The Domestic Dog Its Evolution, Behavior and Interactions with People

Why do dogs behave in the ways that they do? Why did our ancestors tame wolves? How have we ended up with so many breeds of dog, and how can we understand their role in contemporary human society? Explore the answers to these questions and many more in this study of the domestic dog. Building on the strengths of the first edition, this much-anticipated update incorporates two decades of new evidence and discoveries on dog evolution, behavior, training, and human interaction. It includes seven entirely new chapters covering topics such as behavioral modification and training, dog population management, the molecular evidence for dog domestication, canine behavioral genetics, cognition, and the impact of free-roaming dogs on wildlife conservation. It is an ideal volume for anyone interested in dogs and their evolution, behavior and ever-changing roles in society.

List of contributors; 1. Introduction James Serpell; Part I. Origins and Evolution: 2. Origins of the dog: the archaeological evidence Juliet Clutton-Brock; 3. Origins of the dog: genetic insights into dog domestication Bridgett Vonholdt and Carlos Driscoll; 4. Evolution of working dogs Kathryn Lord, Richard Schneider and Raymond Coppinger; Part II. Behavior, Cognition and Training: 5. Genetics of dog behavior Linda van den Berg; 6. Becoming a dog: early experience and the development of behavior James Serpell, Deborah Duffy and Andrew Jagoe; 7. Breed and gender differences in dog behavior Benjamin Hart and Lynette Hart; 8. Dog social behavior and communication John Bradshaw and Nicola Rooney; 9. Ethology, ecology, and epidemiology of canine agression Randall Lockwood; 10. Social cognition and emotions underlying dog behavior Friederike Range and ZsÓFIA VIRÁNYI; 11. The learning dog: a discussion of training methods Ilana Reisner; 12. Dogs in today's society: the role of applied animal behavior Stephen Zawistowski and Pamela Reid; Part III. Dog-Human Interactions: 13. Dogs and helping partners and companions for humans Lynette Hart and Mariko Yamamoto; 14. The welfare of dogs in human care Robert Hubrecht, Stephen Wickens and James Kirkwood; 15. From paragon to pariah: cross-cultural perspectives on attitudes to dogs James Serpell; Part IV. Life on the Margins: 16. Variation in dog society: between resource dispersion and social flux David Macdonald and Geoffrey Carr; 17. The ecology and behavior of feral dogs: a case study from central Italy Luigi Boitani, Francesco Francisci, Paolo Cuicci and Giorgio Andreoli; 18. Roaming free in the rural idyll: dogs and their connections with wildlife Joelene Hughes, David Macdonald and Luigi Boitani; 19. Dog population management Elly Hiby and Lex Hiby; 20. Epilogue: the tail of the dog James Serpell; Index.

James Serpell is Professor of Animal Ethics and Welfare at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on the behavior and welfare of companion animals, the development of human attitudes to animals, and the history and impact of human-animal relationships.