The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog

And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook -- What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing

By: Bruce D. Perry, Maia Szalavitz

Narrated by: Chris Kipiniak

Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

A renowned psychiatrist reveals how trauma affects children - and outlines the path to recovery.

"Fascinating and upbeat.... Dr. Perry is both a world-class creative scientist and a compassionate therapist." (Mary Pipher, PhD, author of Reviving Ophelia)

How does trauma affect a child's mind - and how can that mind recover? In the classic The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, Dr. Perry explains what happens to the brains of children exposed to extreme stress and shares their lessons of courage, humanity, and hope. Only when we understand the science of the mind and the power of love and nurturing can we hope to heal the spirit of even the most wounded child.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. 

©2006, 2017 Bruce Perry and Maia Szalavitz (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

"Filled with compassionate, caring stories by a wise healer and scientist, this book will appeal to all who are interested in understanding how children heal." (Lynn Ponton, MD, author of The Romance of Risk)

"In this harrowing but profoundly humane book, Perry and Szalavitz provide an all too timely, utterly engrossing account of traumatized children's lives.... Once I opened it, I could not put it down." (Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, author of Mother Nature: Maternal Instincts and How They Shape the Human Species)

"In beautifully written, fascinating accounts of experience working with emotionally stunted and traumatized children, child psychiatrist Perry educates readers about how early-life stress and violence affects the developing brain. He offers simple yet vivid illustrations of the stress response and the brain's mechanisms with facts and images that crystallize in the mind without being too detailed and confusing." (Publishers Weekly)

Nice to see some good come to those abused/neglect

I enjoyed this book as a graduate student in clinical mental health. I like to use the same approach and it's nice to see that others do too and found good results. It also reminded me that with trauma victims it's best to allow them a choice in their recovery.
I do warn those with past abuse that this book contains some triggers and to be cognizant of them when reading this book as it contains some details on sexual abuse/assault and neglect. The descriptions are necessary in order to understand the treatment process.

Helped me with my most difficult students.

This book IS the answer to what the students with the hardest behaviors need. This and Help for Billy

Every school counselor should read

This book was amazing. As a school counselor, we are seeing more and more children come into the school system with trauma and we are trying to teach them the academics required in schools but can't move past the behaviors they are displaying. Teachers are not equipped to help them with the trauma and are only being pushed by the administration to have these students show progress in their testing scores. I know that our school system will be looking into trauma-informed training, and I for one can not wait for that day. I am going to approach the administration to look at the NME and hope they consider this approach to help us help our students.

Required reading for ALL in Family Services & Child Education

Dr. Perry’s model for understanding and healing trauma in children NEEDS to be implemented world wide! As a parent of children that were adopted through the Foster Care System. This book has been eye opening on so many levels! It’s has explained so much about their trauma. As well as the whys and reasons they behave and react they way they do. Needless to say I was parenting them like they were non-traumatized children, which made some things worse. Just as Dr. Perry said! I have stopped immediately and have seen a big change in their behavior. I have been recommending this book to any and all therapist I know. Thank you Dr. Perry!

A good introduction to trauma theory

I found this book a bit painful to read, and I wondered at the necessity of sharing so intensely the stories of child abuse. It felt a tad voyeuristic. I feel like we can understand trauma theory without needing to delve into children's private pasts. While their identities are HIPPA compliant and not disclosed, it still just doesn't feel respectful how much explicit detail the author goes into. It also feels like Dr. Perry doesn't acknowledge the work clients do in their own healing and takes a lot of credit for their progress/feels a bit like white saviorism. We never hear the stories of when Dr. Perry makes mistakes with his clients; just the stories where he is the only one in the room who can help the child. I'd also like to see it be more strengths-based; it felt focused on deficits and adversity each child has survived.

excellent and informative

I am a psychotherapist working with children in the foster system and found this book to be very helpful in my work. I have also worked with adults and find that much of this can be applied to work with them, as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone working with children or adolescents in any capacity, either providing therapy, medical services, teaching, tutoring, or any other role. I also highly recommend this book for all psychotherapists regardless of the population you work with.

Fantastic resource

This should be required reading for anyone who works with children, especially those from hard places such as foster parents, CPS workers and teachers.

follow up

Great study, lots of insight and a good resource. I will be sharing as well .
persuing training.

