Our Dogs, Ourselves

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In this book Alexandra Horowitz examines what's called the 'dog-human bond': examining all aspects of the complexity of thisunique interspecies pairing. From her position as a dog scientist, she uses the science of dogs and dog-human interaction toground a consideration of the various ways that dogs, as a species, reflect us, and how they reflect (sometimes badly, sometimeswell) on us. And she goes beyond the cognitive science to consider the culture, laws, and human dynamics that reveal andrestrict this bond between two disparate species.

Horowitz shows that when each person makes the decision to breed, own, or adopt a dog, we enter into a relationship that willchange us. It changes the course of our days: dogs need to be walked, fed, attended to. It can change the course of our lives:dogs weave their way into our lives with their constant silent presence by our sides.There are still many (often non-'scientific') questions that remain unanswered about dogs: about their minds, yes, but especiallyabout living with dogs in our society, and how we can best treat them now and in the future.This books addresses those questions. It is intended for the curious dog owner and science-lover alike, who wants to read good,intelligent thinking on dogs, not overly sentimental but not without heart.

Author Bio

Alexandra Horowitz is the author of the #1New York TimesbestsellerInside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know;Being a Dog: Following the Dog into a World of Smell; Our Dogs, Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond; and The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves. She teaches at Barnard College, where she runs the Dog Cognition Lab. She liveswith her family ofHomo sapiens,Canis familiaris, andFelis catusin New York City.