The Genius of Dogs

The book's central idea, that dogs have a special skill for reading human social cues, is explained with clarity and enthusiasm. Hare describes the experiments that revealed it, often involving simple tests with cups and pointing, and the results are genuinely fascinating. Readers will look at their own dogs differently afterwards.

The chapters on evolution are particularly interesting. The authors argue that dogs may have, in part, domesticated themselves, as friendlier wolves gained advantages living near humans, and they draw on studies of foxes, bonobos and other species. The writing is warm and accessible, with plenty of personal stories about the authors' own dogs.

Some sections on the scientific background are slower going, and the practical training advice is fairly brief compared with dedicated training books. Some of the evolutionary ideas remain debated among researchers. As a lively introduction to how dogs think, it is enjoyable and illuminating. The closing chapters, which apply the research to everyday questions about training, choosing a dog and understanding problem behaviour, will be especially useful to owners. Readers may find themselves trying a few of the simple pointing experiments with their own dogs. About 384 pages in the Dutton hardcover; the numbered text runs 367.