How the Dog Became the Dog

From Wolves to Our Best Friends

By: Mark Derr

Narrated by: David Colacci

That the dog evolved from the wolf is an accepted fact of evolution and history, but the question of how wolf became dog has remained a mystery, obscured by myth and legend. How the Dog Became the Dog posits that dog was an evolutionary inevitability in the nature of the wolf and its human soul mate. The natural temperament and social structure of humans and wolves are so similar that as soon as they met on the trail they recognized themselves in each other. Both are highly social, accomplished generalists, and creatures of habit capable of adapting - homebodies who like to wander.

How the Dog Became the Dog presents "domestication" of the dog as a biological and cultural process that began in mutual cooperation and has taken a number of radical turns.

©2011 Mark Derr (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A transporting slice of dog/wolf thinking that will pique the interest of anyone with a dog in their orbit." ( Kirkus)

Great information!

Haven’t written a review for awhile but wanted to make sure I gave this 5 stars. It was free with membership. Well worth the ear read.

A thoughtful, historical look at dogs

More of a historical, scientific look at the dog and their relationships to their world, usually humans
I enjoyed it

a good history very scientific

if you're looking for a book that's meant to make you feel warm and fuzzy this one's not it...
it is very much a scientific approach to the history of a dog..... it is very insightful

Disapointing.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes, it was somewhat informative.

Would you listen to another book narrated by David Colacci?

Yes.

Did How the Dog Became the Dog inspire you to do anything?

No.

Any additional comments?

This book was just not as interesting as I had hoped. This is a subject that I am incredibly interested in and I felt like a learned little that I didn't already know and was actually bored through a lot of it. It is largely focused on anthropology and a lot of what the author claims is mostly opinion (albeit, a very well studied and informed opinion).

Interesting and thorough, but not for everyone

Would you listen to How the Dog Became the Dog again? Why?

I probably will not listen to this again because, although much of the detail was helpful in supporting the connection between the evolution of the dog with that of our own species, I doubt that I will have time to revisit it now that I have accepted the primary concept: we have co-evolved over a longer period of time than was previously believed.

What was one of the most memorable moments of How the Dog Became the Dog?

At the end of the book, the author discusses how the role of the dog has changed significantly in recent times from that during all of our prior history together. This has created serious problems for dogs because they are being bred primarily to artificial breed standards rather than for pet potential or for the original jobs they did such as herding, hunting, guarding, etc. Few modern breeds retain the characteristics that were developed originally.

Have you listened to any of David Colacci???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first audiobook I have listened to narrated by David Colacci. I felt he did a very good job with the material.

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

I was left with concern for dogs in our present culture, especially pedigree dogs. So many have serious diseases from the birth because of the way they are being bred and marketed. This affirmed our decision to rescue an adult mixed-breed dog from our local shelter rather than take on the probable physical and emotional problems so common in pure-bred dogs. Our dog is truly a treasure, and the last section of this book helped me to appreciate him even more.

Any additional comments?

This is not a