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The Dog Who Couldn't Stop Loving: How Dogs Have Captured Our Hearts for Thousands of Years
A groundbreaking and inspiring exploration of the unique relationship between dogs and humans, from the bestselling author of Dogs Never Lie About Love
Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson has long been interested in the relationships between humans and animals, and he’s always been aware that there was something very special in our bond with dogs. No other animals love us in quite the same way as dogs love us. And it is mutual. Is it possible that we developed our capacity for love, sympathy, empathy, and compassion because of our long association with dogs?
In The Dog Who Couldn’t Stop Loving, Masson considers the far-reaching consequences of the coevolution of dogs and humans, drawing upon recent scientific research. Over the past forty thousand years a collective domestication has occurred that brings us to where we are today—humans have formed intense bonds with dogs, and the adoration is almost always reciprocal. Masson himself has experienced a profound bond with his new dog, Benjy, a failed guide dog for the blind, who possesses an abundance of uninhibited love. Masson knows that the love he feels for Benjy—the same feeling Benjy has for all the people and animals around him—is not unique, but exemplifies a love affair unmatched in the animal world.
With wisdom, insight, and a brilliant analysis of recent scientific findings, bestselling author Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson delivers a provocative and compelling book that will change the way we think about love and our canine companions.
Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson has long been interested in the relationships between humans and animals, and he’s always been aware that there was something very special in our bond with dogs. No other animals love us in quite the same way as dogs love us. And it is mutual. Is it possible that we developed our capacity for love, sympathy, empathy, and compassion because of our long association with dogs?
In The Dog Who Couldn’t Stop Loving, Masson considers the far-reaching consequences of the coevolution of dogs and humans, drawing upon recent scientific research. Over the past forty thousand years a collective domestication has occurred that brings us to where we are today—humans have formed intense bonds with dogs, and the adoration is almost always reciprocal. Masson himself has experienced a profound bond with his new dog, Benjy, a failed guide dog for the blind, who possesses an abundance of uninhibited love. Masson knows that the love he feels for Benjy—the same feeling Benjy has for all the people and animals around him—is not unique, but exemplifies a love affair unmatched in the animal world.
With wisdom, insight, and a brilliant analysis of recent scientific findings, bestselling author Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson delivers a provocative and compelling book that will change the way we think about love and our canine companions.
190 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2010
74 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
50 books256 followersHe has written several books books critical of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and psychiatry as well as books on animals, their emotions and their rights.
He currently lives in New Zealand with his wife, two sons, three cats and three rats.
He currently lives in New Zealand with his wife, two sons, three cats and three rats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 19, 2011
I did not get very far in this book. The author just rambles on and on about how dogs love people and it is a special bond that other animals don't have, etc.
Here is one paragraph, for example:
"Dogs are eager to see and meet other dogs and people; they are eager to play with other dogs and people/ they like to walk with other dogs and people; they like to sleep with other dogs and people/ they are eager to express affection to other dogs and people. But even more important, or more astonishing, they are willing to do these and other activities not only with people and dogs, but with many other animals as well. Instantly. Unmistakeably. Inevitably. Can we say this of any other species? No."
It seems like this author has not spent much time with different breeds of dogs. I have three dogs with very distinct personalities. Two of the dogs are happy to see/greet most people and other dogs. The third dog does not like all people, and she certainly does not like all dogs. She gets really annoyed at my mom's and sister's dogs, and avoids them when they come to play. She sleeps by herself, under my bed or under a shelf (instead of on the dog beds with my other two dogs). If she sees a small non-dog animal, she will try to kill it. She is an independent spirit. If she happens to get loose in the neighborhood, she runs and runs until we manage to corner and tackle her. I once tried falling down in the road and acting like I was hurt to try to get her to come to me, but she just kept running.
My point is, the author just likes to repeat his sweeping generalizations a lot, and I didn't even make it through the first chapter before deciding that I would rather spend my time reading something else.
Here is one paragraph, for example:
"Dogs are eager to see and meet other dogs and people; they are eager to play with other dogs and people/ they like to walk with other dogs and people; they like to sleep with other dogs and people/ they are eager to express affection to other dogs and people. But even more important, or more astonishing, they are willing to do these and other activities not only with people and dogs, but with many other animals as well. Instantly. Unmistakeably. Inevitably. Can we say this of any other species? No."
