though some of what the author shares will be familiar to dog lovers, other comments are intended to challenge some assumptions many readers hold about dogs. For instance, it may be that a dog senses how uncomfortable its human is around certain individuals and not so much that the dog feels as though that person cannot be trusted, a finding that seems to make sense. There are small sketches of dogs throughout the book that add to its appeal. If nothing else, readers will close the book with the goal of letting dogs be dogs and understanding a great deal about their body language. Someone looking for training tips for dogs won't find a lot here, but she does discuss ways that owners can find ways to keep their dogs entertained and amused. while learning basic commands such as "Heel," "Come" and "Stay" are important, the author even explains why it might be hard for some dogs to learn to heel. This would certainly be a good title to share with anyone planning to add a new dog to the family.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read. As Horowitz peppers the book with anecdotes about her dog Pump, my mind was full of similar stories about our beagle Jack and our current menagerie of dogs: Chloe, Jadzia and Liza. I feel like I know my dogs a little better, I have more empathy about their experiences having read this book.

[nhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like everybody else who picked up this book, I love dogs. Though I don't own a dog anymore, I love meeting them while taking walks or being out somewhere. I have several friends who have dogs and I love petting them. I don't usually read nonfiction. I find some of them boring and not at all what I'm interested in. But I'm interested in dogs, so I picked up this book.
This taught me so much about dogs that I never knew before. While we humans can't understand dogs fully, we can guess and use our imaginations to understand. This book gave me a helpful insight on what dogs are like. What they love and what they hate. While I don't currently own a dog now, I do plan on getting one in the future. This book isn't about how to train your dog, but there are useful pieces of information to help you train your dog better.
It did get boring at some point and there were repeats but the book is quite short so I didn't mind it that much. I also love the additional glimpse into the author's life with her own dogs. It was really cute and made the book a lot more enjoyable. Overall, a very informational read, and I highly recommend if you're looking for books about dogs.

[Connie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do our dogs know and understand about the world? Alexandra Horowitz very beautifully explains the nature of dogs by including her own experiences with her dog, behavioral experiments with dogs, and adding suggestions for readers on how they can learn more about their own dogs. The result is much more than just facts. It's quite wonderful to imagine a young reader taking this information and these suggestions to heart and therefore really understanding their dogs as dogs.

How can each dog be special to us? "What is special about each dog is the way his life joins with the life of an owner. What is special is the life story that dog and owner create together." If you, like me, are a dog owner, this will help us keep creating a wonderful life story together.

(This is close to a 5-star book.)

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids and I absolutely loved this book. They really pay attention to our dog's signals now.

[Peytan Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Full of fascinating facts and expirement results. I recommend for anyone who wants to take a closer look at their dogs world. I loved this book!

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not like any other book this was a facts about dogs. I love this book because you could learn a lot about dogs. I also love how the author has little parts of her own dog and what the dog does. I only hate about this book is that the author doesn't tell you tricks on how to train a dog.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Inside of a Dog explains how dogs minds work. It talks about its umwelt and other senses. I felt that this book really connects with readers who have dogs. This book is a quick read. I learned so much about my dog and other dogs. Don't get mistaken by the tittle, at first I thought that the book really was about how the dogs heart and muscles work. But, as soon as I started reading I realized I was mistaken. The book is more geared towards the ages 10-14. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about dogs.

[Kaycie Warfel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what a dog might be thinking when you tell them to sit? Well, I had that same question before I read this book. This book is full of great information about how a dog’s mind works from scientists' studies. There is information about things ranging from how a dog watches humans to dogs imitating people. I enjoyed this book so much because it was informative, relatable, and interesting.

The first reason why I enjoyed this book so much was because it was very informative. The author of this book has been studying dogs for a good portion of her life figuring out how they react to everyday activities. I learned a lot throughout this book, like how dogs learn from imitating people. An example from the text is when the author explained an experiment she tested on dogs. The dogs would always go to the spot where the human was just at. This shows how dogs learn by imitating humans. I liked this because I now have way more knowledge about my dog’s mind.

The second reason why I enjoyed this book was because it was very relatable to me and my dog. The author has a dog of her own, and she puts in examples of her dog in every new topic in the book. For example, she talked about how her dog, Pumpernickel, is very patient whenever she leaves her house and how it took her a while to get Pump to stop having separation anxiety. I liked this feature because it gives an example of the information in a way where I could understand it better by looking at it as if it was me and my dog, Ripley.

The last reason why I enjoyed this so much was because it was very interesting to read. The author put the book into sections of different topics to break the book down. Once I started reading it, I didn’t want to put it down! For example, the author would end a section of the book with a very good point and say what she was going to talk about next. This made me want to read on to the next chapter and keep going. I liked this feature so much because it kept me going and continuing to read instead of being boring and always wanting to stop.

