Dog Is Love - by Clive D L Wynne (Paperback)

About the Book

A pioneering canine behaviorist draws on cutting-edge research to show that a single, simple trait--the capacity to love--is what makes dogs such perfect companions for humans, and explains how we can better reciprocate their affection.

Book Synopsis

A pioneering canine behaviorist draws on cutting-edge research to show that a single, simple trait--the capacity to love--is what makes dogs such perfect companions for humans, and explains how we can better reciprocate their affection.

"Lively and fascinating . . . The reader comes away cheered, better informed, and with a new and deeper appreciation for our amazing canine companions and their enormous capacity for love." --Cat Warren, New York Times best-selling author of What the Dog Knows

Does your dog love you?

Every dog lover knows the feeling. The nuzzle of a dog's nose, the warmth of them lying at our feet, even their whining when they want to get up on the bed. It really seems like our dogs love us, too. But for years, scientists have resisted that conclusion, warning against anthropomorphizing our pets. Enter Clive Wynne, a pioneering canine behaviorist whose research is helping to usher in a new era: one in which love, not intelligence or submissiveness, is at the heart of the human-canine relationship. Drawing on cutting-edge studies from his lab and others around the world, Wynne shows that affection is the very essence of dogs, from their faces and tails to their brains, hormones, even DNA. This scientific revolution is revealing more about dogs' unique origins, behavior, needs, and hidden depths than we ever imagined possible.

A humane, illuminating book, Dog Is Love is essential reading for anyone who has ever loved a dog--and experienced the wonder of being loved back.

Review Quotes

"Lively and fascinating, Dog Is Love reveals a simple and yet enormously profound insight: Dogs are unique because they love us. The reader comes away cheered, better informed, and with a new and deeper appreciation for our amazing canine companions and their enormous capacity for love."
--Cat Warren, New York Times best-selling author of What the Dog Knows

"Clive Wynne is a thoughtful and clever canine cognition researcher; here, he tells the story of his, and his students', particular journey through researching this intellectual puzzle: how are dogs so perfectly suited to our species? As a child, a dog's love is certain; as a researcher, talking of dog 'love' is verboten. Clive gets through that and comes back to where he's begun, with a dog happily rushing to greet him when he comes home."
--Alexandra Horowitz, New York Times best-selling author of Inside of a Dog and Our Dogs, Ourselves

"A beautiful ode to all things canine. Clive Wynne gives us the best scientific proof that dogs really do love us."
--Gregory Berns, author of How Dogs Love Us

"Riveting. Part memoir, part scientific detective story, and part call to action, this book will change the way you look at dogs."
--Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It's So Hard To Think Straight About Animals

"An unforgettable glimpse into the heart and soul of this cherished species, Dog Is Love shows how our emotional bond with dogs holds the key to understanding and caring for them."
--Marty Becker, "America's Veterinarian" and founder of FearFreePets.com

"How do you know if your dog loves you? Are dogs really capable of feeling love, or do they only want the food and safety you provide? Clive Wynne answers these questions and more in Dog Is Love, revealing new, compelling evidence that explains the incredible relationship we have with our dogs. If you want to better understand and build an even stronger bond with your own dog, this book is a must-read."
--Victoria Stilwell, author of The Secret Language of Dogs

"Science finally reveals the dog's secret: the unique capacity for love that separates them from all other animals. Superb."
--John Bradshaw, New York Times best-selling author of Dog Sense

"Entertaining . . . Dog lovers will be fascinated and the takeaway message that 'we can do better for our dogs, ' by keeping in mind that dogs feel a meaningful emotional connection to their human owners and thus should be treated respectfully and considerately, is solidly supported."
--Publishers Weekly

"For any scientifically inclined dog lover, this will be a fascinating read."
--Booklist

"[A] pleasingly garrulous and jocular report from the front lines of canine research . . . A good mix of science and emotion, recommended for dog lovers everywhere."
--Kirkus Reviews

"After reading this book, readers may not perceive their relationship with their dog in the same way. Engagingly written and understandable by general audiences, this is a worthy addition to any pet lover's library."
--Library Journal

About The Author

CLIVE D. L. WYNNE, PhD, is a founding director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University. He has published pieces in Psychology Today, New Scientist, and the New York Times, and appeared on National Geographic Explorer, PBS, and the BBC.