Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods – The Genius Of Dogs: Discovering The Unique Intelligence Of Man’s Best Friend (Oneworld, £20) ****

The Genius Of Dogs, penned by evolutionary anthropologist and dog researcher Brian Hare and his wife and colleague Vanessa Wood, explores canine intelligence with a cognitive scientific approach rather than the familiar, they argue flawed, method of behaviour correction.

Through a series of tests, Hare and Woods measure canines against other animals such as chimpanzees, bonobos, rats, coyotes and foxes, as well as dogs' closest cousins, wolves.

Through their unique domestication, dogs have become "more like infants than wolves" that can read human behaviour and even learn human vocabulary.

Over the centuries, man’s best friend has intrigued, impressed and, above all, befriended humans.

Hare and Woods argue that this special relationship has been no accident, rather a case of "survival of the friendliest", and that humans may not necessarily be the ‘top dogs’ we like to think we are in that relationship.

Written in an engaging and accessible style, Hare and Woods simplify the data while ensuring the science behind their studies is fully detailed, including an extensive index for those wishing to explore further.

The Genius Of Dogs is a fascinating read for any dog lover, whether you are coming to the topic looking to improve training methods, or simply to gain a better understanding of the human-canine relationship.