Split in 3 parts, the book addresses the specific aspects of behavioural biology. The first part deals with the evolution and development of the dog, whereas the next part deals with basic aspects of dog behaviour. The final part emphasises on the behavioural problems, their prevention and cure.

1: Systematics and evolution of canids, X Wang and R Tedford, both at American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA 2: Domestication of dogs, P Savolainen, Albanova University Centre, Stockholm, Sweden 3: The evolution of dog breeds, C Vila, Uppsala University, Sweden 4: Mechanisms and function in dog behaviour, P Jensen 5: Behaviour genetics of dogs, E Jazin, Uppsala University, Sweden 6: Sensory physiology and dog behaviour, H Bubna-Littitz, Veterinary University of Vienna, Austria 7: Social behaviour of dogs and related canids, D U Feddersen-Petersen, University of Kiel, Germany 8: Learning in dogs, P Reid, ASPCA Animal Behavior Center, New York, USA 9: Behaviour of feral dogs, L Boitani, University of Rome, Italy 10: Behaviour of working dogs, R Beilharz, The University of Melbourne, Australia 11: Testing and prediction of dog behaviour, K Svartberg, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden 12: Social cognition and human-animal interactions in dogs, A Miklosi, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary 13: Behavioural disorders of dogs, R Mugford, The Animal Behaviour Centre, Surrey, UK 14: Behaviour and disease in dogs, Å Hedhammar, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden and K Hultin-Jäderlund, Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine, Oslo, Norway

‘Beginning with excellent chapters on the evolution and domestication of dogs, the book delves into the genetics underlying behaviour, the relative importance of different senses, and learning and memory. This book is an easy read, and probably will be much appreciated among dog lovers and some students of behavioural biology. Recommended.’ ‘The Behavioural Biology of Dogs fills an important niche. Carles Vilà and Jennifer Leonard… offer an excellent discussion of the molecular methods to study dog origins… and… the book really hits its stride with Dorit Feddersen-Petersen’s discussion of characteristic patterns of social behaviour.’ -Science Vol. 317