The powerful bond between humans and dogs is one that’s uniquely cherished. Loyal, obedient, and affectionate, they are truly “man’s best friend.” But do dogs love us the way we love them? Emory University neuroscientist Gregory Berns had spent decades using MRI imaging technology to study how the human brain works, but a different question still nagged at him: What is my dog thinking?
After his … thinking?
After his family adopted Callie, a shy, skinny terrier mix, Berns decided that there was only one way to answer that question — use an MRI machine to scan the dog’s brain. His colleagues dismissed the idea. Everyone knew that dogs needed to be restrained or sedated for MRI scans. But if the military could train dogs to operate calmly in some of the most challenging environments, surely there must be a way to train dogs to sit in an MRI scanner.
With this radical conviction, Berns and his dog would embark on a remarkable journey and be the first to glimpse the inner workings of the canine brain. Painstakingly, the two worked together to overcome the many technical, legal, and behavioral hurdles. Berns’s research offers surprising results on how dogs empathize with human emotions, how they love us, and why dogs and humans share one of the most remarkable friendships in the animal kingdom.
How Dogs Love Us answers the age-old question of dog lovers everywhere and offers profound new evidence that dogs should be treated as we would treat our best human friends: with love, respect, and appreciation for their social and emotional intelligence.
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Interesting story about a relationship between a dog and his human. The story is also about the science behind a study showing that dogs have emotions and how they are able to relate emotionally to humans.
An entertaining book based on scientific research, a rare combination. This book offerr proof that dogs really have feelings.
An excellent book for dog lovers. Ever since I met my Yorkie Nikki, named after Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue, he is so in touch with me and this book confirmed that. At 7 weeks old, when the Amish farmer I purchased him from, Nikki and his brother EJ, named after Elton John were the last 2 from a litter of five, placed him in my arms, he stared …
Too technical.
Very Educational,
Suspicions confirmed
This is a book about an experiment and, while I was certainly interested in the outcome of the experiment, I was not so interested in all of the details about how the experiment was devised. Unfortunately, the design and execution of the experiment was about 7/8 of the book.
Did not get too technical so it was easy to understand and fun to read!
If you are a dog person this is a must read book, wonderful and informative.
I was very disappointment. The book was more about the writer and his associates and very little about what the title suggests. I would not recommend.
The author was good at explaining processes for doing an MRI on “awake” dogs., and helping understand a dog better. Just wasn’t an overwhelming, or great breakthrough for me.
If you have ever loved a dog you already know that they loved you back. This book challenges those assumptions, but doesn’t refute them. It matters not, love is in the heart of the receiver and if you have had a lovable dog your heart has known it was loved.
I loved this book, have always had dogs. In particular, Basset Hounds. I always knew that they loved us, as much as we loved them.
In my opinion dogs are wonderful companions. This book strongly supports my opinion. Thank you, Gregory Berns, for writing a science book with your personal touch! Dogs can bring out the best in people if we let them be dogs rather than obedient subservients who have to fit our lifestyles. I let my dogs guide and teach me, and this book validates …
I love this book. I read some parts over when my dog acts differently.
I am a scientist and was hoping for results. This book meanders thru all of the foibles of the experiment whichI didnt find so read-worthy. I am also a world competitor in a dog sport with extensive training experience. So I commend their efforts in MRI and headphone acclimation. But the author has his own biases about dog behavior (without …
I really enjoyed reading this book. It affirmed many things that I thought my dogs were trying to communicate with me.
It was okay….j expected more.
Very enjoyable mixing love of dogs with science. I liked it very much. Reading it for second time now.
A fascinating and heartwarming story involving people and dogs. For dog-lovers a confirmation of the special relationship to man’s best friend.