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Rating: 
Summary: Academic, researched, impartial book on dogs.
Review: Does it seem that retail book stores stock dog books that appear opinion-based and poorly referenced or researched? The early chapters of The Domestic Dog concerning evolution may be a little bit factual and historically oriented (read: a tad dry) but presents an excellent understanding of how dogs came into contact with humans and the resulting reliance and interations. The book, in part, looks at areas of canus familiarus and human interaction from both a biological, survival necessity to what kind of kennel should be considered based on breed selection. There are many discussions on topics not normally covered in commercial or general appeal dog books that will compliment, inform and provide insight into otherwise unknown or insufficiently covered areas about dogs. Areas of new information include (but is not limited to): pack hierarchy, dog development and growth, dog psychology and others. It is one dog book I can rely on for its research, reference material and impartial analyses into breed types. It has helped me learn more about dogs than previously possible in other purported books based on fact. I do believe that one must be more interested in dogs than just a casual manner (i.e.: one must really want to get into the nuts and bolts) to enjoy and finish this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Serious Must for Serious Dog People
Review: First published in 1995, nothing else as comprehensive and as carefully researched on canine behavior and development has been published. For the general reader, the writing style may be a bit dry; however, because each chapter has different authors, the writing style, while basically academic and fact driven, varies. Any serious dog breeders, trainers, or owners will find themselves returning to certain chapters over and over again. Breeders and even new puppy owners would benefit from the chapter by Serpell and Jagoe on "Early experience and the development of behaviour," which updates the standard beliefs about puppy development resulting from the Bar Harbor experiments of over 50 years ago. Excellent book!
Rating:
Summary: A Serious Must for Serious Dog People
Review: First published in 1995, nothing else as comprehensive and as carefully researched on canine behavior and development has been published. For the general reader, the writing style may be a bit dry; however, because each chapter has different authors, the writing style, while basically academic and fact driven, varies. Any serious dog breeders, trainers, or owners will find themselves returning to certain chapters over and over again. Breeders and even new puppy owners would benefit from the chapter by Serpell and Jagoe on "Early experience and the development of behaviour," which updates the standard beliefs about puppy development resulting from the Bar Harbor experiments of over 50 years ago. Excellent book!
Rating:
Summary: The Domestic Dog, James Serpell (Ed.)
Review: For those people hungry for scientific literature on dogs and curious about what other references there are on particular dog topics, this is a must read/must have text; almost every chapter serves as a review of the scientific literature on that topic. Those who don't care for reading anything drier than James Herriot's "All Creatures Great & Small" should avoid it. The book is probably used as a text for graduate students and upper division majors in ethology, comparative psychology, zoology, etc. It was published in 1995 so most of the information is fairly current. The book is in its 5th printing so some professors must share my judgment of it. Let's hope that by 2005 there's a revised edition including and evaluating recent work. It has 17 chapters written (or co-written) by 21 specialists in their fields -- British, American, Italian -- (after an introduction) divided into 3 major divisions: I. Domestication & evolution (2 chapters) ; II. Behaviour & behaviour problems (8 ch.s); III. Human-dog interactions (6 ch.s). The chapters provide an excellent summary and the key references to the area discussed. A few chapters have a definite British flavor but American readers will be able to transpose when needed. Dog breeders (& many owners) may be especially interested in the chapters dealing with what's known about heritability of traits, temperament, etc., as well as the role of early experience on later behaviors, disorders, etc. A few chapters are filled with research results in tables and graphs. One is dense with specialist jargon. But all are readable if you're interested in learning what the applicable sciences know and do not know about the dog. All chapters have information I found important and to some, I'll refer back to many times.
Rating:
Summary: ignore the fool below
Review: If you enjoy gaining knowledge about dogs that is free from the conjecture and anthropomorphizing common in most books, this is your book. These are scholars describing work done with rigor, reason and logic in a style appropriate for other scholars and people with enough patience and intelligence to read them.
If you were waiting for these busy professionals to convert their scholarship to a style appropriate for people that need spoonfeeding, you'll be disappointed. Perhaps the fellow below can undertake the effort...
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent information painfully presented
Review: If your memories of college give you migraines, the pain will return in reading these articles. The information is wonderful, but can be found in more enjoyable books. If, on the other hand, you enjoy reading professional journals, you will feel right at home with the jargon and format, and may find it worthwhile to have leading thoughts on domestication, genetics, and behavior all in one place.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book, suitable for both researcher and dog lover
Review: This book is packed with easily understandable, concise information. Whether you are a behaviorist or simply a dog lover, this is a must have.
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