Genetics and the Social Behaviour of the Dog - 2nd Edition by John Paul Scott & John L Fuller (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A classic study of dog behavior gathered into one volume, this is the single most important and comprehensive reference work on the behavior of dogs ever complied.

Scott and Fuller's classic study of dog behavior gathers into one volume the authoritative information that came from their twenty years of research at the Jackson Laboratory. Central to their book is the role heredity plays in the development of behavior. Giving puppies an environment designed on the principles of a well-run school, Scott and Fuller tested five breeds representing the major dog groups and carried out a Mendelian experiment with two of the most different breeds: the basenji and the cocker spaniel.

They found that heredity affects almost every trait tested; that sex affects aggressiveness and the dominance order, but not trainability and problem-solving; that emotional traits profoundly influence performance; that, although breeds differ widely in emotional and motivational characteristics, none shows distinct superiority in problem solving; and that detailed statistical analyses indicate a highly complex pathway between primary gene action and its final effect on behavior.

Included is important information on:

- rearing methods
- the origin and history of dog breeds
- basic behavior patterns
- the physiological and behavioral development of puppies

Review Quotes

"Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog is one of the most important texts on canine behavior published to date. Anyone interested in breeding, training, or canine behavior must own this book."--Wayne Hunthausen, D.V.M., Director of Animal Behavior Consultations

"A major authoritative work on the subject of the behavior of domestic dogs. . . . Immensely rewarding reading for anyone concerned with dog-breeding. . . . The only important scientific treatise on dog behavior in the English language."-- "Times Literary Supplement"

"Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog is essential reading for anyone involved in the breeding of dogs. No breeder can afford to ignore the principles of proper socialization first discovered and articulated in this landmark study."--The Monks of New Skete, authors of "How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend" and the video series "Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete"

"The last comprehensive study [of dog behavior] was concluded more than thirty years ago, when John Paul Scott and John L. Fuller published their seminal work Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog, establishing critical socialization periods for puppies and laying out parameters of canine behavior."--Mark Derr "The Atlantic"

"This pioneering research on dog behavioral genetics is a timeless classic for all serious students of ethology and canine behavior."--Dr. Michael Fox, Senior Advisor to the President, The Humane Society of the United States

About the Author

John Paul Scott (1909-2000), author of Animal Behavior and Aggression and coeditor of Social Control and Social Change, was Regents Professor emeritus in psychology at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. John L. Fuller (1910-1992) was professor of psychology at Binghamton University.