hello dog lover.
This seems to be all you hear this time of year, as holiday vendors try to equip you, and your fellow dog lovers, with the *perfect* holiday gift?
You are reading: Best books on dog behavior
Well, I’m here to do the same thing, which is to provide you and any dog lover on your list with dog science books that would make any dog jump for joy. heck, a dog might even snuggle up next to you while you’re reading one of these titles.
Since there’s no one way to be a dog lover, I’ve created sections with different types of books: There’s the heavyweight academics (books for anyone who wants a textbook title on all things dogs) and crowd-pleasers (for those who want an easy-to-read adventure in the growing field of dog behavior and cognition). Since living with a dog isn’t always easy, another set of books is for those who want their dog to stop doing, well, whatever. the list ends with a miscellaneous section characterized by its beauty, variety and usefulness. choose yours and enjoy!
academic heavy fish
These academically minded texts are for those who want to get as close to primary research as possible.
the encyclopedia of applied animal behavior and welfare daniel mills, editor-in-chief @abcwelfare weighing in at 6.5 pounds, this is the heaviest of all batters. he is also one of my favorite resources when I want to search for anything in the field of applied animal behavior, from “agonism” to “istwert”. well-written passages summarize complex concepts. enjoy!
Animal Behavior for Veterinarians and Shelter Staff, ASPCA Emily Weiss, Heather Mohan-Gibbons, and Stephen Zawistowski, eds. @aspca @aspcapro Published earlier this year, this book explores the behavioral side of animal sheltering and rescue. is a great resource for anyone in the field, whether they are a volunteer or a professional. Alexandra Horowitz and I wrote the first chapter, Introduction to Dog Behavior, and the ASPCA made our chapter freely available! click here to access the pdf.
canine behavior, evolution and cognition Ádám miklósi @famdogproject have you ever seen a textbook about dogs? now you have Welcome to the second edition of Miklósi’s text that introduces readers to the hows and whys of studying canine behavior, cognition, and the dog-human relationship. filled to the brim with primary research.
The Social Dog: Behavior and Cognition Juliane Kaminski and Sarah Marshall-Pescini, eds. “This edited volume includes chapters from leading researchers in the fields of social cognition and behavior, vocalization, evolution, and more, focusing on topics including dog-dog and dog-human interaction, bonding with humans, the social behavior and learning, and more.As the number of published studies increases, this book aims to provide the reader with an overview of the state of the art in canine research, with an emphasis on social behavior and sociocognitive skills” .
cognition and behavior of domestic dogs: the scientific study of canis familiaris alexandra horowitz, ed. @dogumwelt “this book highlights the state of the field in the provocative new line of research on domestic dog cognition and behavior. eleven chapters by leading researchers describe innovative methods from comparative psychology, ethology, and behavioral biology, which combine to create a more complete picture of canis familiaris behavior than ever before.this volume reflects a modern shift in science towards considering and studying domestic dogs for their own sake, not just as they are reflected in human beings.”
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companion animal ethics peter sandøe, sandra corr, clare palmer what happens when we open our homes to other species? sandøe and her colleagues explore the ethical questions and challenges that arise as a result of humans keeping animals as companions. Topics include obesity, behavioral problems, selective breeding, overtreatment, abandonment, euthanasia, environmental impacts, castration, and more.
I love dogs!
There is a lot of unpleasant information about dogs. I said it there. while these aren’t the only books highlighting the growing field of what we know (and don’t know) about dogs, they’re at the top of my list. and slipped one on cats.
The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do with Dogs Patricia McConnell knows the book that led me into the field of applied ethology, for which I will be eternally grateful. “Although humans and dogs share a remarkable relationship that is unique in the animal world, we remain two entirely different species, each shaped by our individual evolutionary heritage. Since each of us speaks a different native language, a lot gets lost in translation.” this book will help you get less lost in translation.
Inside a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Taste alexandra horowitz @dogumwelt “this book is as close as you can get to knowing about dogs without being a dog yourself” . The acclaimed book invites readers into the sensory and cognitive world of the dog. a book that deeply affects its readers, myself included.
Dog sense: How the new science of canine behavior can make you a better friend to your pet john bradshaw @petsandus It’s easy to say that dogs are man’s best friend, but being at the height is the hard part anthropozoologist john bradshaw helps us get there.
feline sense: how new feline science can make you a better friend to your pet john bradshaw @petsandus i like dog sense, but with cats! Bradshaw has pioneered research on cat behavior and cognition and produced a must-read for cat lovers. no, your cat doesn’t want to kill you.
I want my dog to stop doing…
Despite all the talk about love and friendship, dogs and humans are not always on the same page. Understanding where dogs come from is the first step in curbing unwanted behavior, and these books can help you do just that. And you’ll find many of the same techniques used to train dogs to drive cars!
Deciphering Your Dog: Explaining Common Dog Behaviors and How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones debra horwitz, ed., and collaborators john ciribassi, steve dale, and the american college of veterinary behaviorists @debrahdvm behavior is the number one reason dogs are released to shelters, and guess what? very often we can decrease unwanted behavior! In this book, board-certified specialists from the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists combine cutting-edge science with accessible, real-life examples to help dogs and owners get on the same page.
12 Terrible Dog Training Mistakes Owners Make That Ruin Their Dog’s Behavior…And How To Avoid Them suzanne hetts @suzannehetts “learn how to avoid the harmful mistakes that make your dog’s behavior worse dog and keep you and your family upset and frustrated. a great book by hetts, a respected leader in the field of applied animal behavior.
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Beware the Straw Man: The Dog of Science explores the facts of dog training & fiction cute case @sciencedogblog welcome to the skeptical look at common beliefs about dog behavior and training. Across 32 essays, the case reviews new studies on dog behavior, cognition, and training and provides a thought-provoking analysis of the findings.
more
find beauty, mystery and utility below.
dear dog maira kalman @mairakalman A beautiful and moving read, Kalman shares her personal story from a young dog-phobic to an unbridled appreciator. She takes a look at the trailer for the book where Kalman connects with her characters: My favorite part starts at 1:26, where the little black dog seems to yell, “Hands! your hands must have food on them!”
the dogs of littlefield suzanne berne not about dogs, but a mystery starring dogs. I was sent an advanced copy and even though I’m just getting started, I’m enjoying how orange award winner Berne captures the many faces of dog lovers. the book takes place in a seemingly haunted town now overrun with mysterious dog poisonings. that’s where the twist is. I’m hooked.
and there’s more! Wondering how to decide what to feed your dog? new dog at home? Do you want to know how chaser, the border collie, came to learn more than 1000 words? How do dogs detect different smells, from cancer to dead bodies? look at the following reviews that I have posted here and in do you believe in the dog? a pen-pal style canine science blog with my colleague, mia cobb :
Would Your Dog Make a Good Body Detection Dog? A Review of What Dog Knows: Smell, Science, and the Amazing Ways Dogs Perceive the World by cat warren @cat_warren
how to teach language to dogs. a review of chaser: unlocking the genius of the dog who knows more than a thousand words by john pilley and hilary hindzmann @chaserthebc
what should you feed your dog? learn dog food logic: make smart choices for your dog in an age of too many choices by linda case @sciencedogblog
books for before & after having a puppy/dog. a list of highly regarded books. @doubelieveindog
books with dog ears. most respected canine science books. @doubelieveindog
image: thegiantvermin, flickr creative commons license.
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