Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals [Paperback]

It's rare for a book's title to say so clearly what the book is about. In the case of Rupert Sheldrake's latest work, the controversial content is right on the front cover. Pet owners will see it and smile in recognition; sceptical scientists will shake their heads and mutter about "maverick scholars." We all know of cases of dogs (and cats) who know when their owners are coming home, who go to wait at the door or window 10 minutes or more before their human arrives. Conditioned by the tight rigour of contemporary scientific thinking, we either look for rational explanations or we file the phenomenon away in our minds as "unexplained" and are careful not to talk about it to our scientist friends. Sheldrake, famous for his theory of morphic resonance, has shown in the past that he is not afraid to be labelled a maverick. He accepts that the case histories he details so thoroughly in this book are anecdotal, but that makes them no less real; and as a scientist himself he sets up experimental conditions for studying this previously ignored phenomenon, which show beyond any doubt that the phenomenon exists. He castigates traditional scientists for their refusal to countenance anything that doesn't fit in with their existing paradigms (or prejudices) and challenges them to come up with some more "acceptable" explanation--but none is forthcoming.

The "telepathy" between pets and humans, or between flocks of birds or schools of fish that move as a single organism, can be explained by Sheldrake's theory of morphic fields. Sheldrake is less happy about anecdotes that suggest animal clairvoyance--warning of something in the near future--but refuses to disallow the possibility.

This fascinating book is a first attempt at a scientific investigation into a puzzling but quite common occurance. One hopes that other scientists will follow Sheldrake's brave lead. -- David V. Barrett --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

"Delightful . . . this book will turn our understanding of animals inside out."
-- Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, author of When Elephants Weep

"Wonderful . . . splendid and thought-provoking."
-- Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Hidden Life of Dogs

'...a first attempt at a scientific investigation into a puzzling but quite common occurrence.'

A delightful and accessible exploration of animal behavior, from one of the world's most innovative scientists.

Many people who have ever owned a pet will swear that their dog or cat or other animal has exhibited some kind of behavior they just can't explain. How does a dog know when its owner is returning home at an unexpected time?

Filled with captivating stories and thought-provoking analysis, Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home is a groundbreaking exploration of animal behavior that will profoundly change the way we think about animals, and ourselves. After five years of extensive research involving thousands of people who own and work with animals, Rupert Sheldrake conclusively proves what many pet owners already know - that there is a strong connection between humans and animals that lies beyond present-day scientific understanding.

This book has only one edition and was first published in 1999 with subsequent reprints.

How does a dog know when its owner is returning home at an unexpected time? How do cats know when it is time to go to the vet, even before the cat carrier comes out? And how can some pets predict that their owners are about to have an epileptic fit? Many pet owners will swear that their dog, cat or other animal has shown some kind of behaviour that they just can't explain.

Filled with charming stories and thought-provoking investigation, Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home is a groundbreaking exploration of animal behaviour that will change the way we think about animals, and ourselves. After years of extensive research, Rupert Sheldrake, one of the world's most innovative scientists, conclusively proves that there is a strong connection between humans and animals that lies beyond everyday scientific understanding.

Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home provides fascinating insight into animal and human behaviour and deserves a place next to the most beloved and valuable books on animals.

Dr Rupert Sheldrake is a biologist and author of more than 80 scientific papers and ten books. A former Research Fellow of the Royal Society, he studied natural sciences at Cambridge University.

He has appeared in many TV programs in Britain and overseas, and has taken part in BBC and other radio programmes. He has written for newspapers such as the Guardian, where he had a regular monthly column, The Times, Sunday Telegraph, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail and Sunday Times, and has contributed to a variety of magazines, including New Scientist, Resurgence, the Ecologist and the Spectator. He lives in London with his wife and two sons.