Inside of a Dog

What Dogs See, Smell, and Know

De: Alexandra Horowitz

Narrado por: Karen White

NOW FULLY REVISED AND UPDATED! The beloved #1 New York Times bestseller that “causes one’s dog-loving heart to flutter with astonishment and gratitude” (The New York Times Book Review).

The instant classic on the mind of the dog is now updated to include the latest results in the booming field of dog cognition. What do dogs know? How do they think? The answers will surprise and delight you as cognitive scientist Alexandra Horowitz explains how dogs perceive their daily worlds, each other, and that other quirky animal, the human. Inside of a Dog is a fresh look at the world of dogs—from the dog’s point of view.

In clear, crisp prose, Horowitz introduces the reader to dogs’ perceptual and cognitive abilities and then draws a picture of what it might be like to be a dog. What’s it like to be able to smell not just every bit of open food in the house but also to smell human emotions and even the passage of time? What is it like to have such good hearing that they notice the bodily vibrations of insects and the hum of a fluorescent light? Horowitz’s engaging narrative allows us to replace our urge to anthropomorphize dogs with a true understanding of the canine experience. What’s it like to use your mouth as a hand? How does a tiny dog manage to play successfully with a Great Dane? Why must a person on a bicycle be chased?

This fully revised and updated edition also reflects the latest findings on canine perception, dogs’ understanding of our emotions and of our language, and the evolving story of domestication. Some discoveries are not only informative but curiously amusing, such as dogs’ asymmetrical nostril use and their alignment with the earth’s magnetic field when pooing.

Much more than a scientific exploration; Inside of a Dog is a love letter to dogs, filled with personal observations and practical advice for people who live with dogs. With a light touch and the weight of scientific authority behind her, Horowitz offers an unparalleled exploration into the minds of our beloved four-legged companions.

Thought provoking, beautiful language

Love the scientific angle author uses to support the points she makes but also the evocative and loving description of her own dog. Really enjoyed this audiobook. Definitely changes the way one will look at a dog going forward!

Very educational

Being a dog owner for many years this book has showed me all the mistakes I have been making with my past and current companions. I would recommend this book to all dog owners novice or experienced.

I definitely enjoyed this book.

This book was definitely educational and I learn things I didn't know about. I really enjoyed listening to this every single time I got up and out of the shower. I even listen to it while with my dogs. I enjoyed every part of this book. Some parts even made me tear up but that's because I'm a very sensitive person to anything about dogs. I think this is a great book for anyone wanting to learn about dogs more. I highly recommend this book I really enjoyed it.

the story was informing

the story caused an emotional response in me and I am grateful for listening to this book.

A Dog's Behavior Explained

I loved everything! A must read if you love dogs and want to understand your pup.

Great info for the average dog owner

As a trainer/behaviorist myself, I love learning from other professionals and look forward to their lessons. This book is a great wealth of information that pet owners and their dogs would find greatly helpful.

I have two observations. I don’t know Ms. Horowitz or her history with dogs aside from what she mentioned in this book. But it seems to me that a lot of her studies were of dogs at the dog park. I believe that if she studied street dogs/packs, she may have different views on a couple of topics. My other observation and disappointment is in one of her last chapters called “Get a Mutt”. While her love for rescues is obvious and dear, her opinions about mutts vs purebreds are very askew and unfortunately biased. There is no study that proves that mutts are “healthier” or “less manic” than purebreds. Dogs being bred by reputable, ethical breeders, are predictable in behavior and quite healthy being that good breeders do in depth health testing on their breeding stock. I see mixed breeds on a daily basis who aren’t getting what they need to live a fulfilled life because the owners aren’t catering to the breeds that make up that specific dog. I have owner both rescues and purebreds and there are pros and cons to both. But both need to be done responsibly. So, unfortunately she is pushing HER biased opinion in regards to rescuing - which is unfortunate considering the rest of her book is pretty science based.

It is a great book regardless and a must read for any pet owner.

Sounded too robotic

I bought this audible book based on my research and the reviews. I was so disappointed. I thought there would be a nice story and introduction of understanding our dogs. Instead, the voice over sounded like a robot, it felt as if she jumped right into the book and I must have missed a chapter, because of the way she talked and delivered the text. It was as if she was talking "at" us and not "with/to" us.

I grew bored

This is very thorough, well researched book. If you have an insatiable tolerance for material on dogs, you'll love it. The narration is fine. Alas, my problem with this book was me--it was simply way more information on dogs than I had an interest in.

Must

Every person who has a dog should have this book.
It’s full of essential information and even though a bit outdated, still very relevant.

Accessible Ethology

Have you ever wondered what’s going on inside your dog’s mind or why they do a certain thing? This book is for you. A wonderful, accessible ethnological and behavioral observations of dogs written for the everyday dog owner.