It seems like this author has not spent much time with different breeds of dogs. I have three dogs with very distinct personalities. Two of the dogs are happy to see/greet most people and other dogs. The third dog does not like all people, and she certainly does not like all dogs. She gets really annoyed at my mom's and sister's dogs, and avoids them when they come to play. She sleeps by herself, under my bed or under a shelf (instead of on the dog beds with my other two dogs). If she sees a small non-dog animal, she will try to kill it. She is an independent spirit. If she happens to get loose in the neighborhood, she runs and runs until we manage to corner and tackle her. I once tried falling down in the road and acting like I was hurt to try to get her to come to me, but she just kept running.
My point is, the author just likes to repeat his sweeping generalizations a lot, and I didn't even make it through the first chapter before deciding that I would rather spend my time reading something else.
June 2, 2013
Mr. Masson presents a pretty clear picture of how dogs and humans have "evolved" together. I did take exception to some parts, however.
First, his take on pitbulls being naturally aggressive was shortsighted and based on some very flimsy data. One piece of evidence was the euthanasia rate of pitbulls in the United States. Pitbulls ARE killed more often then other breeds but this has more to do with 1)breed bias (including bsl and insurance requirements) and 2) their sheer numbers (backyard breeders produce and produce and produce). Pitbulls score very well on the American Temperament Test Society's examination.
The other area where I felt like Mr. Masson took liberties to present his opinion as fact was with the bond between humans and other animals. Most notably he portrayed the horse as not having an emotional bond with its human and I have doubts about that. The people I've known who were horse people seemed to have a strong mutual bond with their horses. He also presented horse back riding as being almost cruel to the horse. His whole take on horse ownership irritated me.
First, his take on pitbulls being naturally aggressive was shortsighted and based on some very flimsy data. One piece of evidence was the euthanasia rate of pitbulls in the United States. Pitbulls ARE killed more often then other breeds but this has more to do with 1)breed bias (including bsl and insurance requirements) and 2) their sheer numbers (backyard breeders produce and produce and produce). Pitbulls score very well on the American Temperament Test Society's examination.
The other area where I felt like Mr. Masson took liberties to present his opinion as fact was with the bond between humans and other animals. Most notably he portrayed the horse as not having an emotional bond with its human and I have doubts about that. The people I've known who were horse people seemed to have a strong mutual bond with their horses. He also presented horse back riding as being almost cruel to the horse. His whole take on horse ownership irritated me.
December 27, 2010
Jeffrey Masson's latest work examines the co-evolution of dogs and humans, and explains how it is that the two species are interlinked via their ability to feel love for creatures different from themselves.
Inspired by the Masson family's dog, Benjy, the author examines the unconditional love that his dog displays for the family members, cats, people in nursing homes, etc., and sets out to determine how it is possible for this to be so.
In the process, Masson learns (and shares) information on how dogs are perceived by other cultures, in some cases for good and others not so much. He examines perspectives from various animal behavior experts, and see hows this applies to his own beloved Lab.
I found the book interesting from both an animal behavior and anthropological/sociological perspective. Highly recommended for dog lovers in particular.
(Review based on uncorrected advance proof.)
Inspired by the Masson family's dog, Benjy, the author examines the unconditional love that his dog displays for the family members, cats, people in nursing homes, etc., and sets out to determine how it is possible for this to be so.
In the process, Masson learns (and shares) information on how dogs are perceived by other cultures, in some cases for good and others not so much. He examines perspectives from various animal behavior experts, and see hows this applies to his own beloved Lab.
I found the book interesting from both an animal behavior and anthropological/sociological perspective. Highly recommended for dog lovers in particular.
(Review based on uncorrected advance proof.)
August 28, 2014
In honor of "National Dog Day(s of Summer)," I picked up Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson's book, THE DOG WHO COULDN'T STOP LOVING, because quite frankly I can't stop loving *my* dog, a sweet highly lovable geriatric basset hound. Call it selfish, or call it neotenic or symbionic as Masson does, but the canine love is alive and well.
If you are looking for a book like MARLEY & ME or THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN, this isn't the one for you. This book is a little more scholastic--lots of studies are cited, along with other books and experts on similar subjects. Masson does an excellent job of paring it down for us folks who are more ennamored with our dogs than we are the science behind it. But if you have an affinity for social science, animal behavior, and well--love--then this book will also speak to you (perhaps in the form of a bark). Ironcially, I learned the bark is a man-made attribute of the dog; they don't do it in the wild (as dogs are derived from wolves). Sure, wolves howl and whine, but they don't bark. The bark is a characteristic developed by man for dogs.
