Our Dogs, Ourselves by Alexandra Horowitz

“When close relatives mate with each other, it’s called inbreeding. She goes on to explain that breeding dogs to look the way we want them to look has resulted in “short-nosed dogs who cannot breathe properly, small-headed dogs who have too little room for their brains, and giant dogs who cannot bear their own weight.” In the chapter dedicated to that subject, she writes about inbreeding and its dangers with specific examples.

They are family, but they are still possessions.” Legally, that is. They share our homes and often our sofas and our beds. While dogs are property, “…we know that dogs can do things that a chair or a backpack or a book cannot. Horowitz writes about the paradox regarding how humans treat dogs. And the author educates the young readers (or in my case, an older reader) about what’s most important to know about man’s and woman’s best friend. I love what Horowitz has to say, I love that she explains things simply but clearly, and I love that she obviously knows what she’s talking about. And if you love dogs? This engaging and informative book is all about our bond with these amazing creatures - how we love them, how they return that love, and how we can best treat them. It’s a quick and easy version of the adult book.

Often, I love reading a nonfiction book written for middle grade children because while it’s informative and filled with fascinating knowledge, I don’t have to wade through pages and pages to get the information. Do you love dogs? Don’t miss “Our Dogs, Ourselves: How we Live with Dogs” by Alexandra Horowitz.

Our Dogs, Ourselves by Alexandra Horowitz