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Dog Is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You
A pioneering canine behaviorist draws on cutting-edge research to show that a single, simple trait—the capacity to love—is what makes dogs such perfect companions for humans, and explains how we can better reciprocate their affection.
“Lively and fascinating . . . The reader comes away cheered, better informed, and with a new and deeper appreciation for our amazing canine companions and their enormous capacity for love.” —Cat Warren, New York Times best-selling author of What the Dog Knows
Does your dog love you?
Every dog lover knows the feeling. The nuzzle of a dog’s nose, the warmth of them lying at our feet, even their whining when they want to get up on the bed. It really seems like our dogs love us, too. But for years, scientists have resisted that conclusion, warning against anthropomorphizing our pets. Enter Clive Wynne, a pioneering canine behaviorist whose research is helping to usher in a new one in which love, not intelligence or submissiveness, is at the heart of the human-canine relationship. Drawing on cutting-edge studies from his lab and others around the world, Wynne shows that affection is the very essence of dogs, from their faces and tails to their brains, hormones, even DNA. This scientific revolution is revealing more about dogs’ unique origins, behavior, needs, and hidden depths than we ever imagined possible.
A humane, illuminating book, Dog Is Love is essential reading for anyone who has ever loved a dog—and experienced the wonder of being loved back.
“Lively and fascinating . . . The reader comes away cheered, better informed, and with a new and deeper appreciation for our amazing canine companions and their enormous capacity for love.” —Cat Warren, New York Times best-selling author of What the Dog Knows
Does your dog love you?
Every dog lover knows the feeling. The nuzzle of a dog’s nose, the warmth of them lying at our feet, even their whining when they want to get up on the bed. It really seems like our dogs love us, too. But for years, scientists have resisted that conclusion, warning against anthropomorphizing our pets. Enter Clive Wynne, a pioneering canine behaviorist whose research is helping to usher in a new one in which love, not intelligence or submissiveness, is at the heart of the human-canine relationship. Drawing on cutting-edge studies from his lab and others around the world, Wynne shows that affection is the very essence of dogs, from their faces and tails to their brains, hormones, even DNA. This scientific revolution is revealing more about dogs’ unique origins, behavior, needs, and hidden depths than we ever imagined possible.
A humane, illuminating book, Dog Is Love is essential reading for anyone who has ever loved a dog—and experienced the wonder of being loved back.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
717 people are currently reading
3536 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
July 23, 2020
I adore dogs, and people who know me know that. One of my friends, after reading my novel A Place of Hiding said, "One thing I knew for sure. There was no way you were going to kill that dog." Which pretty much sums up who I am. This piece of writing by Dr Wynne is a must read for anyone who has a dog in the family, who is considering getting a dog to join the family, or who is at the present time looking for a dog to join the family. It recounts the studies of Dog and Puppy behavior made by the author, by his graduate students, by his colleagues, and by students animal behavior both in the US and around the word, and it illustrates the importance of people in a dog's life as it enhances our understanding of the emotional richness of a dog's experience. Using everything from MRIs to photographs, Wynne reveals remarkable data that will have you looking at your dog in particular and dogs in general in a new way. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to be part of the life of a wonderful animal: the dog. (I've had three dogs in forty years, with only a six month gap between Dog #1 and Dog #2 and no gap at all between #2 and #3. THey've all lived to over 16 years of age. My current dog is 17. They are all dachshunds.)
November 16, 2019
This book is a wonderful addition to the dog science sub-genre, and a rejoinder to the occasional (and ignorant) canard that dogs are mere sycophants whose loyalty and affection is either feigned or misinterpreted by humans. Any dog owners suspects this is nonsense, but this book provides objective evidence why this isn't the case.
It also defends dogs against the contention that they are not as intelligent as we believe. Wynne explains in his book why it isn't a dog's intelligence that make it exceptional (although that's not to say they're stupid), it's their emotional capacity and hyper-sociability where they stand out in relation to other animals, and us.
Wynne reviews some recent studies on dogs' brain chemistry and behavior, including one where dogs appear to choose interacting with their owner/'parent'/'pack' over food. Another tests how long it takes for some dogs to form a bond with someone (minutes).
