New book explores the mind of dogs

Abstract: There is a plethora of books about Man’s Best Friend that should be required reading. One such gem is the 80-page The Mind of a Dog, Science Meets Comics. Written by Helen Telkanranta, a scientist who specializes in animal behaviour and welfare, she says “that one of the keys to dogs minds is knowing that in some ways they see the world as if they were wolf cubs and not adults.

You are in your 50s, maybe even in your 60s, when the conversation comes up with a friend, a loved one even someone you just met through your social circle, about the possibility of you owning a dog for the first time.

It is no doubt a huge decision to make, but if you are leaning towards the idea, numerous studies from all four corners of the globe have revealed there are far more pluses than minuses when it comes to being a pet owner particularly when reaching a stage in your life where you are no longer on the clock and on the workplace treadmill.

In fact, Canadian petshop  chain Petvalu in post about entitled Navigating pet parenthood in your 50s and beyond, notes that it offers so many benefits to people in their  50s and up. There are obvious pluses like love and companionship, as well as some lesser-known perks.”

These include such things as the “fact that caring for a pet can provide a sense of purpose and bring structure to our lives, encourage us to be more physically active, and help lower our levels of stress and anxiety.”

If it is a dog as opposed to a feline, the article suggests that “on the physical side of health and wellness, living with a dog encourages us to get outdoors and be more physically active. Our canine companions require walks multiple times a day, urging us to get off of our sofa and take a stroll around the block or get some sun in the park.”

And once you make the plunge, assuming you do, there are a plethora of books about Man’s Best Friend that should be required reading. One such gem is the 80-page The Mind of a Dog, Science Meets Comics, which is scheduled to be published in September and is now available for pre-order.

Written by Dr. Helen Telkanranta, the founder and CEO of Arador Innovations and a scientist who specializes in animal behaviour and welfare, she says “that one of the keys to dogs minds is knowing that in some ways they see the world as if they were wolf cubs and not adults.

“Yay, you came home!” The joy is palpable. A swiftly wagging tail, a tongue lick on your face, maybe touching you with front paws. This happy scene meets you almost daily – if you are a wolf parent in the remote woods. That is how wolf pups greet adults returning from hunting to their home den.”

The author pointed out in a release that it is not a coincidence that a pooch living in the home echoes a similar behavior.

“Dogs do fully mature in some ways – otherwise they could not reproduce. However, their social behavior is largely that of a young wolf. Dogs look up to safe parent figures and join in their activities, especially if the dogs know good things will happen as a result,” she says.

According to the release, a unique aspect of the book is delivering in-depth knowledge as a comic-book story with relatable characters. For those willing to delve deeper, there are text pages and links to exclusive online content.

It has, says the author, “been designed to delight a wide variety of readers.”