What the Dog Knows: The Science and Wonder of Working Dogs by Cat Warren

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An ARC was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Solo is an Amazing dog with an important Job. He is a cadaver dog. Trained to find the dead and bring peace to their families.

Solo was a singleton, meaning he was the only pup in his litter. His trainer basically calls him a jackass and wonders what it is Cat wants him to do. She wants him to have a job, to be useful. As it turns out the Jackasses and bitches from hell often make the best canine cops :)

Cat takes us through the trials and tribulations of training a dog follow his nose and alert his handler when he finds what he's looking for. I would have loved to have read every little detail about the training methods but these are obviously tightly kept secrets only known to the select few in the training world (jealous).  

There have been many attempts to replace the dogs nose. Using everything from machinery to trained vultures. They all lack one thing, the special bond that exists between man and canine. This fearless bond that drives a dog forward into the most dangerous of terrains to do what he was born to do, and to please his master. 

I felt that the book was cut short slightly and hoping Cat will continue to write about her experiences as Solo slows down in life and Coda steps up to the mark. The book has given me a thirst for more knowledge of cadaver dogs. It really is a fascinating read. I would recommend it to anyone interested in dogs and animal behaviour in general.

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