Although most readers of this book are likely already attentive dog lovers and dog owners, the book does offer important implications and suggestions for re-homing shelter dogs. For prospective owners, the book suggests that even older dogs are flexible enough to be amicably re-homed. And for shelters themselves, Wynne suggests different ways they can help dogs find a way out of what must feel to them like prison, and into our homes and hearts.
It also defends dogs against the contention that they are not as intelligent as we believe. Wynne explains in his book why it isn't a dog's intelligence that make it exceptional (although that's not to say they're stupid), it's their emotional capacity and hyper-sociability where they stand out in relation to other animals, and us.
Wynne reviews some recent studies on dogs' brain chemistry and behavior, including one where dogs appear to choose interacting with their owner/'parent'/'pack' over food. Another tests how long it takes for some dogs to form a bond with someone (minutes).
Although most readers of this book are likely already attentive dog lovers and dog owners, the book does offer important implications and suggestions for re-homing shelter dogs. For prospective owners, the book suggests that even older dogs are flexible enough to be amicably re-homed. And for shelters themselves, Wynne suggests different ways they can help dogs find a way out of what must feel to them like prison, and into our homes and hearts.
November 18, 2019
One day an animal scientist was made aware that most of his published work seemed to indicate a lack of warmth toward dogs. It wasn’t true and he wanted to display his warmer side. So he collected anecdotes of recent science about dogs ( the current practice in popular science non-fiction)decorated it with personal stories and a feel-good chapter about how dogs deserve better. The result might be a bit dull as the anecdotes are not engagingly-written, a bit obvious (i.e. scientists designing experiments to indicate what many people have known from direct experience for centuries, if not millennia...but hey, scientists), and a bit earnest. There are a few worthy insights that could have been exploited to better effect if this book had been better planned.
February 16, 2020
Over-written, in the extreme.
As a lifelong dog-lover, dog-companion, and I've trained a dog to work with vulnerable children alongside me in a clinical setting, I looked forward to reading this book. But I was disappointed.
The same points are made over and over, perhaps because there aren't a lot of points to make but the fact is, each one is quite compelling. No need to write a long book with anecdotal and emotional filler, when a short book with clever summaries of compelling science (and humour -- could we please have a bit of humour?) will capture readers' attention and change OUR behaviour.
The author is an advocate, and I share his inclination and desire to be kinder to other beings, in this case, dogs. Sadly, I didn't like the book (though I loved the message). Stuck with it to the end because I'm committed to improving the lives of dogs. I was rewarded by the final chapter, on 'dogs deserve better' which summarized some research into steps that can be taken to improve the lives of shelter dogs and make them more attractive to adoptees.
As a lifelong dog-lover, dog-companion, and I've trained a dog to work with vulnerable children alongside me in a clinical setting, I looked forward to reading this book. But I was disappointed.
The same points are made over and over, perhaps because there aren't a lot of points to make but the fact is, each one is quite compelling. No need to write a long book with anecdotal and emotional filler, when a short book with clever summaries of compelling science (and humour -- could we please have a bit of humour?) will capture readers' attention and change OUR behaviour.
The author is an advocate, and I share his inclination and desire to be kinder to other beings, in this case, dogs. Sadly, I didn't like the book (though I loved the message). Stuck with it to the end because I'm committed to improving the lives of dogs. I was rewarded by the final chapter, on 'dogs deserve better' which summarized some research into steps that can be taken to improve the lives of shelter dogs and make them more attractive to adoptees.
April 23, 2020
The information was interesting but it felt like he took a long time getting to his points. Maybe I’m too used to reading science papers
July 16, 2023
When I saw the title of this book, I had to read it. I have always believed that my dogs love me back and the author of this book, the founding director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University, has been all over the world researching dogs to see whether they do love us back. Of course, if Dr. Wynne had written that dogs don’t love us, I would never have believed him. Dr. Wynne is also convinced his dog, Xephos, loves him. In this book he lists all the research he’s done which shows that dogs do love us. I found this book fascinating and was surprised at some of his research results. It also made me sad to think about how many people treat dogs as property, not as thinking, affectionate beings. I’ve been very lucky with the dogs I’ve fostered and adopted. I don’t want to ever be without one. I LOVE dogs, it’s people I’m not so sure about.
