A dog cognition researcher explores the world of smell that dogs live in, and tries to train her own nose to sense a little of what they do
Following the nose
Alexandra Horowitz, a cognitive scientist who studies dogs, sets out to understand the sense that shapes a dog's experience more than any other: smell. She explains the science of how dogs' noses work, visits detection dog trainers, researchers and perfumers, and describes experiments showing what dogs can detect. Along the way she tries to sharpen her own sense of smell, discovering how much of the world humans simply ignore.
Who will enjoy it
Dog owners curious about their pets' senses, readers who enjoy accessible science writing, and anyone interested in how animals perceive the world.
What you will get
An engaging exploration of the canine sense of smell and its science, with practical insights for dog owners and some surprising discoveries about our own noses.
Being a Dog Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Nonfiction · Dog senses · Smell science · Pet behaviour
Length
336 pages · ≈ 10 h
More about this book
Horowitz writes with curiosity and good humour, and the science is presented clearly. Readers learn how a dog's nose is built, how it can detect tiny traces of scent and why dogs sniff the way they do. The visits to people who train detection dogs, from explosive detection to medical work, are especially interesting. Each chapter balances research findings with lively anecdotes about Horowitz's own dogs, which keeps the science grounded and personal.
The book's most original thread is Horowitz's attempt to train her own nose, working with experts on smell and paying attention to scents she had never noticed. It encourages readers to try the same, and to give their dogs more chances to explore by smell on walks. The practical advice is gentle and sensible. After reading it, owners may want to let walks follow the dog's nose a little more often, and that small change is perhaps the book's most practical gift.
Some chapters dwell on the human experiments at the expense of dogs, which may disappoint readers wanting more about their pets. The writing occasionally wanders. Readers new to the author may prefer to start with Inside of a Dog, which covers dog cognition more broadly. As a fascinating look at an overlooked sense, it is rewarding. About 336 pages in the Scribner hardcover; one catalog lists 323.
Inside of a Dog
The Genius of Dogs
The Other End of the Leash
Don't Shoot the Dog
The Goal
Emotional Intelligence
The Flower Farmer
Baking
Awakenings
Like a Mother
The Gardener and the Carpenter
The Conquest of Happiness