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In Defence of Dogs: Why Dogs Need Our Understanding [Hardcover]

John Bradshaw
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)

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Book Description

11 July 2011

A dog is not for Christmas. This is.

John Bradshaw, one of the world's leading dog experts, brings us a compelling insight into what dogs would ask us for, if only they knew how.

The dog has been mankind's faithful companion for tens of thousands of years, yet today finds itself in crisis throughout the western world. Until just over a hundred years ago, most dogs worked for their living, and each of the many breeds had become well suited, over countless generations, to the task for which they were bred. Now, in their purely domestic roles we fail to understand their needs. And it is time that someone stood up for dogdom: not the caricature of the wolf in a dog suit, ready to dominate its unsuspecting owner at the first sign of weakness, not the trophy animal that collects rosettes and kudos for its breeder, but the real dog, the pet that just wants to be one of the family and enjoy life.

Biologists now know far more about what really makes dogs tick than they did twenty years ago, but this new understanding has been slow to percolate through to owners, and has not yet made enough of a difference to the lives of the dogs themselves. This book is here to set the record straight.



Product details

  • Hardcover: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Allen Lane (11 July 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1846142954
  • ISBN-13: 978-1846142956
  • Product Dimensions: 16.2 x 3.2 x 24 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 83,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

The most fantastic book ... required reading for dog lovers everywhere ... his style is tolerant, clear and benign and he is interested only in what science can support. His book is a revelation - a major rethink about the way we understand our dogs ... he makes one feel fantastically upbeat about being a dog owner ... there is no doubt about it - Professor John Bradshaw is a dog's best friend (Kate Kellaway Observer )

Every dog lover, dog owner or prospective dog buyer should read this book. It will change how you feel about dogs and, likely enough, how you treat them, too...Sparkles with explanations of canine behaviour (James McConnachie Sunday Times )

Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the complicated psychology behind the growl, the rising hackles and the wagging tail (Roy Hattersley Daily Telegraph )

Scholarly yet passionate ... nothing less than a manifesto for a new understanding of our canine friends ... fascinating (Chris Cox Guardian )

[A] wonderful, reassuring, and encouraging book ... distinguishes canine science from canine folklore (Jonathan Mirsky Literary Review )

Authoritative, wise and, in its sharp appreciation of the cost of dogs of living with us, rather moving (Robert Hanks Independent )

A lovely and clear-headed book on all things dog-emotion, mind, and breed. John Bradshaw's authority and experience are matched by the thoughtfulness and humanity of his writing. Read this before you bring a dog into your life. (Alexandra Horowitz author of 'Inside of a Dog' )

An alternative to conventional, dominance-based approaches to understanding dogs (Cesar Millan's methods, for example) in an informative...guide to how canine biology and psychology determine behavior.... Bradshaw's book is useful to those looking to further their understanding of dog behavior and clarify common misconceptions (Publisher's Weekly )

A well-grounded overview of the Canis family's evolutionary journey...this is what makes the book so appealing. He does more than simply lay out interesting theories; he uses science to advocate for a better life for companion dogs. (The Bark )

About the Author

John Bradshaw is a biologist who founded and directs the world-renowned Anthrozoology Institute, based at the University of Bristol. He has been studying the behaviour of domestic dogs and their owners for over 25 years, and is the author of many scientific articles, research papers and reviews, which have not only shed new light on the dog's abilities and needs, but have also changed the way that dogs are understood and cared for all over the world.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoy life with dogs 12 Aug 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This intelligently written book presents an evidence-based case for enjoyable and humane relationships between people and dogs. It counteracts wide-spread beliefs about wolf packs, dominance and hierarchy in relation to domestic dogs. Highly recommended if you enjoy critical argument, and very useful for all dog-owners.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Perseverance required 31 Oct 2011
By Kathryn
Format:Hardcover
An excellent, academic book based on a scientific approach to animal behaviour that should raise serious questions for everyone involved with dogs. The author argues that using wolves as a starting point for dog behaviour is flawed; by tracing the evolution of dogs across the world, and highlighting the limitations observations of 'man-made' wolf packs in captivity who live an artificial, stress-laden and unstable lives. The author asks us to accept that dogs have left wolfness behind, evolving alongside us, developing a range of characteristics that make them a great choice of companion animal and that far from seeking to dominate us, they only want to live a happy life with understanding human companions.

The book has provoked strong reactions because it claims that the fashionable 'dominance' model is useless, based on bad science, and applying this kind of approach leads to dogs becoming withdrawn and depressed. It cites scientific studies that suggest dogs are emotional creatures, capable of strong attachment (but not guilt) and great happiness (both giving and receiving). They are not the social climbers out to be pack leader that contemporary dog trainers would have you believe, rather they are co-operative, sociable creatures who prefer human company over their own kind, making them remarkable in the animal world.

The first part, where the author hammers home his evidence that dogs are not wolves, is interminable and repetitive. Once you've made it past that part, the book is more rewarding and full of great suggestions as well as insights. Highly recommended.
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Those fo us who are working in positive reward based training are constantly battling against the Cesar Milan brigade who believe we need to treat our dogs as if they were wolves trying to dominate everyone and everything in our lives. This book presents a clear rationale for why this is utter nonsense. Not only are dogs not wolves but the research on wolves is seriously flawed meaning that the basis of the 'dominance' training model is also totally flawed. It gives good analogies to human behaviour which helps understand why punitive methods create dogs who do behave, but they are only behaving because they are scared to put a paw wrong for fear of pain and fear. I do not want to force a dog to live in constant fear and anxiety, that is why I am a reward based trainer, which is fully supported in this book. The book helps me to explain to others why they should use positve reinforcement and not punishment on their dogs.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars drier than a doggy biscuit
The title is a bit of a misnomer, as the author refers to a load of egg-headery ( which, lets face it, is immediately suspect in these times ) to challenge a lot of the popularly... Read more
Published 23 days ago by Jimbo 1962
4.0 out of 5 stars Not just for dog owners
Just out of curiosity, I picked this up in my local library intending to have a short look through it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by GeordieReader
1.0 out of 5 stars Not 'academic' just boring!
I've got as far as Chapter three, and I feel I should award myself a coconut. (I've just been reading P G Wodehouse, so the pain is all the greater! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stephen
3.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating but, at times, a little too academic
One of the most widely held views of dog training is based on two scientific observations. Firstly, that dogs share 99. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jack Croxall (author of Tethers)
1.0 out of 5 stars Poor
A book claiming to be a scientific study that frequently make seemingly extravagant claims based on flimsy archaeological evidence. Read more
Published 1 month ago by John Anthony
4.0 out of 5 stars 4* for the message, 3* for the writing
First off; I'm glad I've read this book. I took away a lot of information about how what science has learnt about dogs, and I particularly liked the stuff about their senses, and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by BrynG
5.0 out of 5 stars book
brillient book, very clear and easy to understand. Very helpful to my course. I am using it alot and hope to pass later this year
Published 2 months ago by JelousyAngel
5.0 out of 5 stars A must for anyone who trains, owns, likes or is thinking of getting...
I have been around dogs all my life and this book has changed my thinking on how dog's should be treated, trained and regarded in a modern society. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jon Harper
5.0 out of 5 stars one to read!
If you want to think about your pet dog in a new way, based on up=to=date research - this is the book to give you better insight!
Published 3 months ago by Frances Brock
3.0 out of 5 stars Glad I read these reviews after I had started the book...
I must admit that I haven't finished the book yet. I fact I'm only a third of the way in, and hating it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by NickR
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