Research in Human-Animal Interaction
Serpell, J., ed.,
Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 1995,
By any standards, dogs are extraordinary animals. They have been part of human society for longer than any other domestic species. They exist is a greater variety of different shapes and sizes, and they occupy a wider ecological niche, from pampered pets and faithful servants to feral scavengers. Even our attitudes to dogs seem to oscillate between extremes - on the one hand, the dog is man's best friend, on the other, he is the despised and degraded outcast. This unique book seeks to expose the real dog beneath the popular sterotypes. Its purpose is to provide a comprehensive, state-of-the-art account of the domestic dog's natural history and behaviour based on scientific and scholarly evidence rather than hearsay. Anyone with a serious interest in Canis familiaris, its evolution, behaviour and its place in our society, will find The domestic dog an indispensable and fascinating resource.