The First Domestication

“An incredibly well-written book that deserves your full attention. . . If you are interested in dogs, wolves, and their origins this book is required reading, especially if you have previously read or heard the Coppinger’s take on dog evolution.”—Dr. Leon Vlieger, NHBS “Reading this book, we can better understand an important part of Euro-American culture. The book is easy to read and should prove fascinating, especially to anyone with a pet of their own and all who share an interest in the experiences and opinions surrounding domesticated animals”— Dumitru T. Murariu, Journal of Mammology “Offers intelligent but subtle insights that have generally been overlooked by others writing about dog domestication, including myself. The closing chapter in particular is brilliant.”—Pat Shipman, author of The Invaders: How Humans and Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals to Extinction and The Animal Connection: A New Perspective on What Makes Us Human “The domestic dog is absolutely unique in its relationship to humans. Famously loyal, fierce in protection, no other animal is such a friend, partner, guardian, guide, and family member. How dogs got to be dogs, how they brought their wolf traits into our home, and how humans have been in many ways reliant on dogs for survival and for our global spread—this is one of the most fascinating stories in the world. It is well told in these pages; this is a deep and insightful book.”—Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel “Fabulous! This book is an inspiration, and a highly readable scientific and scholarly work. It is a must-read for anyone who has ever loved a canid, and all who may not yet have done so.”—Bernd Heinrich, author of Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds