From the grey wolf to the dingo, the South American bush dog to the whistling hunter, wild dogs have been free spirits on every continent except Antarctica and have thrived in all environments-the hottest and driest parts of Africa and Australia, the wettest forests of New Guinea and South America and the coldest parts of the Arctic Circle.

Spirit of the Wild Dog is an up-to-date and highly readable account of the skills, personalities and lifestyles of these dogs. Lesley Rogers and Gisela Kaplan, both highly acclaimed authors and researchers in animal behaviour, trace the ancestry and habitats of a vast range of canine species, and discuss how much of their spirit lives on in our pet dogs.

The book takes us on a fascinating exploration of how wild dogs behave, communicate, socialise, mate and hunt. It also provides insights into the extraordinary group coherence of wild dogs, their faithfulness and intelligence, their ability to learn, remember and solve problems.

While humans have long lived with, worked with, loved and nurtured pet dogs, we have a love/hate relationship with their relatives in the wild. The book discusses this and brings into question the future of the wild dog. Their numbers have been declining rapidly and many relatives of our best friend face extinction unless action is taken.

Including spectacular photographs of dogs in their natural habitats, Spirit of the Wild Dog is an intriguing and much needed account of the world of these admirable animals.