You'll learn this and so much more from THE DOG WHO COULDN'T STOP LOVING, like prisoners who are given a puppy to care for (the dog loves his inmate, no strings attached), guide/service dogs, and why we sleep with four-legged buds. No other species chooses another species to sleep with, so says Masson, with perhaps the exception of a cat.
THE DOG WHO COULDN'T STOP LOVING will warm your heart and give you a greater appreciation for Fido.
If you are looking for a book like MARLEY & ME or THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN, this isn't the one for you. This book is a little more scholastic--lots of studies are cited, along with other books and experts on similar subjects. Masson does an excellent job of paring it down for us folks who are more ennamored with our dogs than we are the science behind it. But if you have an affinity for social science, animal behavior, and well--love--then this book will also speak to you (perhaps in the form of a bark). Ironcially, I learned the bark is a man-made attribute of the dog; they don't do it in the wild (as dogs are derived from wolves). Sure, wolves howl and whine, but they don't bark. The bark is a characteristic developed by man for dogs.
You'll learn this and so much more from THE DOG WHO COULDN'T STOP LOVING, like prisoners who are given a puppy to care for (the dog loves his inmate, no strings attached), guide/service dogs, and why we sleep with four-legged buds. No other species chooses another species to sleep with, so says Masson, with perhaps the exception of a cat.
THE DOG WHO COULDN'T STOP LOVING will warm your heart and give you a greater appreciation for Fido.
March 18, 2015
I was disappointed in this book. I read When Elephants Weep by Masson several years ago and really enjoyed it, but this book made too many emotional suppositions and blanket statements such as, "Dogs are the only animal that plays across species," that it is hard to take it seriously as having any sort of scientific validity.
I think part of the problem was Masson couldn't decide whether he wanted it to be a book about his family's dog, Benjy, or a study of the relationship between dogs and people throughout history.
I enjoyed reading about Benjy, and would like to have learned more about him. And I would like to have read more about the relationship between dogs and humans. However, he approached both from a purely emotional standpoint and made sweeping statements to show the uniqueness of dogs-- such as they are the only animals besides humans who smiles. (Clearly he's never been close to a cat!)
If you want to know what one man believes about the relationship between dogs and humans, then you will enjoy this book. However, if you want to read an objective study of the relationship between the two species, you'd be better off looking elsewhere.
I think part of the problem was Masson couldn't decide whether he wanted it to be a book about his family's dog, Benjy, or a study of the relationship between dogs and people throughout history.
I enjoyed reading about Benjy, and would like to have learned more about him. And I would like to have read more about the relationship between dogs and humans. However, he approached both from a purely emotional standpoint and made sweeping statements to show the uniqueness of dogs-- such as they are the only animals besides humans who smiles. (Clearly he's never been close to a cat!)
If you want to know what one man believes about the relationship between dogs and humans, then you will enjoy this book. However, if you want to read an objective study of the relationship between the two species, you'd be better off looking elsewhere.
December 23, 2010
If you have ever owned a dog then Masson’s argument in The Dog Who Couldn’t Stop Loving is obvious to you. If you have ever shared part of your life with a cuddly pet then you can easily see how he/she made you better. The unique element in Masson’s book is that he offers scientific evidence to back up this connection.
For at least the last 15,000 years (many believe longer) humans and dogs have lived together. In the beginning the dog was a wolf, and the relationship was rather tenuous. Nevertheless, humans 15,000 had a long way to go in an evolutionary standpoint. The main way that dogs added in this adventure: helping us develop affection and tolerance for a different species. Masson goes on expertly to explain that dogs and humans are unique in this capacity: no other species loves another one in quite this way (not even cats!).
Mixing scientific research with his own wonderful dog, Masson’s The Dog Who Couldn’t Stop Loving is the perfect gift for any dog lover.
For at least the last 15,000 years (many believe longer) humans and dogs have lived together. In the beginning the dog was a wolf, and the relationship was rather tenuous. Nevertheless, humans 15,000 had a long way to go in an evolutionary standpoint. The main way that dogs added in this adventure: helping us develop affection and tolerance for a different species. Masson goes on expertly to explain that dogs and humans are unique in this capacity: no other species loves another one in quite this way (not even cats!).
Mixing scientific research with his own wonderful dog, Masson’s The Dog Who Couldn’t Stop Loving is the perfect gift for any dog lover.
