Dogs Inside Out

Discovering What Dogs Know

There's still surprisingly little research on an animal that has lived with us so closely for over 15,000 years. A new book by Alexandra Horowitz titled "Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know" adds to our knowledge. Finally, someone who will tell us what is going on inside that brain! Well, maybe. To quote the article--"As a psychologist with a Ph.D. in cognitive science, as well as an ardent dogophile, Horowitz aims 'to take an informed imaginative leap inside of a dog--to see what it is like to be a dog; what the world is like from the dog's point of view." 

 Here's a link to the book review--I'm adding it to my reading list.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/books/review/Schine-t.html?em

Summer Reading

With summer officially upon us in a few days here are some summer reading suggestions with a dog theme or subject. Feel free to add your favorite summer reading with dog themes in the comments section!

 

Flush A Biography  by Virginia Woolf

         The biography of a dog, published in 1933, Flush is Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s cocker spaniel.  As Wikipedia describes it “This unusual biography traces the life of Flush from his carefree existence in the country, to his adoption by Ms. Browning and his travails in London, leading up to his final days in a bucolic Italy. Woolf ostensibly uses the life of a dog as pointed social criticism.” 

 

Travels With Charley in Search of America  by John Steinbeck

         This chronicles Steinbeck’s journey around America in 1960 with his poodle Charley. His observations of America in the 1960’s are very interesting and prophetic!

 

Dog Is My Co-Pilot

Great Writers On the World’s Oldest Friendship

                                       From the Editors of The Bark Magazine

         A collection of short stories from authors such as Alice Walker, Ann Patchett, Jon Katz, Pam Houston, Donald McCaig and many more. One of my favorites. “ It is our hope that all the writing contained expands on the subject of dogs and the special bond that exists between us and them.”

 

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle   by David Wroblewski

A New York Times Bestseller, this 500 plus page novel is the story of a family that raises a very special line of dogs as their business, but it is much, much more than that. It is a mystery, a melodrama, and a surprising tale in which dogs and a boy are integral to the telling. Warning, it isn't light reading, but I couldn't put it down!