Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35527 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Customer Reviews

Opens your mind
I am astonished by the other review of this book because I think that this is a must-read for anyone who is truly interested in the evolution of dogs and how this affects our relationship with them. It's true to say that the book does include descriptions of Coppinger's experience, but it's his experience which makes the book worth reading. He also makes extensive use of literature published by other authors. The book is not for the faint-hearted; it's no light read since it draws strongly on evolutionary and genetic theory, but it offers a new and fascinating look at dog behaviour and offers a scientific alternative to the tired old dominance theory. Coppinger certainly presents some strong views about today's approach to dog breeding which might not be popular with the pedigree fans, but this does not invalidate the depth of his analysis or breadth of this book's content.

totally different
this book offersa a different and new perspecitve on dog origins and behaviour. If you are ready to think about theories other than wolves and dominance then this is the book for you. I really enjoyed reading it and although I did not agree with all its content it really gets you thinking.

A fantastic insight into how dogs became domesticated.
As said before, this is not a light read. However, it goes into great detail into the evolution of dogs and how that affects our modern day breeds. I found this to be a fascinating read, which provided much useful information around the dog's evolution which can be used to understand them better.
Yes, Coppinger does refer back to his experiences but I believe he was trying to help us understand his theories and points better by using those experiences.
If anyone is truely interested in the evolution of dogs, how that affects the drives of our modern dogs, then I would highly recommend this book.