The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves

Well-known animal behaviorist Horowitz (Dog Cognition Lab, Barnard Coll.; Our Dogs, Ourselves) felt that the world of dog research was largely missing a vital piece: the first year of a dog’s life, its puppyhood. Since most owners first meet their dog when it is past infancy, they often miss the important events that are the basis of its personality and behavior. Accordingly, Horowitz and her family adopted another dog. In doing so, they went to a local dog farm and first chose the mother, who was among several being fostered there. They were allowed to observe the birth and the growth of the puppies at weekly intervals for eight weeks, after which they took one of the pups home to become another member of their family. This book is a personal and heartwarming retelling of these initial experiences and the observations made at home during the first year of the puppy’s life. The result is a fascinating beauty of a book that will add immensely to the world of dog research and will thrill dog owners.