September 21, 2024
What an extraordinarily frustrating experience.
1. The books main attraction is the author himself. Boy, does that guy love talking about himself. Easily 60% of the books content are solely about the author, nothing at all to do with dogs, let alone an answer to the question the title poses.
2. A whole lot of the remaining content is about other scientists studying dogs, wrong thesis, disproven conclusions, studies on other species and so on and so forth. Again, very little to do with actually correct facts about dogs, let alone why and how they love us.
3. And there is an enormous amount of repetition. It's common for the author to make the exact same points five or more times over 10-15 pages, without even changing the phrasing. Also, a lot of fluff, so for a book about a specific question, there is surprisingly little talk about that exact topic.
4. For someone who sets himself out to study the finer details about dog behavior, this guy has surprisingly little knowledge about dogs. Everyone who cared for a dog for any amount of time knows more about what makes dogs tick, than the author of this book (and apparently his students, who - we are repeatedly informed - are now professors here and there).
5. What clearly demonstrates this persons misguided believe of himself as an authority on ghe topic of dog, is a passage rather early in the book. He's talking about the dog Chaser who knows her 1200 toys by name, and how this isn't a question of intellect but training. Then he directly goes on to talk about his own "unfortunately stupid" adult adopted dog, who - for many months! - was unable to walk on leash without entangling herself on various object. Due to her stupidity.
Well, duh, if you would have trained her, she would have figured it out within 10 minutes. Who's stupid now? It's not like walking tethered to someone else by a leash is natural and instinctual walking behavior for an animal.
If you've already got this book, just skip ahead to page 166 and read to 200. Done. You won't miss anything you don't already know, or even already know better.
But beware: If you do read this part, don't believe everything he writes. Unfortunately he doesn't understand the cloning process either. Cloning involves an egg from someone to insert the DNA to be cloned. Cloning is not a sterile process without "contamination" with foreign DNA. So OF COURSE clones aren't actually replications of the original animal! Plus possible DNA mutation during multiplication etc. and so on. I don't get it, for a psychologist by training he really has forgotten a lot about his basic education.
If you're thinking about buying this book, safe yourself time, money and a lot of frustration and rather get yourself a fancy cup of coffee or something.
1. The books main attraction is the author himself. Boy, does that guy love talking about himself. Easily 60% of the books content are solely about the author, nothing at all to do with dogs, let alone an answer to the question the title poses.
2. A whole lot of the remaining content is about other scientists studying dogs, wrong thesis, disproven conclusions, studies on other species and so on and so forth. Again, very little to do with actually correct facts about dogs, let alone why and how they love us.
3. And there is an enormous amount of repetition. It's common for the author to make the exact same points five or more times over 10-15 pages, without even changing the phrasing. Also, a lot of fluff, so for a book about a specific question, there is surprisingly little talk about that exact topic.
4. For someone who sets himself out to study the finer details about dog behavior, this guy has surprisingly little knowledge about dogs. Everyone who cared for a dog for any amount of time knows more about what makes dogs tick, than the author of this book (and apparently his students, who - we are repeatedly informed - are now professors here and there).
5. What clearly demonstrates this persons misguided believe of himself as an authority on ghe topic of dog, is a passage rather early in the book. He's talking about the dog Chaser who knows her 1200 toys by name, and how this isn't a question of intellect but training. Then he directly goes on to talk about his own "unfortunately stupid" adult adopted dog, who - for many months! - was unable to walk on leash without entangling herself on various object. Due to her stupidity.
Well, duh, if you would have trained her, she would have figured it out within 10 minutes. Who's stupid now? It's not like walking tethered to someone else by a leash is natural and instinctual walking behavior for an animal.
If you've already got this book, just skip ahead to page 166 and read to 200. Done. You won't miss anything you don't already know, or even already know better.
But beware: If you do read this part, don't believe everything he writes. Unfortunately he doesn't understand the cloning process either. Cloning involves an egg from someone to insert the DNA to be cloned. Cloning is not a sterile process without "contamination" with foreign DNA. So OF COURSE clones aren't actually replications of the original animal! Plus possible DNA mutation during multiplication etc. and so on. I don't get it, for a psychologist by training he really has forgotten a lot about his basic education.
