Man Meets Dog (Routledge Classics)

Before there was Cesar Millan, there was Konrad Lorenz. This amazing naturalist, founder of etiology, the study of animal behavior, uses his sharp intelligence and astute observations to further understand that wondrous creature closest to the human heart, the canine. In "Man Meets Dog," Lorenz explores the secrets of the canine heart and soul.Lorenz begins his rambling thesis with a vivid description of ‘how it may have started. 'It' is the special relationship between canine and Homo sapiens that evolved some 40,000+ years ago. Lorenz suggests that this relationship began out of a mutual need for protection. Groups of early humans in danger from large predators moved constantly in search of better shelter. Wild jackals and wolves trailed these humans, picking up the leftover food scraps. Their presence around the humans' campfires kept the more dangerous predators at bay. Humans realized and appreciated their services and rewarded the canines with a regular source of food. Thus, the sacred bond was formed.Lorenz goes on to analyze the origins of canine fidelity. He argues that dogs remain essentially children and that we humans take over the nurturing role of the mother, the leadership role of the ‘pack-leader.’ In other words, dogs never grow-up says Lorenz which is why they are so devoted to us; they are forever dependent on us, not only for the basics of survival, but more so for the deeper needs of affirmation and guidance. Interestingly, Lorenz believes that ‘pack mentality’ is not uniform among all dogs. Lorenz divides dogs into two types: the Lupus type-those derived from wolf lineage-who exhibit a strong pack mentality and the Jackal-derived type which is far more solitary and individual-oriented.Much of "Man Meets Dog" will be familiar to the dog-lover. The ‘Training’ and ‘Canine Customs’ chapters provide little original insight. Lorenz offers insight when he examines subtler topics: for example, canine behavior with children and with domesticated animals. For example, in his chapter on ‘animals that lie,’ Lorenz discusses the dissembling abilities of dogs, proof of their high intelligence. Any serious dog-lover has witnessed the following. “There is no doubt that intelligent dogs know when they are cutting an undignified and from a human point of view, comical figure. Many of them fly into a rage or become deeply depressed if they are laughed at on such occasions.” Moreover, which human dog companion couldn`t agree with the following. “Nevertheless, I repeat my counsel: a bitch is more faithful than a dog, the intricacies of her mind are finer, richer and more complex than his, and her intelligence is generally greater…of all creatures the one nearest to man in the fineness of its perceptions and in its capacity to render true friendship is a bitch.”Imperfect and shallow in spots, "Man Meets Dog" falls short of the empirical rigor found in other Lorenz works, but don't let that deter you. For any sincere dog-lover, “Man Meets Dog’ is a must read. In short, it's an impassioned and thoughtful analysis of the most perfect of animal relationships, one that encompasses, “… an immeasurable sum of love and fidelity.”

Beware of all people who borrow books. Their bark is promising and their bite is amnesiac. That is how I lost one of my pets (book). Imagine my astonishment when I dug up a favourite old bone in a listless search on Amazon, Konrad Lorenz's `Man Meets Dog'. When I was twelve, this was already a buried relic from the 50s, which survived in my father's eclectic library. It articulated all my instincts about dogs and made a whole lot of new ideas sit up. The impact of this warm, academic piece, read four decades ago, was such that I could, on reading it again, remember every detail. Konrad Lorenz imagines, very creatively, how the dog was first domesticated and how ancient instincts form its (and the cat's) psychic, how this establishes their relationship with man and tells us a thing or two about what man's relationship should be with his dog and cat. Using personal anecdotes to denote scientific research, he leaves one unaware that you are accumulating knowledge, and the humanized and humorous drawings help along this illusion. There are lots of modern animal behaviourists whispering about this very subject, but I have never noticed any acknowledgement for this charming pioneer who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Psychology in 1973 and who achieves `that miraculous state which is the highest goal of oriental sages' by venturing into nature with his dog and turning the expression `going to the dogs' into a spiritual experience. This is one bone I'm never sharing again, so find your own.

I first read Lorenz maybe 40 years ago and was awed by his insight and charmed by his gentle writing style. He is still charming but I fear his insight has become dated. I am a dog owner and dog lover of some 15 years and hoped this book would give me some guidance in the day to day challenges of living with dogs. He and his dogs live in a world that is different from mine. All of Lorenz's dogs are free to roam - no leashes. I suspect he rarely if ever had to pick up poop. None of his dogs are spayed. Litigious neighbors are not in his world.I will continue to read this book with pleasure and the hope that I can learn from him. It will also be a nostalgic look at days gone by.

Smal book with the author’s illustrations, easy and fascinating reading.

Better than I expect. I had heard a quote from this book on a TV program and was so taken by it that I had to see what this author was all about. I was not disappointed.

Easy to understand the both the science and the author's personal love for as well as his understanding of dogs. He explains his serious research while also explaining, like a true scientist, whenever he could not discover a definite conclusion for an issue or question. He includes personal stories about his animals and his research/methods.

Konrad Lorenz was a highly respected scientist, and an originator of the field of ethology. So, one can relax and enjoy the stories he tells of the dogs he owned and loved over his lifetime.Lorenz recognized where dog behavior comes from, and how it can mimic human behavior, but actually be motivated differently. However, he also recognized when dogs were indeed thinking for themselves, and he derived much pleasure from their lessons and struggles, which he shares in this book.I loved it!

There was so much to learn here about the nature of dogs! I wish I had read this long ago!

K.Lorenz starts his book with speculative thoughts about the beginnings of the domestication (= symbiosis) of dogs (most species descend from jackals, not wolves), but then continues with personal reflections on animal behavior and the animal mind (not only of dogs, but also of cats, bears, monkeys, wolves and ... men).He paints brilliantly innate animal behavior (removal of the umbilical cord, fight and flight distances, expressions, the importance of the gaze or the hunting and fighting lust) and shows the basis and norms of the animal mind and animal intelligence (like their understanding of spoken words).Animal fidelity is an expression of the tie between mother and young and the tie with the pack-leader (pack loyalty). Some species however have more pack leaders than followers and show a more independent behavior.The meaning of particular signals is determined by innate instinctive norms of action and reaction. Other important factors are ranking order and chivalrous treatment of females and puppies.The act of killing in a beast of prey is entirely free from hatred.K. Lorenz complains rightly that animals are deprived of rights, not only by the letter of the law, but also by people's insensitivity. For him, F. Nietzsche's word - `Let it be your aim always to love more than the other, never to be second' - should be the golden rule.A very worth-while read.

One of the more important books on Ethology written. Lorenz, although sometimes controversial, has impeccable observational skills and speaks as a Scientist, rather than the usual background burble of dog “experts.” I re-read it after about 30 years with great enjoyment

This is a delightful book. I read it years ago & lost my copy. Wanting a friend to read it, I purchased this one.It's a very interesting content of scientific observations written in a light style & with humour; never boring.

Read this aged 13yrs the first time, read it again recently nearly 50 yrs on (that sounds awful?), it's as entertaining and interesting as I remember, do get one if you like animals and want to understand them better

This is THE book about dogs.