How Dogs Love Us

A Neuroscientist and His Adopted Dog Decode the Canine Brain

By: Gregory Berns

Narrated by: LJ Ganser

Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

The powerful bond between humans and dogs is one that’s uniquely cherished. Loyal, obedient, and affectionate, they are truly “man’s best friend.” But do dogs love us the way we love them? Emory University neuroscientist Gregory Berns had spent decades using MRI imaging technology to study how the human brain works, but a different question still nagged at him: What is my dog thinking?

After his family adopted Callie, a shy, skinny terrier mix, Berns decided that there was only one way to answer that question - use an MRI machine to scan the dog’s brain. His colleagues dismissed the idea. Everyone knew that dogs needed to be restrained or sedated for MRI scans. But if the military could train dogs to operate calmly in some of the most challenging environments, surely there must be a way to train dogs to sit in an MRI scanner.

With this radical conviction, Berns and his dog would embark on a remarkable journey and be the first to glimpse the inner workings of the canine brain. Painstakingly, the two worked together to overcome the many technical, legal, and behavioral hurdles. Berns’s research offers surprising results on how dogs empathize with human emotions, how they love us, and why dogs and humans share one of the most remarkable friendships in the animal kingdom.

How Dogs Love Us answers the age-old question of dog lovers everywhere and offers profound new evidence that dogs should be treated as we would treat our best human friends: with love, respect, and appreciation for their social and emotional intelligence.

An Audible for Dogs Pick: Make your dog's day. Cesar Millan shares how audiobooks can make dogs happier and calmer. Learn more.

©2013 2013 by (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“This book’s abundant appeal and value come from following Berns through the challenges of constructing the experiment and especially of training his dog to participate. ‘Like a catcher and pitcher,’ he writes, he and his dog ‘became a team.’ The satisfaction of that relationship perhaps explains why our two species have lived together so long and happily.” ( The Boston Globe)

"A neuroscientist wonders what goes on in the minds of our pet dogs: Do we delude ourselves when we believe that they love us? [ How Dogs Love Us is] a solid introduction to an appealing new area of research." ( Kirkus)

"The book is as much a scientific exploration of how the canine brain might function as it is a deeply personal story about Berns's relationship with dogs as pets and colleagues. Ultimately that connection is what makes the book compelling." ( Scientific American MIND)

A must for all animal lovers

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Take it everywhere. Well narrated

What did you like best about this story?

Characters

Which scene was your favorite?

Hot dog rewards

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

I am very glad I found this book and audio version. I have lost meany loved pets and gives hope that perhaps we may be with them again

Loved it!

Great book. Interesting science that affirms that dogs connect with us socially. A very relaxing alternative to reading.

This is a memoir, not a science book

Not what I wanted. I thought I was going to learn about the neuroscience of dogs' brains but I'm on chapter 8 and we're still talking about the ethics and setup of the of project. This is a story, not a book about the science of dogs' brains.

Very very interesting

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It gave me a new perspective on dogs and how dogs think. I am a dog lover so it was particularly interesting to me. I think everyone who owns a dog or loves dogs should read or listen to this book. The performance was wonderful and the man's voice was pleasant to listen to.
I highly recommend this book

Good Read for both scientist and non-scientist!

This book exceeded my expectations. No dry scientific writer here! Excellent narration. Plenty of learning woven into a great story.

I guess my dog does love me.

I really appreciated the effort that the author put into the research and to bring this put together. Originally, I thought that the conclusion would be something less emotional. but, in the end it is giving me some new insight into my relationship with my own dog. I'm not generally a dog person. I have one because my family wanted one. However, I feed the dog the most and walk at the most so, we have some kind of relationship. And she comes to me more because of that. So I'm guessing that it might not just be survival but may also be loved. I'll ask her later.

Good story

I enjoyed this book although it isn't about how dogs love us. That was the biggest disappointment. There was lots of interesting information but the conclusion was weak

Sweet story about a man & his dog

Any additional comments?

I loved the scientific approach and evidence they found in 'the dog project'. Great book for dog lovers!

Will never see dogs the same again!!!

Where does How Dogs Love Us rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The very best! Number one!

Who was your favorite character and why?

This was not the kind of story with characterization. The author spoke mostly of his family, students and colleagues, himself and of course the characters of the dogs he owned and with those he worked. Since I am a dog person as they all were they all sounded like people I would like.

Which character – as performed by LJ Ganser – was your favorite?

Mr Ganser did a fine job narrating in first person. I felt like it was the author himself telling the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but was unable to do so.

Any additional comments?

An absolutely awesome book!
If you love dogs, own a dog, know someone who owns or loves dogs, just wonder about a dog's thought process, or if you wonder why anyone would want to do an fMRI on a dog I think you will enjoy this book.

Disappointed

I was hoping for a feel good story instead I got scientific research. Needless to say I was very disappointed.