If you're thinking about buying this book, safe yourself time, money and a lot of frustration and rather get yourself a fancy cup of coffee or something.
February 10, 2021
This is a must-read for anyone who has a relationship with a dog. Wynne details the evolution of dogs' relationships with humans and highlights the genetic foundation for their affinity and love for humans. He also emphasizes the importance of socialization and ensuring that we meet our furry friends' need for companionship and love. I appreciated learning about simple ways that we can mitigate the lack of genetic diversity and associated morbidity and mortality in purebred dogs. Hearing about the opposition to this from those who are committed to preserving the "integrity" of purebred dogs motivates me to undertake advocacy on their behalf. Wynne writes with a sparkling wit; his droll humor is interspersed throughout the book. I especially loved this quote when he talks about why dogs likely did not evolve from "friendly" wolves who helped humans hunt: "...wolves have no motivation to help people hunt. If you tried to go hunting with your pet wolf, almost as soon as you unleashed it, your lupine companion would be miles away, happily filling its stomach while you wandered around the forest, lost and hungry."
put-aside
October 12, 2019I learned nothing new after 50 pages, so I’m putting this one aside
April 28, 2020
Nie złapałem też żadnego “flow” z książką, która - jak podejrzewałem - będzie mi bardzo blisko, mianowicie z “Pies jest miłością” Clive’a D.L. Wynne’a (tłum. Dorota Kozińska). Historia własnych badań nad zachowaniem zwierzaków, poszukiwanie odpowiedzi na pytanie - czy psy są po prostu dobrze wytrenowane, czy jednak coś do ludzi czują, czego nie da się uchwycić metodą naukową zapowiadała się bardzo ciekawie i gdyby ją odchudzić o nadmierną obecność autora jak i zbyt obszerne wprowadzanie do kolejnych opowieści, pewnie byśmy się spotkali i polubili. A tak nie umiałem zbudować z Wynnem empatii i odklejałem się od książki co kilkanaście stron. Do tego miałem wrażenie, że zbyt często to, o czym pisze autor jest dość oczywiste i zamiast dwudziestu stron o danym eksperymencie, który - jak za chwilę autor donosi - nic nowego nie wnosi do naszej wiedzy o relacji człowiek-pies, chciałbym przejść do jakiejś bardziej konkretnej opowieści, która mnie zaskoczy. I tak po dwustu stronach przez dwa tygodnie jednak się poddałem - nie ma między nami chemii i już nie będzie. Nie znalazłem też powodu, dla którego miałbym skończyć tą lekturę - jest tyle dobrych poradników o psach, korzystających z podobnych ustaleń, jak te, o których można przeczytać w książce, że nie znalazłem tam za wiele dla siebie.
October 29, 2020
Fascinating read! As a lifelong dog lover, I found this book to reinforce much of what I already knew. The book is based on scientific research on how dogs and humans have come to the place we are today. I found it fascinating but I could understand how some might see it as a little dry. James Langton is the narrator for this book and I did very much enjoy his voice and reading style. If you are a dog lover and wonder why or how your dog seems to know you so well you will enjoy this book.
January 20, 2020
Wynne's study is a fascinating survey of psychological and biological research into the relationships between dogs and humans, showing how the genetic makeup of dogs predisposes them to behave the way they do with other species. This is a science book aimed at the lay reader, with the scholarly information balanced by a wonderful empathy for dogs on the author's part.
June 29, 2023
Super interesting scientific take on our relationship with dogs. The “Dogs Deserve More” chapter really got me - it talks about shelters and their oftentimes poor conditions as well as inbreeding and health issues. Also interesting to learn more about dogs’ care in other countries.
“To be loved by a dog is a great privilege, perhaps one of the finest in a human life.” 🥹💕
“To be loved by a dog is a great privilege, perhaps one of the finest in a human life.” 🥹💕
Read
February 12, 2021If you've ever loved a dog, or wondered about sharing your life with a dog ... this is an interesting read that uses a range of scientific studies (some by the author) of recent times to explain what we already know in our hearts to be true. Dog is love. Yes Maggie, yes you are, you glorious creature.
