[.uk] The Hidden Life Of Dogs (ISBN 0671517007)

Depends how you read it...:
There are two ways to read this book... and depending upon how you do, I'd give it one star or a full five... (unfortunately Amazon does not allow for this...) The five star scenario: Taken as sort of a semi-autobiographical quasi non-fiction New England transcendentalist vibe New Agey Summerhill meets Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenence type book about a lady who decides to give her dogs total freedom to be dogs with little human intervention allowing them to revert back to the lifestyle they once lead in the wilderness as wolves and experiences canines on their terms while learning many lessons in life as well.... Viewed as such, it makes a fascinating read... definitely more poetic than scientific... but still refreshing kibble and urine for the soul. Reads like an emotionally riveting novel in which the characters are dogs, yet with very rich story telling and character complexity... with occasional overboard description including a love scene that goes into a bit too much detail... (Note to audio book version users: Sound track includes music provided by WINDHAM HILL... that should be a clue!) The one star scenario: Ought to be retitled "Confessions of an Irresponsible Dog Owner" - - Basically she gives her dogs entire run of the neighborhood, seems to do little to train them, alludes to conflicts with neighbors over leash laws (yes, the crazy lady with the pack of unruly dogs) and in doing so endangers the safety of the dogs... yet takes her literary talent and writes a book turning her experience into a book - - when really she probably belongs as the culprit on an episode of animal police... All in all, engaging... but my suspicion is that the writer is as equally talent as... missing a few screws... Incidentally regarding the "rape" scene in which a cocker spaniel wanders onto the property and traumatizes one of her dogs by forcing himself upon her when she wasn't ready.... has anyone ever heard of leash laws? Aside from the fact that dogs sometimes get hit by cars (as did her pug early in the book) despite their well thought out innate gift for artful highway crossing that far surpasses humans (*her claim) - - wouldn't fences, leashes and not letting dogs come and go freely actually lead to a theoretical DECLINE on dog on dog rape and sexual assault - - even if they do have a natural gift for avoiding cars due to their "irreverant" respect of them? Dingos, incidentally aren't an obscure breed of dogs but a somewhat endangered highway crossing/tree climbing variety of dog that enjoy wondering people's back yards in search of small prey... also a riddle: What do you get when you allow a Coyote and Dog to breed... answer : A coyote that's less afraid of people, hence more likely to get itself into trouble when it decides to pay a friendly visit to the frustrated property owner with the shotgun... And by the way: Regarding the dog's "mysterious" yet wonderous reaction to death - - with all thse dogs in the room, isn't it just possible that one may have accidentally farted... only that day instead of letting them galivant around the neighborhood she decided to observe them (after having left the body of the dog who just died at the vet to dispose of how he wanted because of her "pragmatic" view of death?)

Review of dog owners:
I found the reviews of this book hilarious! They provide more insight into the average dog owner than the book they read. The average dog owner is more anthropomorphising than this author could imagine. He or she wants his or her pet to behave like a small soldier, go to ridiculous dog shows based on some human ideal and breed only to produce some bizarre set of traits we think are valuable! Thank God for some alternative, even if it is imperfect. After all, it was not published as a scientific treatise.

Provocative Book:
I found this a challenging, though ultimately worthwhile, reading experience. Within its pages, this book explores many controversial and alarming practices, including allowing dogs to run free (even in the service of the author's rather remarkable observations following one of the dogs in its nightly wanderings) and not neutering or training dogs; and I cannot say I was always comfortable with the authors conclusions in any area of exploration. But in the end, I found that my thoughts were refreshed about the individual and wholly private lives of others, including my canine companions. If one is to embrace the idea of true equality among species -- and I want to do that -- one has to expose the unseen prejudices and knee-jerk attitudes that cloud our perceptions of ourselves and all others. I don't mean to imply that this is truly possible, but that it is an end itself, which opens how we see the world. I don't look at this book as conclusive or even ultimately important for its assertions, but a book that asks interesting questions, and opens the mind to new, unexplored ways of perceiving our fellows. I find that worth the effort to overcome my discomfort in some of its more provocative aspects.

Looking at dogs as they see themselves:
I first read this book probably 10 years ago (1997?) and I found it fascinating. I think humans have a tendency to see other animals as either pets or property, and the author approached her interactions as more of a curious observer. If you read it with an open mind you will probably find this book very worthwhile and interesting. If, on the other hand, you are incensed by the author allowing her dogs to breed and interact as self-directed beings you will most likely find the book too far outside of your narrow worldview, as many 1-star reviewers seem to have done.

the hidden life of dogs:
This is a biography only of specific dogs instead of a person or persons and as such is first rate, insightful and would be interesting to anyone who likes dogs, from about 10 years old on.This is so well written, not scientific, but could add scientific data to the canine pool.