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Being a Dog: Following the Dog Into a World of Smell Paperback – Illustrated, October 17, 2017

by Alexandra Horowitz (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 425 ratings
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From the #1 bestselling author of Inside of a Dogand The Year of the Puppy—“an incredible journey into the olfactory world of man’s best friend” (O, The Oprah Magazine), Alexandra Horowitz’s follow-up to her New York Times bestseller explains how dogs experience the world through their most spectacular organ—the nose.

In her “fascinating book…Horowitz combines the expertise of a scientist with an easy, lively writing style” (The New York Times Book Review) as she imagines what it is like to be a dog. Guided by her own dogs, Finnegan and Upton, Horowitz sets off on a quest through the cutting-edge science behind the olfactory abilities of the dog. In addition to speaking to cognitive researchers and smell experts, Horowitz visits detection-dog trainers and training centers; she meets researchers working with dogs to detect cancerous cells and anticipate epileptic seizure or diabetic shock; and she even attempts to smell-train her own nose.

As we come to understand how rich, complex, and exciting the world around us is to the canine nose, Horowitz changes our perspective on dogs forever. Readers will finish this book feeling that they have broken free of their human constraints and understanding smell as never before; that they have, for however fleetingly, been a dog. And, as The Boston Globe says about Being a Dog, “becoming more doglike, not surprisingly, can make anyone’s life a little more vivid.”
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  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    October 17, 2017
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.8 x 8.38 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1476796025
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1476796024
  7. See all details
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Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know
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  1. Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know
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    Paperback
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  2. Our Dogs, Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
425 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They describe it as a fun, delightful read that provides new insights into dogs and their world of smell. Readers appreciate the author's love for dogs and curiosity about their world of scent. The writing style is described as excellent, masterful, and humorous.

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ReadabilityInsightInsight into dogsSmellWriting style
46 customers mention "Readability"39 positive7 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and informative. They describe it as a fun, interesting read about dogs' olfactory world. The book is entertaining even for non-dog owners, showing genuine appreciation and compassion for dogs.

"Great book even for non dog owners...." Read more

"...This" list a few weeks ago, I realized "Being a Dog" would be the perfect book for an elderly out-of-state friend who loves dogs and loves science..." Read more

"...Thanks so much for this great book." Read more

"I very much enjoyed her first book, being a dog lover and dog socializer for seeing eye lab pups and autism golden pups...." Read more

45 customers mention "Insight"43 positive2 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They appreciate the engaging writing style and the fascinating explanation of what it means to be a dog. The book is an excellent resource on science-based aspects of the unique features of dogs and the world of scent. It's researched and well-written, with a love for dog owners.

"Great book even for non dog owners. It explores how people can use and exercise their sense of smell and introduces all sorts of training I hadn't..." Read more

"...book for an elderly out-of-state friend who loves dogs and loves science in general. She has just started to read it...." Read more

"...She has clear expertise in the things that dogs know and feel, and her research has formed the base of an exceptional book about dogs, but also..." Read more

"...being well-researched with understandable data, it's just a fascinating explanation of what is going on inside my dog's head when his nose twitches!..." Read more

20 customers mention "Insight into dogs"20 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's insights into dogs and smells. They find it informative and engaging, helping them appreciate their pets better. The book covers scientific aspects of unique dog features and scents. It touches the hearts of pet owners and is relatable for science enthusiasts.

"...know and feel, and her research has formed the base of an exceptional book about dogs, but also about smell...." Read more

"...I always want to better understand these amazing animals and thier capabilites. However, in truth, I was somewhat disappointed..." Read more

"A great read which combines a love of dogs and curiosity about their world of smell, with the rigorous scientific mind of an author doing serious..." Read more

"Three hundred pages of fascinating biological science and applied canine behavioral research -- easy to understand, excellent explanations,..." Read more

20 customers mention "Smell"17 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's smell. They say it combines their love of dogs and curiosity about their world of smell with rigorous scientific research.

"...It explores how people can use and exercise their sense of smell and introduces all sorts of training I hadn't thought of...." Read more

"...Most of the book is about how dogs perceive smell, how they can process smell, and what they can do with this knowledge...." Read more

"A great read which combines a love of dogs and curiosity about their world of smell, with the rigorous scientific mind of an author doing serious..." Read more

"I liked this book. It IS mostly about dogs' ability to smell, but there are some pretty long sections about smelling in general, which I didn't..." Read more

17 customers mention "Writing style"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's writing style engaging and masterful. They describe the author as knowledgeable and entertaining, bringing her research into an entertaining prose that draws readers in. The author's energy and excitement for dogs and their noses is also appreciated.

"...Her descriptions are lush and full, her use of words is masterful...." Read more

"...because it's such a nice change to read a well-constructed, artfully written book!!..." Read more

"...For lovers of dogs, science, and good writing this book is a treat. There’s something to learn on almost every page." Read more

"...More importantly for the reader, she translates this research into entertaining prose that invites us all to pay more attention to our own human..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars An underused sense
    Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great book even for non dog owners. It explores how people can use and exercise their sense of smell and introduces all sorts of training I hadn't thought of.

    For dog owners, the last chapter is about the sport of nose work. If you're not doing sports with your dog, nose work and Barn hunt are great for letting them use their noses.
    One person found this helpful
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  • RoseJo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Easy, interesting read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I first read "Being a Dog," in 2016-ish after listening to an interview with the author, Alexandra Horowitz. I lborrowed the audio from the library, was entranced by the author's stories of the ways she and her research assistants would try to understand dog behavior (spoiler alert: sniff where a dog had urinated), and added the book to my "Enjoyed This" list.