May 4, 2025
I'm not a dog person but this book was great!
December 27, 2019
This is one of the best books I've read on dogs. The title sounds "touchy-feely", pretty anthropomorphic, traits I avoid in dog books. I'm interested in dogs for what they are, not as furry humans. They are unique, unlike other creatures in the ways they relate to our species. The human/dog bond is like no other. It is the nature of this relationship that Clive Wynne explores in this book, written for the general public but based on the latest scientific research on dogs and their relationships to other species, including our own.
The author approaches his subject skeptically, as a good scientist must. He discusses what experimenters have learned through direct observation, archeological discoveries, analysis of blood and urine, and brain scans. I will leave it to the reader to review these and come to their own conclusions on what they tell us. While I was familiar with most of the studies cited, this book integrates them and proposes a unified concept of our dogs' emotional connection to us.
In addition, the author explains how we are obligated by this new knowledge and understanding of dogs to provide not only for their physical needs, but for their emotional requirements as well. He suggests significant changes in practice and law that require our serious consideration. I agree with at least 90% of the conclusions and proposals this author suggests.
I enjoyed the book immensely, but more importantly, it has made me more sensitive to the social needs of my dogs. I recommend it for anyone who lives with a dog or dogs, or those for whom this is a serious consideration. Dogs deserve no less from us.
The author approaches his subject skeptically, as a good scientist must. He discusses what experimenters have learned through direct observation, archeological discoveries, analysis of blood and urine, and brain scans. I will leave it to the reader to review these and come to their own conclusions on what they tell us. While I was familiar with most of the studies cited, this book integrates them and proposes a unified concept of our dogs' emotional connection to us.
In addition, the author explains how we are obligated by this new knowledge and understanding of dogs to provide not only for their physical needs, but for their emotional requirements as well. He suggests significant changes in practice and law that require our serious consideration. I agree with at least 90% of the conclusions and proposals this author suggests.
I enjoyed the book immensely, but more importantly, it has made me more sensitive to the social needs of my dogs. I recommend it for anyone who lives with a dog or dogs, or those for whom this is a serious consideration. Dogs deserve no less from us.
October 15, 2019
I don't usually buy books about why dogs are so darn cute, but I am increasingly interested in human-dog relationships, which seem to be emotionally symbiotic. Wynne, an animal behavioralist who specializes in dog behavior and dog-human relationships, writes as a scientist recovering from the notion that dogs have no emotions. The prose is clear and accessible and written in anecdotal form, so anybody interested in what science has to say, without knowing science, will find the book accessible and convincing. The upshot is that behavioral, biochemical, and biomechanical markers in humans being with those they love is matched with dogs being with humans, especially their preferred human. Some studies, in fact, show that when closely bonded dog and human sit together, their breathing and heartbeats soon become synchronized. Most importantly, dog brains emit oxytocin when with humans—the same chemical that creates bonds of love and attachment in humans, and that is released in women who are lactating. . . So, yeah: your dog loves you to no end, and is really smiling when s/he sees you.
March 1, 2020
Having read many dog behavior books in the past, I found the first 2/3 of this book covered information I already gleaned from previous books with the exception of the author's discussion of Williams Syndrome, which I found fascinating and that offered a good explanation as to why dogs are prone to loving humans. The last 1/3 of the book was more substantive and reinforced my long-held believe that dogs in shelters shouldn't be labeled according to breed, since 90% of the time, the shelter workers get it wrong, and labels can deter potential adopters from selecting certain dogs and coming away with their perfect match. This is particularly true of the label "Pit Bull." Shelters that have dropped using labels have seen their adoption number soar. The author also emphasizes that shelter dogs' best form of enrichment is merely walking with humans -- something else I've always felt strongly about. Overall, I felt this book was well researched and conveyed the single most important message of all: Dogs deserve respect, and they deserve to be loved the way they love us.
February 22, 2020
Awesome read. Learned a lot. Top bit I'll share, because it's towards the end of the book and fresh in my mind: if shelters stop guessing at breed names (and thus stop labeling kennels), adoption goes up across the board for every dog. Also breeds are nonsense thing to be concerned about. Forget about breeds when seeking a dog!
