Welcome. Shelved and germinating for over ten years, a longing to pen a novel of sorts dedicated to our most trusted companion has always escaped me — until now.
Set for release on October 14th, 2025, GREATEST CANINES explores the domestication, cognition, and sociocultural significance of dogs throughout human history. Drawing on the disciplines of archaeology, anthropology, neurobiology, and animal behavior, this work traces the evolutionary arc of the human-canine relationship—examining its emotional, practical, and philosophical dimensions. Interwoven throughout are compelling accounts of extraordinary dogs whose lives have profoundly impacted the human experience.
Far from a mere compilation of anecdotes, Greatest Canines investigates the neurobiological foundations of canine empathy, the behavioral mechanisms that underpin interspecies communication, and the archaeological evidence tracing the early domestication of canines in prehistoric societies. The book further engages with contemporary scholarship on animal cognition, interspecies co-evolution, and the psychology of human-animal bonds.
Informed by interviews with subject-matter experts—archaeologists, animal behaviorists, cognitive scientists, anthropologists, and animal welfare litigants—this work underscores the reciprocal influences shaping the dog-human alliance. It explores how dogs have not only adapted to human environments but have also actively shaped human social structures, emotional resilience, and collective identity.
By integrating empirical research with reflective narrative, Greatest Canines offers a nuanced and comprehensive perspective on the shared history, psychological interdependency, and emotional significance of dogs in human life. It invites readers—whether scholars, practitioners, or lifelong dog enthusiasts—to reconsider the profound impact of our most enduring interspecies relationship. ~ Paul Barthel Founder Animal Humane Advocacy
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