The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook

The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog has garnered significant acclaim from professional publications and academic institutions since its publication. The book emerged during a critical period when the mental health field was transitioning away from the misconception that children naturally recover from trauma without lasting effects. Perry’s work provided scientific evidence contradicting these assumptions and demonstrated how traumatic experiences permanently alter developing brains. The work has been widely adopted as required reading across multiple academic disciplines, including psychology, sociology, neuroscience, and criminology. Research cited on platforms like ResearchGate demonstrates the book’s influence on studies ranging from trauma-informed educational practices to interventions for adult trauma survivors. Educational organizations have documented successful implementation of Perry’s approaches in teacher training programs focused on emotional regulation and classroom management. 

Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, detailed in the book, has been adopted by treatment centers internationally and serves as a foundation for trauma-informed care practices. His extensive publication record of over 500 published journal articles, book chapters, and scientific proceedings demonstrate his substantial scholarly contributions to the field. Perry’s involvement in major national traumas—including the Branch Davidian siege (featured in the book), Oklahoma City bombing, Columbine shootings, September 11th attacks, Sandy Hook shootings, and Hurricane Katrina—positioned him at the forefront of understanding childhood trauma responses and informed the real-world applications of his therapeutic approaches.