Also the pervasive advice about being the "alpha household member" in order to train your dog is also bad misinformation. Treat them like loving animals!
This book makes for a great pairing with Chaser by John W. Pilley.
Also the pervasive advice about being the "alpha household member" in order to train your dog is also bad misinformation. Treat them like loving animals!
This book makes for a great pairing with Chaser by John W. Pilley.
December 2, 2019
The scientist author clearly explains the research spanning a century of how dogs became attached to humans.
June 1, 2020
There was so much I liked about this book's exploration into what makes dogs special and how this relates to their bond with us (and also with other species). It was a thoroughly engaging look at how nature and nurture combine to form an intense emotional attachment in dogs towards people and that, it is this extremely strong social drive, rather than intelligence, that makes them special – so even those who are not the smartest are adept at reading and fitting in with their people. This isn’t to say dogs aren’t intelligent, although some are more so than others!
I liked the depth and range of the book as it traversed many scientific paths, from the evolutionary origins of canine development to the latest in genetic and neuroscience research- including looking at wolves and Belyaev's and Trut's domesticated fox experiment (insert squeeee of happy memories of former readings here).
I liked that Dr Clive Wynne was not hesitant to describe and denote the scepticism that exists, and that he himself first felt, as the work he embarked was part of one that would and does challenge some established and popular theories about pure behaviour essentialism, cognitive specialism and his own initial reluctance to scientifically accept the strength of dogs' capacity to bond. Reading the evolution of Wynne's own ideas as research progressed added richness and dimension to the text.
I liked its exploration of dogs around the world as they live within different human and canine interrelationship structures, from Moscow, Ethiopia's and India's stray dogs, to the hunting dogs of the Mayangnan people and how findings on canine evolutionary and behavioural patterns could be seen here - at the same Wynne empathically and strongly highlights the duty of care we have and how and where we fall down.
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/...
-Free-ranging Dogs Prefer Petting Over Food in Repeated Interactions With Unfamiliar Humans
Debottam Bhattacharjee 1 , Shubhra Sau 1 , Jayjit Das 1 , Anindita Bhadra 2
https://jeb.biologists.org/content/22...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29038...
I liked that the book does not stop at a study of the nature of dogs but is also a call to their better treatment as it outlines the ways in which this species is still misunderstood and thus often misused and/or ill treated - from the neglected, to the abandoned mutt and all the way to the pure breed industry.
I also liked how with the familiar I discovered new things (with very many handy links that took me beyond the book itself). One such thing were two new terms:
Phylogeny = evolutionary history (or more precisely 'the evolution of a genetically related group of organisms)
Ontogeny = personal life history (i.e. all the events that occur to an organism)
My word nerd self is happy :)
Other highlights of discovery and exploration included:
Finding out how variation of expressions of human orientated behaviour between individual dogs, within breeds, relates to different gene developments and whether they had the AA oxytocin receptor gene versus the GG or the AG oxytocin receptor gene but that breed could also impact on how the peptide oxytocin levels interrelated with different gene combinations and behaviour responses. It would be really interesting to follow more studies in this area.
-Sociality genes are associated with human-directed social behaviour in golden and Labrador retriever dogs. PeerJ, 6 (2018): e5889
-Dog-Owner Attachment Is Associated With Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Both Parties. A Comparative Study on Austrian and Hungarian Border Collies
Krisztina Kovács,1,* Zsófia Virányi,2 Anna Kis,1 Borbála Turcsán,1 Ágnes Hudecz,3 Maria T. Marmota,2 Dóra Koller,4 Zsolt Rónai,4 Márta Gácsi,5 and József Topál1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
And then the links found between Williams-Beuren Syndrome gregariousness symptoms.
-Structural variants in genes associated with human Williams-Beuren syndrome underlie stereotypical hypersociability in domestic dogs
Bridgett M. vonHoldt1,*,†, Emily Shuldiner1,2,*, Ilana Janowitz Koch1, Rebecca Y. Kartzinel1, Andrew Hogan3, Lauren Brubaker4,
https://advances.sciencemag.org/conte...
