Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know (Young Readers Edition)

Gr 6-8—Despite their close companionship to humans, dogs are very different from us and have their own distinct umwelt, or the world as experienced by an animal. So goes just one of many fascinating observations in this young readers edition of the 2009 best seller by cognitive scientist Horowitz, a psychology professor and leader of the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College. Along the way, she dismantles some common misunderstandings, such as that dogs perceive their human families as a pack (dogs are descended from wolves but are not pack animals in the same way) and that they exhibit knowledge of guilt (research shows that dogs uniformly exhibit submissive behaviors when scolded, whether or not they've done anything "wrong"). While earlier chapters focus more on descriptions of behavior, the latter half details fascinating research and offers explanations of how scientists draw their conclusions. Horowitz covers play habits, facial expressions, vision and other senses, urine marking, memory and language, and even the canine "theory of mind." Chapters are interspersed throughout with brief recollections of the author's mixed-breed, Pumpernickel, to whom the book is dedicated. VERDICT Clearly and confidently written, engaging, and comprehensive, this title will delight dog lovers and budding scientists and will serve just as well as a general narrative nonfiction text.—Bob Hassett, Luther Jackson Middle School, Falls Church, VA