    Please note, although I like dogs in general, I have never been nor desire to be a dog owner (nor a pet owner of any kind). But I am an eclectic curioius reader. Also, before buying books for myself or others, I first read (or listen) to a library copy. If I believe I'll read it again, then I'll buy the book for myself. If I think others will like it or find it useful, then I add it to a list of books I've enjoyed that specific people might also enjoy.

    While reviewing my "Enjoyed This" list a few weeks ago, I realized "Being a Dog" would be the perfect book for an elderly out-of-state friend who loves dogs and loves science in general. She has just started to read it. When she is finished, she plans to re-gift it to her 13 year-old grandchild who is an advanced, avid reader.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mayzee
    4.0 out of 5 stars Okay read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    If your a dog lover who wants to know about their sniffer this is for you!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Wayne Rash
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is a book about dogs, but it's also a book about smell
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is Alexandra Horowitz's second book on dogs, but I hope it's not her last. She has clear expertise in the things that dogs know and feel, and her research has formed the base of an exceptional book about dogs, but also about smell. Most of the book is about how dogs perceive smell, how they can process smell, and what they can do with this knowledge. However Horowitz also spends a significant portion of her book talking about smell. Smell, after all, is one thing that we have in common with dogs, and while they are vastly better equipped to use their sense of smell, it is still the only means we share that allows us to perform a chemical analysis of our environment. By learning about how humans smell, we can then use that knowledge to understand how dogs smell.

    I particularly enjoyed her descriptions of the various exercises that dogs go through when being trained in areas that involve smell, and I enjoyed even more learning about "nosing" as an amateur activity. I wish I could find a nosing class for my dogs.

    Speaking as an author of technical books, I'm envious of the skill Horowitz shows with language. Her descriptions are lush and full, her use of words is masterful. By the time I finally reached the end of the book, I was disappointed, not because the book was a problem, but rather that it ended, and I wanted to keep reading her magical prose.

    One tip - buy the hard cover. There's a test. Horowitz will ask you how the book smells, and if you're reading an electronic copy, you won't have an answer.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • rabidreader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous book, well researched and skillfully written
    Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I think I've been reading too many self-published books lately because it's such a nice change to read a well-constructed, artfully written book!! In addition to being well-researched with understandable data, it's just a fascinating explanation of what is going on inside my dog's head when his nose twitches! Thanks so much for this great book.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • michael tanner
    3.0 out of 5 stars OK, but not as good a read as the first book, a little disappointed
    Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I very much enjoyed her first book, being a dog lover and dog socializer for seeing eye lab pups and autism golden pups.
    I always want to better understand these amazing animals and thier capabilites. However, in truth, I was somewhat disappointed
    in this second series book. It had some very interesting parts, but when it veered off into too many tangents about NON DOG related
    aspects of smell with humans, in medicine, in history, so in and so on I frankly got a little bored and wish it stay on topic, DOGS!
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Norman Epstein
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dog lovers, science lovers — get this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A great read which combines a love of dogs and curiosity about their world of smell, with the rigorous scientific mind of an author doing serious research at Barnard on the sense of smell. Using a combination of personal experience (she has 2 dogs), careful academic research, and observation plus contacts with others in the field we get a glimpse into the dog’s world as experienced through its nose, and the mysterious science involved. This makes for fascinating (and often humorous) reading, brings us a better understanding of what our furry friends might be experiencing, as well as giving us practical suggestions to allow us to enhance our own appreciation of the smells around us, most of which go unnoticed. For lovers of dogs, science, and good writing this book is a treat. There’s something to learn on almost every page.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • R. E. Roper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Got dog? Buy this.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Authority on dogs. If you have a dog just buy it and pass to some at the dog park. They will appreciate the gesture as will rheir dog!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Ma Jesus Espinosa M M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Horowitz es garantía
    Reviewed in Mexico on June 15, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    No lo he terminado pero lo que llevo me encanta y no dudo en recomendarlo. Leer un libro de la Dra. Alexandra siempre será garantía de calidad.
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  • Pete
    5.0 out of 5 stars FAST delivery
    Reviewed in Canada on April 18, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting but deep book. Some of the non technical comments are very interesting. Some humour included which helps of keep it lighter reading. Fine author, who knows her stuff, and where to get more.
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  • Marshall Cant
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Book, Wonderfully Written
    Reviewed in Canada on August 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Dr. Horowitz is a fantastic writer that draws you in, holds your attention, and leaves you wanting more. Awesome book for dog lovers. Superb.
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  • Jay
    5.0 out of 5 stars My dog's got no nose...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I am such a fan of Alexandra Horowitz and read 'Inside a Dog' in almost a straight sitting and refer back to it often. As a result, I was excited to see this new book just out and bought it immediately.

    If I am honest, there is some repetition between Inside a Dog and Being a Dog because the first book dealt with smell as part of it's content so some of the author's charming turns of phrase had already been used in the earlier work. However, this is such an in depth look at a dog's sense of smell and that sense is so important to them that it was easy to forgive this even more insightful look if it was occasionally a little repetitive.

    It's such a wonderful and easily-to-read way of getting to see the world through your dog's nose that I can see it being a great read for anyone who wants to know a little bit more about what it means to be a dog.

    Highly recommended!
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  • RicH
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but as much about people as dogs
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 1, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this, and definitely a book you should read if you want to expand your insight into the canine psyche. I found that it prompted me to ask questions, and certainly I'm more sympathetic to letting my two boys enjoy their sniff times. Walks are more leisurely and led by them when off lead now. As others have said, a lot of the book is about the author's olfactory journey, which is an interesting read, but possibly over emphasised in a volume about dogs (so maybe harshly, a star knocked off). That said, a good read for dogphiles.
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