I would fully recommend this book to others because I now know many new things to see in my dog. I would highly recommend this book to huge dog lovers, like me, who want to learn more about the science behind a dog’s mind and what their everyday actions can tell you. I rate this book a five star because it is very informative, relatable, and interesting. Read this book to find out the science behind a dog’s mind and even learn something new about your own dog at home.

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever thought about what a dog sees, smells, or feels? In the non-fiction book Inside of a Dog -- Young Readers Edition: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know by Alexandra Horowitz, you can discover what it’s like to be a dog. Using her love of dogs and scientist background, Horowitz takes you on a journey through the life of man’s best friend. Aimed toward younger audiences, the book answers why animals do what they do, and uses fun illustrations to further show her thinking and reasoning.
The book begins with Alexandra Horowitz explaining how most people view dogs. She clarifies that “We think about our dogs as if they are people, because being people is something that we easily understand” (Horowitz 2). She tells us to forget everything that we think we know about dogs, and to start looking for the signs that she lays out for us. She instructs us to look and see how the dog reacts to different situations. If it’s wagging its tail it could be happy or excited, but if its tail is in between its legs it could be scared. Even though her research wasn’t solely focused on her own dog, Pumpernickel, she was able to connect her work to her dog. This book definitely reaches out to the young dog lovers in the world, and challenges how we see dogs from day to day.
Alexandra Horowitz continues to share her knowledge with us throughout the entire book. She goes on to explain why it feels like dogs can sometimes read our minds “If you feel nervous or anxious about an approaching stranger, you show it, however much you’re trying to hide your feelings. Your dog can tell. Dogs can smell changes that stress causes in your body. They can also notices tense muscles and quick breathing” (Horowitz 105). A dog's sense of sight and smell is way more advanced than what humans can see and smell, which is why it seems like they know what we’re going to do before we do it. Dogs can react to our movements faster than a second, and can sense when someone unfriendly is approaching. They can pay attention to the smallest details, like how someones eyes move and judge whether or not to be friendly with them. Horowitz’s investigation in the lives of dogs is really eye opening and beneficial to how we interact with our furry friends.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I usually can’t make it through non-fiction books, but I couldn’t put this one down. I would give it a 4 out of 5 because it did seem a bit repetitive at times, but there was good information that I’m looking forward to connecting with my own dog. I would recommend this book for any elementary level students who enjoy learning about dogs.

[Brittan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing and super unique book about Dogs, the author tells you about opinions on dogs and how to know what a dog is feeling. Inside of a Dog; What Dogs See, Smell, And Know by Alexandra Horowitz, explains how dogs carry on in their natural life and pursue their feelings. From the person's behaviors and the dogs passionate personality comes an adorable, dynamic duo. A dog is much like a human toddler, and dogs have feelings just like humans. The author describes, in detail, the relationship and understanding between a dog and it´s owner. What made this book interesting is how the author tries to convice dog owners to stop considering thier dogs as furry, four legged humans, and start treating them like the dogs that they are. One good element that occurred in this book is not to treat your dog like a human, but instead treat them like you would want to be treated. In some ways the dialogue was realistic, because some of the dogs and other animals described in the book relate back to real dogs and real owners. The book also seemed incredibly real, in a bad way, because some dog owners still don´t understand how to make thier dogs feel loved. There were some funny parts in the book, but overall it was more informational. After reading this book a big element that occurred was to make sure to pay attention to, and be very careful with dogs. Dogs are a big responsibility, and owners should learn about thier own dogs feelings and emotions. When the owners feel something is wrong, like in the rain, they will do their best to keep them happy like buying them a rain jacket. Anyone that enjoys books about animals, especially dogs, and interesting cliffhanger questions will really enjoy reading this amazing book.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a "young reader's edition" of Horowitz' book "Inside of a dog" for adults (which I haven't read, so I can't say exactly how much this edition has been abridged). This is still quite long and in depth, though. While the actual reading level would be about age 11, I think this book is best-suited to older ages. It would be ideal for a 14+ y.o. (up to adult) animal-lover who is interested in developing a deeper understanding of their own dog.

It touches on animal behaviour (such as signs dogs give when they are getting another dog to play with them, or when they are trying to get human's attention), various experiments scientists have run to test dog's cognition (such as whether they have "theory of mind" - spoiler: they do, mostly), how dogs pay attention to their humans, what dogs know about our world, and what we know about how dogs experience the world (chiefly through scent and what they can lick).

I laughed out loud in parts because my own dog displays some of these behaviours (like nudging the book in my hand when he wants me to stop reading and pat him) and it made me appreciate him more <3 :D .

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horowitz has spent hours observing dogs and studying dog interactions. She relates what she has observed to help humans stop viewing dogs as furry humans on four legs, and understand where their canine friends are coming from and why they do certain things.