Other highlights ranged from historical and scientific story leads to feelgood moments of lightness from Townshend's 'Darwin's Dogs' to the heartwarming Pedigree Hearts Aligned video which I had not seen before and am now very glad I have seen :D
https://vimeo.com/164938786
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
The only downside I had with the book was on the section about tail wagging, it failed to mention how speed and angles were indicative factors which for a little bit did make me wonder what else was being missed but other than that all else seemed to be covered extremely well.
I liked the depth and range of the book as it traversed many scientific paths, from the evolutionary origins of canine development to the latest in genetic and neuroscience research- including looking at wolves and Belyaev's and Trut's domesticated fox experiment (insert squeeee of happy memories of former readings here).
I liked that Dr Clive Wynne was not hesitant to describe and denote the scepticism that exists, and that he himself first felt, as the work he embarked was part of one that would and does challenge some established and popular theories about pure behaviour essentialism, cognitive specialism and his own initial reluctance to scientifically accept the strength of dogs' capacity to bond. Reading the evolution of Wynne's own ideas as research progressed added richness and dimension to the text.
I liked its exploration of dogs around the world as they live within different human and canine interrelationship structures, from Moscow, Ethiopia's and India's stray dogs, to the hunting dogs of the Mayangnan people and how findings on canine evolutionary and behavioural patterns could be seen here - at the same Wynne empathically and strongly highlights the duty of care we have and how and where we fall down.
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/...
-Free-ranging Dogs Prefer Petting Over Food in Repeated Interactions With Unfamiliar Humans
Debottam Bhattacharjee 1 , Shubhra Sau 1 , Jayjit Das 1 , Anindita Bhadra 2
https://jeb.biologists.org/content/22...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29038...
I liked that the book does not stop at a study of the nature of dogs but is also a call to their better treatment as it outlines the ways in which this species is still misunderstood and thus often misused and/or ill treated - from the neglected, to the abandoned mutt and all the way to the pure breed industry.
I also liked how with the familiar I discovered new things (with very many handy links that took me beyond the book itself). One such thing were two new terms:
Phylogeny = evolutionary history (or more precisely 'the evolution of a genetically related group of organisms)
Ontogeny = personal life history (i.e. all the events that occur to an organism)
My word nerd self is happy :)
Other highlights of discovery and exploration included:
Finding out how variation of expressions of human orientated behaviour between individual dogs, within breeds, relates to different gene developments and whether they had the AA oxytocin receptor gene versus the GG or the AG oxytocin receptor gene but that breed could also impact on how the peptide oxytocin levels interrelated with different gene combinations and behaviour responses. It would be really interesting to follow more studies in this area.
-Sociality genes are associated with human-directed social behaviour in golden and Labrador retriever dogs. PeerJ, 6 (2018): e5889
-Dog-Owner Attachment Is Associated With Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Both Parties. A Comparative Study on Austrian and Hungarian Border Collies
Krisztina Kovács,1,* Zsófia Virányi,2 Anna Kis,1 Borbála Turcsán,1 Ágnes Hudecz,3 Maria T. Marmota,2 Dóra Koller,4 Zsolt Rónai,4 Márta Gácsi,5 and József Topál1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
And then the links found between Williams-Beuren Syndrome gregariousness symptoms.
-Structural variants in genes associated with human Williams-Beuren syndrome underlie stereotypical hypersociability in domestic dogs
Bridgett M. vonHoldt1,*,†, Emily Shuldiner1,2,*, Ilana Janowitz Koch1, Rebecca Y. Kartzinel1, Andrew Hogan3, Lauren Brubaker4,
https://advances.sciencemag.org/conte...
Other highlights ranged from historical and scientific story leads to feelgood moments of lightness from Townshend's 'Darwin's Dogs' to the heartwarming Pedigree Hearts Aligned video which I had not seen before and am now very glad I have seen :D
https://vimeo.com/164938786
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
The only downside I had with the book was on the section about tail wagging, it failed to mention how speed and angles were indicative factors which for a little bit did make me wonder what else was being missed but other than that all else seemed to be covered extremely well.
October 19, 2021
As someone who loves dogs and lives with 3 of them, I have read a LOT of books about dogs so I can understand them better. A lot of the material in this book will be familiar to those who also read about dogs or watch specials about them on PBS (e.g. the 'who stays longer in a circle" experiment comparing wolves and dogs, or the breeding of foxes for tameness). However, the discussion of genetics and oxytocin receptors was new to me and fascinating.
