The book is written by Stanley Coren, Ph.D. Dr. Coren is a psychologist and a member of the faculty at the University of British Columbia. He is a highly renowned and well-known expert in the field of dog psychology and dog-human interactions.
At first, I was a little apprehensive that the book might be similar to the drivel that appears on that Dog Whisperer show. However, I was pleasantly surprised. It is a smart, informative, and interesting read. Maybe this is because I am not only a dog owner and lover but also a psychologist. But I truly believe that anyone who reads this book will be impressed with the remarkable sensory and perceptual abilities of dogs and the One who created them and everything else.
The book dedicates a significant amount of time to discussing the sensory systems and abilities of dogs. Each of the five senses is explored in a separate chapter, all supported by solid empirical research and enhanced with interesting anecdotes. For instance, did you know that young dogs possess a heat-sensing ability in their noses, which unfortunately fades as they grow older? This is how they are able to locate their warm mother when they are blind and deaf newborns.
The book also extensively discusses the evolution of dogs, with a particular focus on the ways in which humans have directed that evolution to serve our own purposes. The incredible smelling abilities of hounds, the rescue skills of St. Bernard's, the hunting prowess of dachshunds, and the herding talents of the herd dogs are all explained in evolutionary and genetic terms. And it's all presented in an understandable way for those who are not evolutionary psychologists or biologists.
If you're an animal enthusiast or an armchair psychologist, I highly recommend this book. At the very least, it will fill your mind with a wealth of facts that might come in handy the next time you play Trivial Pursuit!