In the Introduction to the first edition of this book – published some 20 years ago – I bemoaned the general lack of objective and reliable scientific information about the domestic dog, and attributed this dearth of knowledge to scientific chauvinism. “Most modern biologists and behavioral scientists,” I wrote:

I am happy to report that this statement no longer rings true. Indeed, the domestic dog has become something of a scientific celebrity in recent years, and I would like to believe that the material presented in the first edition contributed to this change of heart. Numerous, highly respected, “high impact” scientific journals now regularly publish scholarly articles on the evolutionary origins of the dog, its molecular genetics, its social behavior and cognitive capacities, and its complex interactions with human society. Major international conferences are devoted exclusively to “canine science,” while innumerable TV documentaries, books and blogs have done a remarkable job of conveying all of this new dog science to a seemingly insatiable popular audience. At the same time, the dog's success as a social companion and working partner has continued to grow, not only among developed nations but also in many developing countries. In 1995, for example, when the first edition came out, an estimated 55 million dogs lived in the USA. Now the figure is closer to 80 million. And, as people's attachments for dogs as family members and valued assistants have grown, so too has concern for the health and welfare of these animals.

Celebrity, however, comes at a price. More people may know more about dogs than ever before, but it is often a shallow sort of knowledge that is easily exploited by self-styled dog experts for personal gain. The carefully edited antics of these charismatic but frequently ill-informed dog gurus and “whisperers” may be entertaining to watch on TV but, ultimately, it is the dogs who suffer when their owners imbibe too much of this quasi-scientific “snake oil.”