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The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide To The Thoughts, Emotions, And Inner Lives Of Our Canine Companions Paperback – March 1, 1995

by Stanley Coren (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 152 ratings
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How well to dogs understand language? Why can't  Rover read? Can you teach on old dog new tricks?  How smart is your dog? Psychologist Stanley Coren  answers these questions and more in this  enlightening resource for dog owners, potential dog owners,  and anyone who loves a good dog story. In the  best-selling tradition of The Hidden Life Of  Dogs and featured in national media from  USA Today and  Newsweek to "Charlie Rose" and  "Dateline NBC," The Intelligence Of  Dogs is an absorbing read that combines heroic  stories of dogs with the latest scientific and  psychological information and sections on how to:  Choose a family dog. Read your dog's body language.  Test your dog's smarts. Understand the sophisticated  language of the bark. Tailor a training program  for best results. And so much  more.
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  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bantam
  4. Publication date
    March 1, 1995
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.77 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0553374524
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0553374520
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Psychologist and trainer Coren studies the psychological makeup of dogs in an attempt to answer many questions about canine emotions and intelligence.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A comprehensive history of the dog...congenial  interweaving of anecdote and  analysis."--The Washington Post

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bantam; Reprint edition (March 1, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0553374524
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0553374520
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.77 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 152 ratings

About the author

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Stanley Coren

Stanley Coren

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Stanley Coren, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, is a recognized expert on dog-human interaction who has appeared on Dateline; The Oprah Winfrey Show; Good Morning, America; 20/20; Larry King Live; and many other TV and radio programs. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with a beagle, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and a Nova Scotia duck-tolling retriever, as well as his wife and her cat.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
152 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be the best on dog intelligence, with informative and fun intelligence tests included. They appreciate its readability and consider it a must-read for dog owners, with one customer noting it's particularly helpful for those with older pets. However, the pacing receives mixed reviews, with some customers finding it well-written while others describe it as taking itself and its subject matter too seriously.

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16 customers mention "Intelligence"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and consider it the best on dog intelligence, with fun intelligence tests included.

"...It's a wonderful guide." Read more

"...it is so comprehensive in the amount of material it covers ----- easy to understand, and puts an entirely new perspective on how we may think about..." Read more

"...then goes on to describe the history and lineage of dogs, types of dog intelligence, and the variations amongst the breeds...." Read more

"...However, I will tell you that I found this book so absorbing that I could hardly put it down...." Read more

6 customers mention "Knowledge of dogs"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative about dogs, with one mentioning it provides deeper understanding of behavior, while another notes it is particularly helpful for owners of older dogs.

"...it is one of the first books of it's kind and is a must read for anyone interested in dogs." Read more

"...While this book is still very helpful for people with older dogs, I'd consider this a MUST-READ before anyone considers even selecting a particular..." Read more

"Stanley Coran has some very interesting and infomative things to say about dogs, I know I learned something even after training dogs for many years!..." Read more

"Thank you DR. Coren. Your understanding of dog is mesmerizing. Best content of any dog related books I ever read." Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read.

"...His book is informative, without being difficult to read...." Read more

"The book is well written and provides a good number of chuckles too." Read more

"...I love the anecdotes and examples. It is easy to read and it flows well." Read more

"This is another of my favorite dog writers. Definitely a must have for any trainer" Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's pacing negative, with one customer describing it as pseudo-intellectual drivel and another noting that the author takes himself and his subject much too seriously.

"...The "personality tests" were simply ridiculous...." Read more

"...Unfortunately it did not live up to that notice. The author is pedantic and takes himself and his subject much too seriously," Read more

"...Don't waste the space on your nightstand or bookshelf. It's pseudo-intellectual drivel." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Luv2Travel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you need to know....
    Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    about dogs is in this book. I've purchased several copies and given to dog lover friends (especially friends trying to decide what type of dog they would like to have). It's a wonderful guide.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Abi RadKyle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dog Expert Here-Trust my opinion! :)
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is one of the classics when it comes to the workings of the canine mind. My mom had it when I was a child, and I was always performing intelligence tests on the many dogs that came through the house. The only issue for me is that it's very dry. There are really no funny comments or cute stories. It is strictly the facts, but, like I said, it is one of the first books of it's kind and is a must read for anyone interested in dogs.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Cookie, Olive, Sadie, Stella
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on dog intelligence
    Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Not only is this the best book on dog intelligence ------ it is so comprehensive in the amount of material it covers ----- easy to understand, and puts an entirely new perspective on how we may think about our fur kids. Also provides an IQ test you can give your fur kid, if you really want to test his/her intelligence level. I learned so much from this one book that I wouldn't even know where to begin to explain how valuable this book has been to me. So much informaton and so much to absorb, that I plan to read it again!
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Casey Herman
    4.0 out of 5 stars Why all dog owners should read this BEFORE getting a dog!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This book will help you understand WHY a lot of scientists and so-called animal experts historically considered that dogs (and all other animals!) have no intelligence, feelings or emotions. You will come to understand that this is not so! If you've already owned or own a pet, you'll already know this. The reasons given for such negative attitudes will astound you! I won't spoilt the surprise.