March 26, 2012
This book is a fun read, though I didn't find it as engaging or enlightening as some other books on this topic.
My problems:
Masson does a lot of rambling and repeats himself quite a bit.
For the most part, he uses his dog Benjy as an example for all other dogs' behaviors without much else to back up his claims. For instance, he states many times that all dogs love all other dogs and humans. I've had dogs all my life and can say from personal experience that this is absolutely not true.
On a positive note, Benjy's story will make almost anyone smile. And there are some interesting anecdotes sprinkled throughout about things like service dogs and the Australian dingoes.
My problems:
Masson does a lot of rambling and repeats himself quite a bit.
For the most part, he uses his dog Benjy as an example for all other dogs' behaviors without much else to back up his claims. For instance, he states many times that all dogs love all other dogs and humans. I've had dogs all my life and can say from personal experience that this is absolutely not true.
On a positive note, Benjy's story will make almost anyone smile. And there are some interesting anecdotes sprinkled throughout about things like service dogs and the Australian dingoes.
May 31, 2016
Having recently adopted my first dog, I've been doing a lot of dog-related reading. Some of it has been scientifically-themed and some has been training-themed and some has been touchy-feely. This book is just weird to me. It's a love tribute to dogs, masquerading as a scientific volume. There's really no science here, so the tone was completely wrong to me.
November 13, 2010
Great book about dogs and the bond between dogs and people. The idea that dogs and humans co-evolved and that is why the relationship is so strong along with personal anecdotes about the authors dog makes for a very readable book. But, he seemed to be repeating himself at times.
December 11, 2011
A fascinating look at the co-evolution of dogs and humans. Masson raises the possibility that humans wouldn't be quite so human had we not had dogs in our lives. You will never look at your dog the same way after reading this book.
May 1, 2012
A little repetitive but a great read for any dog lover with interesting scientific and cultural information on the human/dog relationship.
December 19, 2020
My love for dog began with Blackie, the family Cocker Spaniel, and continues through my life including the current love Dusty. Dr. Masson's nonfiction book understands this feeling of mine, and his thesis is that dogs give as much or more love than they receive. He used his dog Benjy for examples of this human-canine bond and he also included many other dogs and stories to prove his point. The author stated an interesting statistic from 2002. In the U.S. an average of four children die every day as a result of child abuse or neglect, compared with about twenty total dog-related fatalities a year! This leads him to conclude that it would be safer to leave a child with his dog than with his father!! That's something to think about...
May 4, 2021
More of a thesis than novel
It took me a while to get through this book but well worth it. He describes his dog and its deep ability to love. He also has researched a lot so is able to justify his impression that only dogs are able to love because of our unique coexistence for 40,000 years.
It took me a while to get through this book but well worth it. He describes his dog and its deep ability to love. He also has researched a lot so is able to justify his impression that only dogs are able to love because of our unique coexistence for 40,000 years.
June 10, 2019
A bit of a memoir of a very special dog; a LOT of science and such all too
My Full Review
My Full Review
October 17, 2017
I started liking this book but as I read more, what he was saying about cat, that the only real love is from a dog. I love dogs. Just got turn off with him saying about cats.
August 1, 2018
I love listening to it over and over again.
January 22, 2020
DNF pg 50
The generalisations and anecdotal evidence just annoyed me too much to continue. Masson has a scientific background so I just expected better than the usual pop psych.
The generalisations and anecdotal evidence just annoyed me too much to continue. Masson has a scientific background so I just expected better than the usual pop psych.
January 22, 2020
It was an interesting book about the evolution of man and his love of dogs. Sometimes a bit too scientific for my taste.
May 20, 2020
Short read, where the author postulates an interesting premise, which I will not share here. An interesting view on human-canine relationships.
September 13, 2021
The author balances evidence-based studies with emotional anecdotes quite interestingly for the first 100 pages or so. He continues to do so repetitively till the end. Spoiler - he loves that dog!
October 20, 2022
I have read most of this author’s books. This one was not his best. Content was obvious and repetitive.