This is the student edition of Horowitz's book, but it was still packed with science facts and a look at Horowitz's animal behavior observation methods. It starts a little slow but picks up, and for anyone who has a dog, should be a very engaging read. Due to the sciency lingo and the length, this is probably best in the hands of young adult readers, upper middle grade, or very dog-obsessed lower middle graders. I do wish I had known some of these things when I had a dog. There are some very helpful tips for dog owners that would make life less frustrating for you and your furry friend.

No content issues.

[Danielle Corrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a dog lover and published author of a dog book written from a dog's perspective called "Teida's Story life through the eyes of a dog" I found this book one that I can relate to.

Published author Alexandra Horowitz explains the inside of a dog, what their behaviours mean, their body language and ways they communicate to not just us humans, but to dogs as well. I thought about my dog Teida and Alexandra's interpretation validated my interpretation of how Teida was communicating to me.

All dog lovers when having a dog, needs to realise that dogs are not human but dogs and need to understand what their dogs are conveying to them and "Inside of a Dog" by Alexandra Horowitz does that well.

[Fiorini · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Inside of a Dog” by Alexandra Horowitz
This book teaches us not just about dogs, it goes beyond, it tells the behaviour and habits of this furry cute animal. It's a good book for people that have dogs and want to have a strong connection with his pets. Knowledge never is too much, and Alexandra Horowitz chose the write topic for catching the attention of dog lovers. With a wonderful point of view, she wrote in this book everything about what dogs see, smell and know, with good words she explains how dogs' minds are amazing and we need to learn more about it. In my opinion this book is amazing and I think that the author has to make more books about other animals.

[San Diego Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Hannah Hom for San Diego Book Review

Have you ever looked at a dog and wondered what they were thinking? Well, if you have, this book is for you. Alexandra Horowitz takes you on a journey through a dog’s world. From head to tail, from shoulders to paws, she helps you understand what dogs see, smell, and know.

You can read this entire review and others like it at San Diego Book Review.

[Rachel]

The reviews I see here are all good, so maybe it's me. I got a few chapters in. But it seemed like she was talking down to kids. ("That point of view is terrifically neat," and "That's what I did, and boy, I'm glad I did.") And she explained her decision to use male pronouns as gender-nonspecific, which yeah, I used to defend, but I got over that by 1990 or so - it's sexist. Just use a mix, of "he" and "she," no big deal. Also, there was some stuff on dominance that I think is now being questioned. So I'm taking a pass on the rest of the book.

[Yan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a fascinating book, backed by research, about the science of dogs. I listened to the full adult edition on audiobook and read the young reader's edition on physical copy. The young reader's edition is much more condensed and encapsulates the core information, hence it's a lot more readable. This adult edition can get rather tedious at times and there's a fair bit of repetition. The writing style could be more succinct. The case studies are interesting, though.
I'd definitely recommend this young reader's edition to children who love dogs!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about dogs and why they do what they do. It answers many questions owners might have like, can dogs see in the dark? I absolutely loved this book. This is a great book because it is all research based by this lady who has written an adult book about it. This is a more kid friendly version of her research and findings about dogs. I can use this in my class by showing how people report their research.

[Diane Carrozzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the young reader's edition of the original by the same name. I'm glad I read this one, because though it was filled with much insight and fun anecdotes, it got a little long-winded at times. So, I figured if this one was long-winded, imagine how much longer-winded the adult version is. However, it was fine to read. I got some insight that will help me understand my dog a bit better.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and thorough book, that gave a lot of information about mans best friend. As a dog lover, I loved it. If I were a young student, I know I would have loved it too. What really makes the connection for me was when the author shares her brief little connections to her own dog, Pumpkin (Pump). Adds another layer to the story.

[Irene Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is only for dog people and if your a cat person. Why are you looking at a dog book? Anyway this tells you answers to questions that you were asking about your furry friend. So much answers were answered.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

An animal psychologist explains dog's behavior through scientific studies and her own personal experiences being a pet owner. I didn't realize this was the "young reader" edition when I bought it, but overall it was interesting and informative.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great book, obviously directed for grades 5+. The author really knows what they are talking about. She knows this because she is a scientist who is studying dogs. After reading this, I really focus on my dog's signals.

[Keshia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This wasn’t a book I read straight through. I would pick it up on and off to read anywhere from a few pages to a chapter or more. This book has some really neat information that as a dog lover I found fascinating. However, it was also pretty repetitive the longer it went.

[Library Lady &#x1f4da; · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting book about dogs senses and brains. It was a little dry and complicated, but definitely interesting.
I would recommend to dog lovers, but you have to really want to know if you're going to plow through this one. It's dense.

[Billi Haug · Rating 5 out of 5]

what dog lover wouldn't pick up this book? Actually written for children, this was delightful with tips I will apply to my dog. This author knows her stuff and loves her pets. Any of her books will be warm and interesting to read.

[Kylie Bellissimo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book! If you got a new puppy in this family or just want to learn about dog behavior I recommend this book to you! I liked it but if you want to learn any information in this book feel free to read this book!