The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog

The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog – Bruce D. Perry

What happens to a child’s brain when the child experiences terrible trauma, abuse or neglect, and can that child heal? Child psychiatrist Bruce D. Perry has spent his career working with children who have endured extreme experiences. In The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist’s Notebook, written with journalist Maia Szalavitz, he shares some of their stories and what they teach about trauma, love and healing.

The book’s title comes from the story of Justin, a boy who spent his early years kept in a dog cage by a caregiver who did not know how to care for him. Other chapters describe children who survived the siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, a girl who witnessed her mother’s murder, children who suffered severe neglect in infancy, and others whose early experiences shaped their development in profound ways.

Through these cases, Perry explains how trauma affects the developing brain, particularly the stress response systems, and why early relationships are so important for healthy development. He describes his neurosequential approach to treatment, which tailors therapy to the parts of the brain most affected and the stage of development a child has reached. Above all, he emphasizes the healing power of safe, consistent and caring relationships.

Compassionate and illuminating, the book offers hope as well as insight. It is a valuable read for parents, teachers, social workers, therapists and anyone who cares for children.

Readers should be aware that it contains descriptions of child abuse, neglect and violence that may be distressing.