This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Inga Buccella for Readers' Favorite
With a combination of in-depth research, interviews, and her own experience with all types of dogs, author Jennifer S. Holland has written a concise and thought-provoking book, Dog Smart. She has observed and sometimes experienced firsthand how guide, therapy, rescue, cadaver, and many other "professional" dogs learn their specialties. They use different senses and cognitive capabilities to achieve their goals. But the human connection cannot be minimized. Therapy dogs, as well as service dogs for the visually challenged and those with dementia, possess a keen sense for guiding. However, they must also be "disobedient" at critical times to keep their handlers safe. So, are dogs intelligent? Or is their "smartness" measured only by human standards? These are the questions I had before reading Dog Smart.
From Dog Smart, I have learned many new facts. As I write this, Gussie, my twelve-year-old Malti-poo, is gazing up at me with his black olive eyes. I learned that Canis familiaris is the only species that can produce "puppy dog eyes" due to the numerous muscles surrounding its eyes. For me, Dog Smart reads like a journal that has merged with scientific findings. Jennifer S. Holland's style of writing piqued my interest from the beginning. This is a valuable and fun read that answers questions about the intellect of our best friend. At the same time, it left me asking more questions, which I think is a sign of a good book. From a bomb-sniffing Belgium Malinois to my squirrel-chasing Malti-poo, all canines have their own kind of smartness. Over the centuries, Canis familiaris has certainly benefited from the human connection, and vice versa. But are we smart enough to continue to benefit from the genius of their genus?
