Dog Smart

Life-Changing Lessons in Canine Intelligence

By: Jennifer S. Holland

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

This cutting-edge science narrative, chock-full of heartwarming case studies, is one woman’s quest to learn the true meaning of dog intelligence.

This delightful narrative takes listeners on a powerful search to unlock the secrets of dog cognition, based on evidence from trainers, owners, behaviorists, and the animals themselves. With in-depth reporting and more than a few personal adventures, best-selling author Jennifer S. Holland digs into what intelligence really means.

Listeners will meet a pack of genius dogs, each of whom embodies a particular kind of smarts. Holland interviews Cat Warren, who trains cadaver dogs, to learn about "nose intelligence”. To unpack emotional intelligence, she examines an unlikely dog friendship; to unpack task learning ability, she seeks out an agility trainer. She interviews police-dog trainers (volunteering to be attacked by one in the name of science), service-dog trainers, and trainers who rehabilitate "bad" dogs. And she gets to know breeds that are considered especially intelligent—border collies, cattle dogs, and German shepherds—to discover whether they are truly "smarter" or just more in tune with humans.

In between field experiences, Holland spends time with dogs in a variety of settings—a rescue center, a dog park, a boarding facility—while pondering the lessons they teach us about ourselves. And she’ll pose entrancing philosophical questions: How do we define intelligence in another being? Where do "instinct" and "intelligence" meet and diverge?

Both surprising and heartwarming, this book is one woman’s quest to understand the world’s smartest dogs—and how they got that way.

©2024 Jennifer S. Holland. (P)2024 Audible, Inc.

The writers performance and pleasant voice

For dog lovers of all levels, this is a great resource for understanding our furry companions on their, elevated, level.

Amazing book!!!

So many aha moments and just learned so much about dogs, I did not even imagine ❤️

ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING

If you have a dog, then this is a MUST-LISTEN. I firmly believe that my cavalier is not the smartest dog on the block, but I'm rethinking my position since reading this. I shall be listening again, because I'm sure that I've missed a great deal. Wonderful, and even if you don't have a dog but just love animals, this is a fascinating way to spend a few hours.

Why can't I give it 6 stars?

Very thorough

I am glad I didn't look to see what else the author had written, I might have skipped this book if I had. Jennifer S. Holland does such a great job covering this subject. I have read a lot of books on dog training and dog psychology recently, and none of them have covered the topic so broadly. I will be listening to it again just to catch what I might have missed.

The latest science and charming stories

I adore this book so much. Love the writing but also fascinated with the information. Any dog lover or pet professional should be reading this to even try to stay up to date.