First published 2024
Jennifer Holland explores what makes dogs truly intelligent by studying different types of canine cognition. She works with Cat Warren, who trains cadaver dogs, to understand scent-based intelligence. She examines emotional bonds between unlikely dog pairs and observes agility trainers to decode task learning abilities. Holland interviews police dog trainers and even volunteers to be attacked by a police dog during her research. She meets service dog trainers and specialists who work with problem dogs. Holland investigates whether breeds like border collies, cattle dogs, and German shepherds are genuinely smarter or simply better at reading human cues. Between field studies, she observes dogs at rescue centers, dog parks, and boarding facilities. The book questions how we measure intelligence in animals and where instinct ends and true intelligence begins. Holland's journey reveals what dogs teach us about cognition and our relationship with other species.
Genres: animals, dogs, non-fiction, biology
Vibes: informative, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, scientific-research
304 pages · Hardcover · National Geographic