March 16, 2017
Đây là câu chuyện cảm động nói về tình yêu thương giữa người và chó
October 30, 2016
As a dog lover, I was hoping to enjoy this book more. Unfortunately, it is much more about the author's theories of evolutionary biology than his dog that couldn't stop loving. Furthermore, the writing was very frustrating. I was taught by my 10th grade English teacher to avoid using universal quantifiers such as always, never, every, none, etc. because your reader can usually think of an exception and you will lose your credibility as a writer. Not only is this book absolutely filled with universal quantifiers, but Masson is constantly contradicting himself. "NO animals but dogs EVER do ____. Well, except for cats. Oh and horses. And sometimes sheep." The book is filled with circumstances like this. He also repeats himself frequently. So even though there are some heartwarming moments and some interesting ideas, generally speaking I don't think I would recommend this book simply because the writing is so frustrating.
July 29, 2012
Marred by Inconsistencies.
The title of this book holds such promise, if for no other reason than the author has used the word “Who” instead of “That” when referring to his dog. Overall, though, the book is a disappointment and full of inconsistencies.
Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson’s thesis in ‘The Dog Who Couldn’t Stop Loving’ is that dogs and humans evolved together, and that each species made the other what it is today. It sounds good in theory, but the reader will never know from the content of this book whether it’s true, as the theory is not backed up by any real science, but only by supposition and assumptions.
Masson’s theory relies heavily on (read the rest of the review HERE
The title of this book holds such promise, if for no other reason than the author has used the word “Who” instead of “That” when referring to his dog. Overall, though, the book is a disappointment and full of inconsistencies.
Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson’s thesis in ‘The Dog Who Couldn’t Stop Loving’ is that dogs and humans evolved together, and that each species made the other what it is today. It sounds good in theory, but the reader will never know from the content of this book whether it’s true, as the theory is not backed up by any real science, but only by supposition and assumptions.
Masson’s theory relies heavily on (read the rest of the review HERE
October 19, 2010
This book contained some sweet anecdotal evidence to support the author's thesis that dogs were in part responsible for the human capacity to love, and the stories he tells will make anyone who's ever had a dog in their life smile. What I missed was any truly scientific support beyond the anecdotal for his ideas. He does look at some compelling and fascinating scientific studies regarding the (self-)domestication of our canine anipals, but fails to bridge the methodological gap between these studies and his own theory. All in all a pleasant read, but frustrating if you expect this to give you a scientifically sound insight into the emotional link between our two species.
March 29, 2011
After reading Masson's "When Elephants Weep," and after reading this book, I will continue to read anything he writes. Love him. There were just a few - very few - parts that got too scientific for my liking, but overall I thought it informative and fascinating. He mostly tells about his dog Benjy, a support dog who was released from the program, and about dogs and their behavior in general. Interesting fact: Humans walk into a kitchen and can smell stew cooking; dogs walk in and can smell every single ingredient in the stew. Their sense of smell is astounding.
Can't wait to look up his other books. He's got quite a few.
Can't wait to look up his other books. He's got quite a few.
November 23, 2014
I'm actually sorry there isn't an option for no stars in this case. Rather than being an examination about the co-evolution of dogs and humans, this is a preachy, touchy-feely, tome that relies on the "well, everybody I know thinks like I do so I must be right" thought process that left me frustrated while reading. The last straw was that the author name dropped the atrocious "Merle's Door" as a wonderful work of art. I should have stopped reading right then. The only good part of this book was the works he briefly mentioned that actually examined the relationships between dogs and humans, so I was able to read something of worth.
Stay away from this book.
Stay away from this book.
October 23, 2010
Having two deliriously happy labradors in my family, who thoroughly enjoy their walks on the beach, and who love me as much as I love them, meant that I had no trouble relating to Jeffrey's book. I get it. And I enjoyed it as a (mostly) uplifting reminder of the wonder of our relationship with dogs.
In saying that, I would have preferred a bit more Desmond Morris-style science throughout the book to keep me interested, and particularly to justify Jeffrey's ideas when they refuted commonly held scientific theories.
In saying that, I would have preferred a bit more Desmond Morris-style science throughout the book to keep me interested, and particularly to justify Jeffrey's ideas when they refuted commonly held scientific theories.
September 19, 2016
This book contain some really interesting information but sadly it was really repetitive not only through out the book but sometimes in the same paragraph. It read like a high school or junior high term paper. Sixty five percent of it was the actual book. The other 35% was the biography and foot notes. While I did find it somewhat entertaining I often questioned myself that I had lost place because of the repetition.
July 24, 2012
This book is a wonderful heartwarming book for dog lovers. Also a very intelligent book by an authority in animal emotions. I was fascinated to learn that dogs and humans have had this love affair going for over 15,000 years. The only relationship, that can only be described as love, that exists between 2 species.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews