It’s all about dogs and the people who love them at the Coolidge Corner Theatre on Monday, March 15 at 7:00pm, with a special screening of BEST IN SHOW, master mockumentarian Christopher Guest’s hilarious send-up of competitive canine culture, paired with a talk by Nicholas Dodman, one of the world’s leading veterinary behaviorists. In keeping with the evening’s theme, the Coolidge will also be raffling off a free basket of dog goodies from Polka Dog Bakery, a treat boutique for pooches.    

Before the screening, Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman, BVMS, MRCVS explores the sometimes curious bond between people and their pooches. Do dogs really think and react, feel and anticipate, as their owners believe? Are show dogs really proud when they win and distraught when they lose — or is this interpretation a product of their owners’ overactive imaginations? What is the evidence for dogs’ intelligence, and do we over- or underestimate our canine companions?

Nicholas Dodman is professor, section head, and program director of the Animal Behavior Department of Clinical Sciences at Tufts’ Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. He founded the Animal Behavior Clinic – one of the first of its kind – at Tufts in 1986. Since the mid-‘90s, Dr. Dodman has written four acclaimed, bestselling books: The Dog Who Loved Too Much, The Cat Who Cried for Help, Dogs Behaving Badly, and The Well-Adjusted Dog. He is a columnist for the American Kennel Club’s quarterly publication, AKC Family Dog, and has authored two textbooks and more than 100 scientific articles.

The movie “BEST IN SHOW”, written and directed by Christopher Guest (This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, A Mighty Wind), who also acts in the film, BEST IN SHOW follows a colorful group of contestants as they prepare for one of the greatest events of their lives – the prestigious Mayflower Dog Show. Winner of American and British Comedy Awards and a critical darling, this inspired gem features a stellar ensemble cast that perfectly captures their characters’ quirks, anxieties, and competitive zeal as they vie for the coveted cup.

This event is part of the Coolidge’s popular Science on Screen series. For more information, visit www.coolidge.org.

Tickets available through the web site or at the Coolidge Corner Theatre box office, 290 Harvard Street, Brookline.