Canine Courage [Paperback]

Tiffin Shewmake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 2002

Do dogs really save people? Which breeds are the most heroic? The least? And why would a dog risk its life for a person? Find out in Canine Courage, a fascinating look at heroism in untrained dogs. Dogs like Bo, who dived underwater to pull his owner out from under a canoe, or Woodie who jumped off an 80 foot cliff to save her owner's fiancée from drowning. Canine Courage explores what motivates these dogs and answers other questions such as what do dogs understand of danger, how do dogs know what to do and how heroic behavior developed in dogs. Find out more about dog heroism at www.doghero.com

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

WHY I WROTE THE BOOK

I am often asked why I wrote Canine Courage. The truth is—I wanted to read it. One day I was at the Georgetown Public Library in Washington, D.C. looking at dog books and thought that a book on dog heroes would be good. I pictured a real life Call of the Wild. I didn’t find the book I was looking for that day, and was unsuccessful at other libraries and bookstores. I soon realized that if I wanted to read a dog hero book, I would have to write it myself.

Canine Courage started out as a collection of dog hero stories but I soon realized that the real story is the relationship between dogs and people, which is the basis for the dog’s heroic behavior. The domestic dog is the corporate protégé who bets his future on his boss’ success, and uses sacrifice to gain the boss’ help. Heroism is a part of the dog’s overall survival strategy of saving people to save themselves. So the book become much more than stories as I looked at the dog’s natural history, behavior and relationship with people to help understand the nature of canine heroism.

I have enjoyed writing Canine Courage. The stories are every bit as moving as I had hoped when I first searched for a book on dog heroes. As I read at the Library of Congress, I often had to raise my book to hide my tears. What I had not expected, was how this book would give me a better understanding of my dog, and why dogs and people are so close. I’m glad to give readers the opportunity for the same experience. This book supports the view held by many dog lovers that the dog deserves special place in our hearts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: PageFree Publishing, Inc. (October 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930252897
• ISBN-13: 978-1930252899
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,366,162 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars More psychology than stories of courage, November 9, 2006

By 

MB (Chesapeake Beach, Maryland) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Canine Courage (Paperback)

Not what I was looking for. I wanted to read stories of courage, but found mostly attempts at dog psychology. My eyes glazed over and I didn't make it to the end of the book.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book I'll Share With All My Friends, May 1, 2003

By 

Rebekah Godshall (VA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Canine Courage (Paperback)

Canine Courage is the finest, most detailed look at the unabashedly loyal friends we call dogs. What drives their loyalty? What spurs them to risk their lives for their companions? Shewmake's meticulous research has produced a credible look at an abstract concept.
I laughed out loud and even cried a time or two as the book's affectionate descriptions of dog heros conjured up memories of my own canine companions.
Although Canine Courage was not written for children, I plan to read it to my step-daughter.

5.0 out of 5 stars An unabashed celebration of the loyalty of our canines, February 8, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Canine Courage (Paperback)

Canine Courage: The Heroism of Dogs by Tiffin Shewmake is an extensive compendium of heroic canines who have saved human lives time and again. From how dogs are trained to help and know what to do in emergency situations; to stories of dogs rescuing people from drowning; to the distinctions that various breeds can make in providing faithful canine assistance, Canine Courage is very highly recommended reading for dog lovers and offers an impressive, fascinating wealth of information. To put it simply, Canine Courage is an unabashed celebration of the loyalty of our canine companions.