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Dogs: A Startling New Understanding of…
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Dogs: A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior & Evolution (edition 2001)

by Raymond Coppinger, Lorna Coppinger

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1564173,875 (4.29)1
Biologists, breeders and trainers, and champion sled dog racers, Raymond and Lorna Coppinger have more than four decades of experience with literally thousands of dogs. Offering a scientifically informed perspective on canines and their relations with humans, the Coppingers take a close look at eight different types of dogs--household, village, livestock guarding, herding, sled-pulling, pointing, retrieving, and hound. They argue that dogs did not evolve directly from wolves, nor were they trained by early humans; instead they domesticated themselves to exploit a new ecological niche: Mesolithic village dumps. Tracing the evolution of today's breeds from these village dogs, the Coppingers show how characteristic shapes and behaviors--from pointing and baying to the sleek shapes of running dogs--arise from both genetic heritage and the environments in which pups are raised. For both dogs and humans to get the most out of each other, we need to understand and adapt to the biological needs and dispositions of our canine companions, just as they have to ours.… (more)
Member:Haiku911
Title:Dogs: A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior & Evolution
Authors:Raymond Coppinger
Other authors:Lorna Coppinger
Info:Scribner (2001), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 352 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:****
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Dogs: A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior & Evolution by Raymond Coppinger (Author)

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This book is fascinating. It challenges so many widely held popular beliefs about dogs. With careful logic, the Coppingers examine what dogs are and how they got to be that way. They pick apart the idea that dogs are descendants of wolves deliberately tamed and bred by early humans. Instead their hypothesis is that dogs actually domesticated themselves, adapting to a new niche- scavenging at Neolithic rubbish heaps. This means that even though dogs and wolves share a common ancestor, dogs don't behave like wolves and shouldn't be treated like they do. It's very complicated. Sometimes the explanations get quite technical, but the authors always bring it back down to layman's terms.

Presenting a new idea about how dogs evolved is only a small part of this book. It covers many other topics. Why are there so many different dog breeds? How is it possible that dogs can take so many diverse shapes and sizes, yet still be the same species? How much of canine behavior is intelligence, and how much genetic or instinctual? There's a lot of detail about several working breeds: sled dogs, livestock guarding dogs, and sheep herding dogs in particular. There is heavy criticism in this book about how working breeds have now become household pets, and the breeding of dogs for show. This book held my attention all the way to the end. (Except for one boring chapter about the scientific nomenclature of canine species.)

from the Dogear Diary ( )
1 vote jeane | Mar 10, 2010 |
This will change the way you think about dogs. ( )
  pft | Jan 22, 2009 |
This book will totally change your understanding of canine psychology. While the "pack-oriented" focus of popular canine trainers like Cesar Millan yields results, this volume explains the real differences between dogs and wolves in the wild. The book also provides insight into the world of work dogs, including shepherd dogs, sled dogs, guard dogs, and more. ( )
  CitizenClark | Mar 1, 2008 |
I have read both high praise for this book, and some condemnation. The rating in this system is high. I like the Coppingers, of course, because they so sled dogs, but I realize their experience is not limited to that. I would like to hear from others.
  louparris | Sep 4, 2007 |
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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Coppinger, RaymondAuthorprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Coppinger, LornaAuthormain authorall editionsconfirmed
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Biologists, breeders and trainers, and champion sled dog racers, Raymond and Lorna Coppinger have more than four decades of experience with literally thousands of dogs. Offering a scientifically informed perspective on canines and their relations with humans, the Coppingers take a close look at eight different types of dogs--household, village, livestock guarding, herding, sled-pulling, pointing, retrieving, and hound. They argue that dogs did not evolve directly from wolves, nor were they trained by early humans; instead they domesticated themselves to exploit a new ecological niche: Mesolithic village dumps. Tracing the evolution of today's breeds from these village dogs, the Coppingers show how characteristic shapes and behaviors--from pointing and baying to the sleek shapes of running dogs--arise from both genetic heritage and the environments in which pups are raised. For both dogs and humans to get the most out of each other, we need to understand and adapt to the biological needs and dispositions of our canine companions, just as they have to ours.

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