READER'S DIGEST RECOMMENDED READ: Canine Companionship
Reader's Digest UK|March 2021
An in-depth look at the long, often surprising history of one of the most enduring bonds of all
READER'S DIGEST RECOMMENDED READ: Canine Companionship

What is it with human beings and dogs? Why of all the species in all the world have these two formed such a close bond? A bond, moreover, that not only has obvious practical benefits to both parties, but that from all available evidence—scientific as well as anecdotal—often appears to be one of genuine mutual love? In seeking to answer these questions, Simon Garfield ranges widely: from cave paintings to today’s therapy dogs by way of greyhound racing, dog acts, DNA sequencing, cartoons, high art and much else besides. At one point, we meet a dog who can recognise the names of more than 1,000 objects and bring them when asked.

Garfield also suggests that the human-canine relationship is still evolving. Until the mid-19th century, most dogs were expected to work for a living. Then came the transformation to purely domestic pets. Now, over the past 30 years or so, they’ve become more like members of the family—a fact reflected in their changing names. Gone are the Fidos and Rovers of yesteryear. Instead, we’re far more likely to give our dogs the same names that we give our children, with Alfie, Charlie, Poppy and Bella leading the way in Britain. (One of the book’s many great snippets is that, for parents, looking at photos of their dogs produces very similar brain activity to looking at photos of their kids.) Garfield, mind you, is clearly uneasy about what seems to be happening next: dogs designed primarily to look cute—not least on Instagram.

Esta historia es de la edición March 2021 de Reader's Digest UK.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición March 2021 de Reader's Digest UK.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE READER'S DIGEST UKVer todo
EVERY SECOND COUNTS: TIPS TO WIN THE RACE AGAINST TIME
Reader's Digest UK

EVERY SECOND COUNTS: TIPS TO WIN THE RACE AGAINST TIME

Do you want to save 1.5 seconds every day of your life? According to the dishwasher expert at the consumer organisation Choice, there’s no need to insert the dishwashing tablet into the compartment inside the door.

time-read
3 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
May Fiction
Reader's Digest UK

May Fiction

An escaped slave's perspective renews Huckleberry Finn and the seconds tick down to nuclear Armageddon in Miriam Sallon’s top literary picks this month

time-read
1 min  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Wine Not
Reader's Digest UK

Wine Not

In a time of warning studies about alcohol consumption, Paola Westbeek looks at non-alcoholic wines, how they taste and if they pair with food

time-read
3 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Train Booking Hacks
Reader's Digest UK

Train Booking Hacks

With the cost of train travel seemingly always rising, Andy Webb gives some tips to save on ticket prices

time-read
4 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
JOURNEY TO SALTEN, NORWAY, UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN
Reader's Digest UK

JOURNEY TO SALTEN, NORWAY, UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN

Here, far from the crowds, in opal clarity, from May to September, the sun knows no rest. As soon as it’s about to set, it rises again

time-read
8 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
My Britain: Cheltenham
Reader's Digest UK

My Britain: Cheltenham

A YEAR IN CHELTENHAM sees a jazz festival, a science festival, a classical music festival and a literature festival. Few towns with 120,000 residents can boast such a huge cultural output!

time-read
6 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
GET A GREEN(ER) THUMB
Reader's Digest UK

GET A GREEN(ER) THUMB

Whether you love digging in the dirt, planting seeds and reaping the bounty that bursts forth, or find the whole idea of gardening intimidating, this spring offers the promise of a fresh start.

time-read
6 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Under The GRANDFLUENCE Suzi Grant
Reader's Digest UK

Under The GRANDFLUENCE Suzi Grant

After working in TV and radio as an author and nutritionist, Suzi Grant started a blog alternativeageing.net) and an Instagram account alternativeageing). She talks to Ian Chaddock about positive ageing”

time-read
3 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Sam Quek: If I Ruled The World
Reader's Digest UK

Sam Quek: If I Ruled The World

Sam Quek MBE is an Olympic gold medalwinning hockey player, team captain on A Question of Sport and host of podcast series Amazing Starts Here

time-read
3 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Stand Tall, Ladies
Reader's Digest UK

Stand Tall, Ladies

Shorter men may be having their moment, but where are the tall women?

time-read
3 minutos  |
Reader's Digest May 2024