Book description
The journey began with a gut reaction. When award-winning scientist Dr Brian Hare watched a chimpanzee fail to read a simple human hand gesture in an intelligence test, he blurted out, 'My dog can do that!' The psychologist running the test challenged him to prove it, sending Hare on an…
Why read it?
2 authors picked The Genius of Dogs as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Dr. Brian Hare accidentally became a dog researcher when his research supervisor showed him an experiment with chimpanzees.
The chimps couldn’t understand what humans were trying to communicate when they pointed at something. Hare’s reaction: “My dog can do that!” His supervisor asked him to prove it, and a canine career was born!
The Genius of Dogs explains what dogs are good at, and what they’re not so good at. It’s absolutely fascinating, and you’ll be tempted to test out his findings on your own dog! He explains various experiments that he and other researchers have undertaken to test different…
From Michelle's list on understanding what your dog is thinking.
Humans have lived with dogs for thousands of years, but we are just now beginning to understand the depth of their intelligence, emotions, and abilities.
Brian Hare leads the Duke Canine Cognition Lab and his insights into what dogs can (and can’t) do and how they think have opened my eyes as a dog parent and lifelong dog lover. This book has helped me give my dogs a more fulfilling life by understanding more about their perceptions and needs and our relationship with them.
If you love The Genius of Dogs...
These Blue Mountains
A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.
German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…
Want books like The Genius of Dogs?
Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Genius of Dogs.
Share your top 3 reads of 2025!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
1,366
readers submitted
so far, will you?
📚 If you like The Genius of Dogs, you might also like...
Marriage and Fatherhood in the Nazi SS
When I was writing this book, several of my friends jokingly called it the Nazi baby book, with one insisting it would make a great title. Nazi Babies – admittedly, that is a catchy title, but that’s not exactly what my book is about. SS babies would be slightly more…
A Forgivable Indecision
In 1913, a 15-year-old pregnant girl was found dead of apparent suicide. Dr. James Wilson, a new graduate and the first doctor ever to start a practice in this rural town, feels guilty over her death because of his delayed intervention.
He knows Bessie was raped by one of her…
