New Knowledge of Dog Behavior

by Clarence Pfaffenberger

Is it heredity or environment that shapes the dog? Researchers J.P. Scott and John L. Fuller, authors of Genetics and Social Behavior of the Dog, bred and cross-bred dogs in their quest to understand human heredity and behavior. Their research yielded a gold mine of data that Pfaffenberger turned into practical information for dog breeders and trainers. Learn about the critical stages of puppy development, how breed differences make dogs suitable for specialized work, and how to breed and socialize temperamentally sound dogs. Reprint of a 1963 classic.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Reference, Dogs

Paperback

First published November 30, 1963

Reviews

[Christie Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book and I loved it even though it was written in 1963. It's about then-current research into methods for breeding the best-possible guide dogs. It's mainly about methods used at GDB, although TSE is also mentioned a few times, and the studies done at Jackson Laboratory in Maine. Breeding is largely a mystery to me and even though this book is old, it helped me to understand more about breeding than any of the numerous contemporary sources I've looked at.

Besides being useful, it is also, of course, a pretty amazing look into the guide dog world more than 50 years in the past. For a guide dog nerd like me, that is heaven. Sure, some things were different, but I was also struck by how many things were the same.

Note to self: find out the answer to the question of why we don't do puppy tests anymore? Did they stop having predictive value, did they become logistically impossible or what?

[Virginia Boylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An oldie but still a goodie. Explores the early knowledge of dog behavior and is still useful after all these years.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't read this book and you think you are a serious dog trainer, breeder, handler, helper or anything to do with dogs then you should. It all starts here.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

foundational finding for any dog person. Includes puppy evaluating -stages of puppy development. Big impression. Highly recommended.

[Debbie]

The best book on dogs I've read. All about genetics.