How Dogs Love Us

A Neuroscientist and His Adopted Dog Decode the Canine Brain

By: Gregory Berns

Narrated by: LJ Ganser

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 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.

An Audible for Dogs Pick: Make your dog's day. Cesar Millan shares how audiobooks can make dogs happier and calmer. Learn more.©2013 2013 by (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“This book’s abundant appeal and value come from following Berns through the challenges of constructing the experiment and especially of training his dog to participate. ‘Like a catcher and pitcher,’ he writes, he and his dog ‘became a team.’ The satisfaction of that relationship perhaps explains why our two species have lived together so long and happily.” ( The Boston Globe)

"A neuroscientist wonders what goes on in the minds of our pet dogs: Do we delude ourselves when we believe that they love us? [ How Dogs Love Us is] a solid introduction to an appealing new area of research." ( Kirkus)

"The book is as much a scientific exploration of how the canine brain might function as it is a deeply personal story about Berns's relationship with dogs as pets and colleagues. Ultimately that connection is what makes the book compelling." ( Scientific American MIND)

Interesante, emotivo y cautivador

La historia me capturó desde el primer momento, claro: amo los perritos!! El imaginar poder saber si ellos realmente sienten AMOR me intrigó. La historia se narra con buen ritmo, aprendí mucho y me mantuve entretenida. Los perritos de la historia son fascinantes y me ayudó a comprender mejor a mis perros y a amarlos más.

Extremely engaging

This audiobook meets science and the love of dogs at a level so high; that the only thing I could say. It's a must read or heard by any animal lover.

About Time

The story chronologically recounts the first MRI scans & correlations of conscious, voluntarily-willing canine participants from initial inspiration to the field's positive outlook. The audio is fine but the delivery hiccups over edits occasionally.

6 stars out of 5

Well written and explained. A very good read, I learned a lot from this book.

Great story, mediocre narration

What made the experience of listening to How Dogs Love Us the most enjoyable?

The story presented is great. Interesting science, great back story, good personal touches.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cali

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of LJ Ganser?

The author

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The 2nd to last chapter

Any additional comments?

The narrator must have been pronouncing things wrong and had to have them dubbed. It was noticeable and really took you out of the story.

Being a member of the die-hard dog lover group!

Looking at my beagle when she tilts her head l know she understands me!

Good Boy!

Amazing how the dogs were trained. Interesting and touching story. All dog lovers will want to read this. I kept comparing my dog to Cally. Could ever do that? And yet I also wondered why so much money to possibly never get an answer to their question.

excellent for those interested in science research

The research programs done on dogs here are a wonderful start to learning about what dogs are thinking without harming the dogs in any way. I would gladly volunteer my dog to participate in this program. I would love to know what she is thinking.

wonderful

I love this book. I have already recommended to everyone! It's such a lot information, but explained so very well. I feel great about learning about my dogs brain, it has even changed how I train them

fantastic look into human/canine relationships

Loved this book. Long setup to explain the science, but completely worth it. highly recommended.