The book concludes with practical suggestions of how to improve the emotional lives and health of dogs in homes, in shelters, and purebreds.
This would be a 5 star read if more of the content was original. It is easy to read and understand the science, so I give it a solid 4 stars.
The book concludes with practical suggestions of how to improve the emotional lives and health of dogs in homes, in shelters, and purebreds.
This would be a 5 star read if more of the content was original. It is easy to read and understand the science, so I give it a solid 4 stars.
December 19, 2021
Inspiring and so informative
This book is about in-depth researches regarding dog behaviors, genetics and their capacity to love and bond with humans. Dr. Wynne makes some really good points, and he's clear in his arguments for and against societal norms and standards applied to dogs in general. I found his historical research fascinating. I learned a great deal of facts I never knew. I know my dogs love me. I love my dogs. His chapters on shelters were both interesting and sad. I recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs and thanks to the scientists that study them humanely.
This book is about in-depth researches regarding dog behaviors, genetics and their capacity to love and bond with humans. Dr. Wynne makes some really good points, and he's clear in his arguments for and against societal norms and standards applied to dogs in general. I found his historical research fascinating. I learned a great deal of facts I never knew. I know my dogs love me. I love my dogs. His chapters on shelters were both interesting and sad. I recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs and thanks to the scientists that study them humanely.
February 14, 2021
I loved this book so much!
A scientist sets out to prove what we all instinctively know, that dogs really do love humans. We're not just food dispensers. They have deep affectionate bonds with us.
The thing that interested me most was the scientific approach and the creative experiments he used to give factual backing to the things our hearts know.
Engaging, scientific but not boring, and a must-read for all who love, and are loved by, dogs.
A scientist sets out to prove what we all instinctively know, that dogs really do love humans. We're not just food dispensers. They have deep affectionate bonds with us.
The thing that interested me most was the scientific approach and the creative experiments he used to give factual backing to the things our hearts know.
Engaging, scientific but not boring, and a must-read for all who love, and are loved by, dogs.
August 19, 2022
This book is lovely and heartfelt. I listened to the audio version read by the author, which greatly enhanced the whole experience. Wynne writes with academic integrity, meticulous attention to detail, and authentic love for dogs. The science and history behind his work was fascinating. I also greatly appreciated his practical recommendations for caring for dogs, given in the last chapter. Every dog owner would greatly benefit from Wynne’s research and wisdom!
March 31, 2025
pretty mid honestly. he talks about controversies as if his opinion is 100% truth and he never reports statistics, which is a little odd. a lot of the math doesn't math. at one point he said 1/3 of the dogs in a study did something so we can conclude that majority of dogs do it (???). several other examples like this. also really likes to talk about himself and tell us where his students are now teaching🙄
September 20, 2023
“People love dogs. If that verb means half as much to us as it does to them, we will do the hard work necessary to give them better lives, and to honor all that they give us. Dogs’ love defines them. Theirs is an example we should follow.”
Don’t mind me. Just tearing up as I read the end of this book with my 8-year-old pup lying next to me.
Every dog owner and dog lover should read this book.
Don’t mind me. Just tearing up as I read the end of this book with my 8-year-old pup lying next to me.
Every dog owner and dog lover should read this book.
July 12, 2020
I loved reading about what makes dogs love humans, both genetic (Williams syndrome, I had no idea) and hormonal, and about how dogs did and didn't evolve from wolves. But the ending made me laugh out loud.
If you don't believe your dog actually feels love for you and is just faking affection to get, look at your spouse.
If anyone loves you, your dog does.
If you don't believe your dog actually feels love for you and is just faking affection to get, look at your spouse.
If anyone loves you, your dog does.
March 20, 2021
Dogs are the best and no one can convince me otherwise.
Pretty good read, a little dull and the author circles around a few times before getting to the point.
Pretty good read, a little dull and the author circles around a few times before getting to the point.
July 12, 2021
An interesting, insightful read, does its job and provides additional resources for anybody who desires to "see for themselves". The writing itself isn't anything special, but that's not cause for concern.
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