    Coren then goes on to describe the history and lineage of dogs, types of dog intelligence, and the variations amongst the breeds. He goes into great depth about the different types of dogs and their purposes and abilities, and even provides you with ways to test your dog's intelligence.

    More importantly, he guides you in ways to INCREASE the intelligence of your dog!

    While this book is still very helpful for people with older dogs, I'd consider this a MUST-READ before anyone considers even selecting a particular breed.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • MagnoliaSouth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
    Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2001
    Verified Purchase
    This is not a review where I will tell you what the book is about. There are plenty of other reviews on that point. However, I will tell you that I found this book so absorbing that I could hardly put it down. This says a lot when I tell you that non-fiction doesn't have that effect on me. His book is informative, without being difficult to read. Simply put, if you have a dog, are considering getting a dog, or you're just interested in dogs, then this book is for you. Every dog lover should own a copy. End of story.
    33 people found this helpful
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  • Harry Homebody
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stinkbug!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    My delivery was fine but there was a living stinkbug in the box. I never want to see this again!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Pete S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The book is well written and provides a good number of chuckles too.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Twinkly1216
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Disappointment
    Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2011
    I had high hopes for this book as it seemed to take a rather unique look at dogs apart from the various breed books and training books out there. What sold me on this book was the first line in the description for this book: 'If you've ever wondered what is really going on inside your dog's head, here is your chance to find out.' It also raised questions for the reader such as 'do they [dogs] have feelings such as guilt, loyalty, and jealousy? Do they experience joy and sorrow"?'. This book sounded fascinating!

    Unfortunately I really don't think this book answered any of that for me and I'm really as clueless as to what's going inside my dog's head as I was when I started. In the middle of reading this book I explained my frustrations with it to my fiance and he likened it to a history paper he had written in school that had to fulfill a certain number of pages but he just didn't have that much to say about it. So what did he do? He filled it full of information that was just barely relevant to the topic at hand simply to fulfill the quota on page requirements. That is exactly how I see this book. There are 13 chapters in this book and I feel like only about 5 of them are really, truly relevant to what this book promises to address.

    Now don't be fooled, the chapter titles all sound very promising but the material inside them really just seems like fluff. The reason I'm giving this review 3 stars is because it does seem like the author did quite a bit of research and I did learn some pretty interesting trivia regarding dogs and certain breeds of dogs that I wouldn't have known otherwise. But that can't make up for the fact that this book doesn't fully address the topic it's supposed to be discussing. Here are examples of what I mean:

    He spends a good part of one chapter (if not the whole chapter) addressing Descarte's views on dogs as nothing more than machines capable of no conscious thought and unable to feel pain or sorrow. Part of the chapter explains Descarte's point of view and the other part counters it as if trying to convince the reader that dogs are more than mere machines. The following chapter is spent explaining that some behaviorists think that dogs are incapable of conscious thought and simply respond to stimuli. He also spends part of this chapter trying to convince the reader that those behaviorists are wrong and that dogs do have conscious thought. While this is all interesting information I feel that it could have been significantly condensed and all fit into one chapter regarding the history of dogs. He simply explained each point to death and quite honestly, any person who is going to pick up this book based on the title probably already accepts that these prior notions are false. He doesn't need to convince us.
    Another chapter is spent on the origins of the dog...once again interesting...once again could be significantly condensed and also grouped into one chapter titled history of dogs.
    And yet another chapter discusses the role of dogs in movies, dogs in books...interesting information but to warrant a chapter?

    So there's 4 chapters out of 13 that really barely skirt around the topic of dog intelligence and could have been condensed all into one chapter that the reader would have found informative and interesting without a lot of of wasted words and time.

    If we're going to be honest, the rest of the chapters while more relevant, could also probably have been condensed into about 6 chapters, maybe even less. He includes a dog IQ test and a dog personality test you can do with your dog which is great ADDITIONAL information and shouldn't be used to bulk up a chapter. The personality test takes up 7 pages (front and back) and I really feel like should have just been included at the end of the book as a fun bonus. For his chapter on linguistic intelligence, he spends 2 pages (front and back) simply listing the different commands his dogs know and what their response to them is. That should give you an idea of the kind of detail this author felt was necessary to this book.

    In summary, it's a disappointing book that leaves the reader still wondering about what really goes inside their dog's head.
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Jesus Morales Nava
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inteligente, interesante y divertido.
    Reviewed in Mexico on January 22, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Me gustó su estilo informativo y divertido con bastantes citas.
    Report
  • FATIMA CAVALCANTI
    5.0 out of 5 stars Para quem gosta de ler sobre fatos interessantes e pesquisas sobre cães.
    Reviewed in Brazil on July 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Além do livro ser para aqueles que gostam de uma pesquisa científica, o que muito me interessa, o vendedor é show de bola.
    E entregou bem antes da data combinada.
    Report
  • LAURA
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a clever dog I have !
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I highly recommend this book , every dog owner could learn a lot from this very well written book .
    My purchase arrived very quickly and in woofingly good condition !
    Report
  • sanjib kumar padhi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in India on January 10, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Very good book
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  • VWC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in Canada on October 6, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book. Stanley Coren is one trainer whom I have followed for years. I have read all his books. He is one of the best in the field.
    Report