In “Inside of a Dog,” Alexandra Horowitz brings the reader, well, inside of a dog. Into their mind, thoughts, emotions, and perceptions of us and their world. She is a dog behavior scientist, so you can expect to find descriptions of scientific experiments and tests about dog cognition, but she is also a dog owner and lover, so equally represented in the book are her own observations and connections with her dog family members.

The one complaint I have about this book is, unfortunately, pervasive throughout. Horowitz writes with an awkward stumble to her sentences, as if she were both trying to write a scientific paper and a young adult novel. Of course, Horowitz is a scientist, and this is what she spends her life studying, so I can understand where her language and sentence structure comes from. Anyone who has written academically, especially in the sciences, will understand this. She both uses too many words in her sentences, and too few important ones to solidly land the writing in either the “scientific” or “popular” camp. This may alienate some readers. Those expecting a scientific explanation of dog behavior will be disappointed at Horowitz’s focus on anecdote and personal experience, while those expecting a more simple account of the dog’s mind for the average reader will be unnecessarily burdened by too much scientist speak. By choosing the middle ground, Horowitz attempted to satisfy too wide a variety of readers, and thus did not satisfy either.

However, this is not a reason to pass on reading this book, especially if you own, or have ever owned, a dog. The insights you gain into your pup’s mind will astound and humble you. They will make you see your furry companion in a new light and perhaps help you connect with them on an even deeper level. By thinking about what our dogs think about, we are more conscious of the things they want and need, what interests them, and how we can make their lives more fulfilling. Taking on a dog’s perspective also helps us to see ourselves and other humans in a new way: through our body language, scents, habits, and emotions. This book is best read with a dog curled at your side, at your feet, or best of all, on your lap.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know   from Amazon.Com!

Created Feb 21, 2019 at 8:23am • Submit your own review...