Essential information for parents and providers

I work in a hospital. I see plenty of hardship and trauma every day. I have to guard my mind in my reading. COVID-19 has made the stress even greater. So, I approached this book with caution. Kids and trauma can be triggers for a hard day. For that matter, adults and trauma, too. In any case, the authors of the book showed considerable restraint in choosing their content making it possible, though still hard, to read this material.
I regard this book as being essential reading for parents and care providers. In fact, when I say care providers, I mean adult care providers, too. This book argues that there are critical experiences that children need to have to develop well. When children experience trauma, it can alter their development in ways that severely alter their future life experience including health, relationships, psychological well-being, encounters with the justice system, and even careers. Of course, those familiar with the ACEs study (Adverse Childhood Experiences) are already aware of this.
Perry and his associates have developed a neurosequential model that helps victims of childhood abuse. It helps them find and rebuild gaps in their development. It is a complex process taking into account a wide range of experiences. At least, this is my understanding, having read the book.
What is really important about this book is that it is not only a manual, it is a series of well-told - indeed many beautiful - stories of abused or neglected children whom the author and his team have treated. Perry and his associates grew a science-based approach to help them rebuild the core elements of their lives. Momma P and other characters will stop you in your tracks. What is it that Momma P has? The ability to relate with respect, compassion, and physical and emotional gentleness. Make no mistake: this book is not just academic content: it is also important and illustrative stories, each one revealing something important about his message of relationships and healing.
On a final note, this book is also an appeal to change how our systems - of justice, education, assistance, and parenting - enable childhood abuse, mistreatment, and neglect. By way of example, Perry and his team cared for children released in the first phase of the Branch Davidian siege in Waco. Based on the apocalyptic warnings of the released children, Perry warned the FBI, ATF, and the Texas Rangers that any raid would end badly. His warnings were ignored. It ended badly. This is true of so much of his wisdom: society ignores the science, then calls for help when there's a mess.
We can and should do better. Many of the principles he suggests can be used elsewhere, too. Building relationships of trust, respect, and gentleness - among other qualities - can alter so many of the difficult behaviors we observe in health care and elsewhere.

Excellent resource

From the first paragraph this book had me hooked and I couldn't put it down. The way the authors integrated story telling alongside clinical assessment and research is very well done. A must read for anyone interested in Trauma informed care.

Amazing

This is an amazing book. Anyone who works with children must read this book wow!

just wow

get ready to be blown away with this incredible book with very clear information about human physiology

Fascinating, powerful and moving

With doctors like him the traumatised children of the world have so much more hope.
The stories of trauma or neglect are truly dreadful and you'd be inhumane not to be appalled and upset by the light of the children. However the way that Dr Perry explains how the trauma/neglect that each child suffers then shapes the brain and how it can later be remedied is fascinating.
Highly recommended read for those interested in this area.

A real eye opener.

I have no background in psychology but the series of cases and narrative drive home the intended message of how important early years are in forming the personality traits of all of us. Also, the dedication and focus that some brilliant people have to make life better for others that need it most.

Very engaging and informative

This book was very well structured and very informative, with extra helpful resources included for further research.

Truly enlightening!

I found this book to be so informative, inspirational and very thought provoking.
It shed light on my childhood and increased my desire to try to make a difference.

great book for all to read

I think everyone especially parents need to read this book, very rich with information, and ways to avoid missing up your kids while growing up

A must read for all. .

Strong and compassionate. I am impatient for the book Born For Love to become available in audio format.

Excellent, informative listen.

This book is very well narrated, easy to listen to and keeps your interest from start to finish.
What I liked most was the message that children and families can be helped to recognise problems and where they come from, and ways in which to help overcome some of the difficulties.
I would recommend to anyone living, working with, or in professional teams around children.

Life changing

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It answers questions you don’t even know to ask and helps explain so much. I am taking everyone I know about it.

We are currently in the covid pandemic and we are practically being forced to say we are stressed and have counselling. I have joked that while it is okay to not be okay currently it seems it’s not okay to be okay. My gut feeling was that this is not a good thing and although only a tiny part of this book it has been helpful to hear that unneeded counselling can do harm.