By Lori Theis
What are we reading? So many fantastic books are out there right now: Our Dogs Ourselves, by Alexandra Horowitz; Mamas Last Hug, by Frans de Waal, to name just a few. However, Dog Behavior: Modern Science and Our Canine Companions by James Ha and Tracy Campion is at the top of our list for the year. This book is a marvelous integration of science and dog training, and though science-driven it is a delightful read that provides an accessible and engaging introduction to animal behavior specific to the dog-human relationship.
Dog Behavior: Modern Science and Our Canine Companions provides readers with a better understanding of canine science, including evolutionary concepts, ethograms, brain structures and development, sensory perspectives, the science of emotions, social structure, and the natural history of the species. The book also analyzes relationships between humans and dogs and how the latter has evolved. Readers will find this to be an ideal resource for researchers and students in animal behavior, specifically focusing on dog behavior and human-canine relationships. In addition, veterinarians seeking further information on dog behavior and the social temperament of these companion animals will find this book to be informative.
Prologue
Introduction
Chapter 1: Dawn of the Dog: Evolutionary theory and the origin of modern dogs (Canis familiaris)
Chapter 2: Why Tails Wag: Umvelts, Innenvelts, and canine “guilt”
Chapter 3: Mapping the Mind: Brain Structure and Development
Chapter 4: What a Dog Knows: Analyzing Sensory Perception to Interpret Behavior
Chapter 5: The Emotional Animal: Using the Science of Emotions to Interpret Behavior
Chapter 6: Is it Worth the Risk: How Costs and Benefits Drive Decision-Making and the Evolution of Behavior
Chapter 7: You Can’t Always Get What You Want: The Costs and Benefits of Being Social
Chapter 8: How I Behave Depends Upon How You Behave…Maybe: Game Theory and Our Canine Companions
Chapter 9: Debunking Dominance: Canine Social Structure and Behavioral Ecology
Chapter 10: The Tale of our First Friends: The Natural History of Domesticated Dogs to Understand Their Behavior
Conclusion
What animal-related books are YOU reading? Drop us a line and let us know!
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