Customer Reviews

NOVA: Dogs and More Dogs

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This hour-long program gives an overview on a few theories of how dogs evolved from wolves, and discusses breeding and how different breeds got to be so diverse in looks and, for lack of a better word, function (such as retrieving, herding, hunting, etc.). It is very entertaining to watch, and even though it touches upon topics as complicated as genetics, it is very easy to understand. It is a brief overview though, and for anyone looking for more in-depth info and more specific details on the evolution of dogs should check out Nature: Dogs that Changed the World. For anyone who loves dogs, though, watching this dvd would definitely not be a wasted hour. John Lithgow is a good enough narrator, and my only (minor) complaint is that the little cartoons they use to illustrate some of the points get to be a bit irritating.

This show deserves more than 1 review, so I must add my comments. This compelling story touches on many aspects of canine evolution and abilities, and gets major props for being one of the first to introduce the Coppingers' very compelling theory (Dogs: A New Understanding...) and for broaching the hot issue of inbreeding. Beautifully shot and packed with fascinating trivia, the DVD is worth watching more than once.

Lots of precise info. and cute images. The dogs look great and the story of how they became "man's best friend" is well told. Worth every penny! Great for all dog lover's.

I purchased this video to use during my evolution unit in a high school biology class. Not only is it entertaining, but it does a nice job examining the evolution of dogs and the genetics behind dog breeds and inbreeding.

Certainly, there are plenty of boring science videos, but this one is always a hit with hard-to-please teens.

This video can be shown to help the children learn about natural selection and heredity. There is a fun card game that can be played after the video. My students learned a lot and had fun!

This program starts out cheerfully enough and develops well, discussing the origins of the domestic dog and so on. But then it dives into a mess of moralizing about the fact of distinct breeds, misrepresenting the meaning and purpose of breeds, and the breeders who maintain them, as somehow "racist." Ludicrous as this is, the attempt to make breeds seem sinister ruined the program for my family. One breeder of Papillons is interviewed, which does not help matters since she--and the supposed experts brought onto the program--neglect to discuss the role of temperament or disposition in dog breeds, i.e. that dogs are bred for much more than looks. There are some risks or difficulties with maintaining breeds, but responsible breeders are well aware of them. To make it seem that only mixed breeds (and mutts) are moral is to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Did the producers of this program ever watch a serious dog show such as Crufts or Westminster? If they had, they would have had a much better idea of what modern dogs and their breeders/owners are all about. So will the open-minded viewer.