Understanding Dogs (Animals Culture And Society) [Hardcover]

Clinton Sanders (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 3, 1999 | Series: Animals Culture And Society

In "Understanding Dogs", sociologist and faithful dog companion Clinton R. Sanders explores the day-to-day experiences of living and working with domestic dogs. Based on a decade of research in veterinary offices and hospitals, dog-guide training schools, and obedience classes and colored with his personal experiences and observations at and outside home with his own canine companions, Sanders' book examines how everyday dog owners come to know their animal companions as thinking, emotional, and responsive individuals. Linking animal companionship with social as well as personal identity, "Understanding Dogs" uses detailed ethnographic data in viewing human and animal efforts to understand, manipulate, care for, and interact with each other.From nineteenth-century disapproval of what was seen as irresponsibly indulgent pet ownership among the poor to Bill Clinton's caring and fun-loving image and populist connection to the 'common person' as achieved through his labrador companion Buddy, Sanders looks at how dogs serve not only as social facilitators but also as adornments to social identity. He also reveals how, while we often strive to teach and shape our dogs' behavior, dogs often teach us to appreciate with more awareness a nourishing meal, physical warmth, a walk in the woods, and the simple joys of the immediate moment.Sanders devotes chapters to the specialized work of guide-dog trainers, the problems and joys experienced by guide dog owners, the day-to-day work of veterinarians dealing with the healing, death, and euthanizing of their animal patients, and the everyday interactions, assumptions, and approaches of people who choose, for various reasons and in various ways, to spend their lives in the company of dogs. "Understanding Dogs" will interest those who live and work with animals as well as those studying the sociology of human-animal interaction. Author note: Clinton R. Sanders is co-author of "Regarding Animals" (Temple) and Professor of Sociology at the University of Connecticut.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Sanders has written a book that is at once insightful and delightful. The co-author of Regarding Animals (Temple Univ., 1996) is a professor of sociology who spends a lot of time with dogs. How lucky! But while the rest of us dog people use our leisure time to play with our canine companions, Sanders studies the interactions of humans and dogs. His research takes him to veterinary clinics and introduces him to guide dog owners and trainers and to people like us. He focuses on the mutually dependent relationship that develops between dogs and people and on the question of how dogs think, communicate, and have intentions. Do sociologists have it made, or what? Highly recommended for academic and public libraries.APeggie Partello, Keene State Coll. Lib., NH
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In this latest treatise on the state of the human-canine connection, sociologist Sanders focuses on the sociological significance of human relationships with dogs. It sounds complicated, but this book is really quite interesting. In a chatty, informative way, Sanders examines how everyday dog owners relate to their pets as thinking, emotional, and responsive individuals, and he shows exactly how pets reciprocate. Using anecdotes, research, and hard data, Sanders discusses the history of dog ownership, the problems and joys of living with a dog, the day-to-day work of veterinarians, and the everyday lives of "dog-people." Sanders' motive is to increase understanding of pet behavior, emphasize how pets can enhance our daily lives, and show how we can learn from our pets. But he's preaching to the converted here, because it seems unlikely that anyone but a committed "dog-person" would bother to read something entitled Understanding Dogs. Nevertheless, this book contains a wealth of sociological information about dog ownership and may be helpful in rounding out a dog or pet collection. Kathleen Hughes

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 195 pages
• Publisher: Temple University Press (May 3, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566396891
• ISBN-13: 978-1566396899
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,605,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a unique and valuable contribution to the field, October 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding Dogs (Animals Culture And Society) (Paperback)

Understanding Dogs is an important and fascinating contribution towards the body of knowledge about human dog relationships, (also having implications for our relationships with other animals). This book is an essential fund of information and reference material for those researching human animal relationships. It is also a book for anyone who works with or appreciates the companionship of dogs.

Clinton Saunders introduces the unique combination of his meticulous sociological discipline, his familiarity with the published and ongoing relevant research, and his own personal, pragmatic and sensitive observations. He balances hard science with a respect for subjective experience. His work validates the importance of being open to the exploration of this exciting area with curiosity, scientific accuracy, respect and affection. His work speaks from his head and his heart. In his final sentence he warns, "Our relationship with animals can only speak to us if we are open to listening."

Dr Mary F Stewart DVM, MRCVS Senior Research Fellow University of Glasgow Veterinary School

5 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hey, now I can talk to fido!, February 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding Dogs (Animals Culture And Society) (Paperback)

I used to not understand dogs. They always seems to say the same old things, like "woof-woof" or "bow-wow" or "arf." But now, after reading "Understanding Dogs" I have edifying conversations with Fido about Derrida, Foucault, Marx, and that particularly dense philosopher, Gritzerus. As Fido always says, "bark bark, woof woof, bow wow, arf, grrrrl." HAHAHAHAHAHA! What a sense of humor!