Mark Derr

About

Mark Derr is the author of six books, ranging from Some Kind of Paradise, an environmental history of Florida, How the Dog Became the Dog, Dog's Best Friend, and A Dog's History of America. As an expert on the subject of dogs, he has been a guest on such programs as The Charlie Rose Show and Fresh Air. His articles and opinion pieces have appeared in the Atlantic Monthly, Wall Street Journal, Huffinton Post, Natural History, Smithsonian and The New York Times. He lives in Miami Beach, Florida.

Books by Mark Derr

Recent Posts

The Dingo-Aboriginal Model of Dog Domestication

Can studying dingoes and Aboriginal Australians provide insight into early humans and the development of dogs? New research suggests yes.

Rethinking Wolf Pack Stability

Does the "alpha" wolf theory of pack dynamics hold water? New research adds to the chorus that says no.

The Dogs of Chernobyl

The Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor plays home to a vibrant community of wild dogs. Do their genes show signs of mutation? What can the Chernobyl dogs tell us about radiation & genetics?

The Next Step in Canine Behavioral Genetics

Lineages are a more subtle way than breeds to define types of dogs and their behaviors.

Remembering Robert K. Wayne

A brilliant career in science cut short.

New Views of Neanderthal Are Reshaping Prehistory

Neanderthals turned raptor talons into art. What else does their society say about humanity today?

New Study: Wolves and Dogs Bond Similarly When Hand-Raised

Are wolves capable of human bonding like dogs? New research suggests the answer is more "yes" than ever before.

A Large Genome Study Shows Dogs Originated at Least Twice

Once again, genetics chips away at the complex story of dog domestication.

Debunking the Myth That Dog Behavior Follows Breed

You can't predict a dog's behavior by the cut of its genes.

The Latest on Early Dogs

Looking at the big and the little of it, scientists pin down a key characteristic of canids in their genes.