"Search-and-rescue dogs are trained by exploiting the instinct to retrieve thrown objects. "
This quotation shows clearly (IMO) that Budiansky (although he may own a dog) has very little real knowledge of dogs. It is as if one who has had a sequence of wives is well prepared to write about plural marriage.
IMO dog-wolves (a single species) have an instinct to catch small round things flying or rolling away from them -- these may be birds or voles in nature. One wonders from the quotation if dog retrieving instinct evolved from their parents sitting around throwing voles to train them to hunt and let those who didn't adopt the behavior starve to death.
One really ought to read E.M. Thomas's book on dogs (and wolves) in which for years she lived with dogs, not attempting to train them to do tricks, but letting them do what they will in both urban and rural settings. What she found was that dogs were wolves with identical family behavior. One of the most striking observations was that dogs fell in love, in a fashion very similar to human beings, a practice that had been observed in wild wolves.
It is my belief that when a puppy is separated very young from its family (especially the dam) and becomes imprinted on its human being that it may grow up into a preternaturally loving, loyal dog-person. Because of its lack of canine social rearing, it may very well never be able to relate to other dogs (thus the commonly heard "Fifi thinks that she's a little girl!). The moving stories (some of them possibly true) of dog-person love which are rife in every society (e.g.Lassie, Greyfriar's Bobby; McKinlay Kanter's "Voice of Bugle Ann," "Old Yeller,") are of solitary dogs with great attachment to their guardians.) It is a common human experience almost uniformly treasured. The response to Budiansky's characterization of dogs as "hypocritical parasites" was plentiful and furious. Because it simply isn't true. With many pet dogs loyalty to human lasts the entire lifetime of the dog. One of the crimes nature is that dogs' lives are so evanescent. Non-social animals (tigers and bears) may be domesticated, but can never be fully trusted. There are in many lifetimes of dogs no treasonable incidents. I have sat with dying dogs and shed tears which I never spared for any human being. So have hundreds of millions of persons. I refuse to believe that this emotion is tricked out of us. Whatever else is wrong with dogs, no one can reasonably criticize them for lack of loyalty and love.
The amazing thing is not man-dog love and loyalty, but dog-dog love and loyalty. It is bred in the bone, and human beings who have been loved by dogs are the beneficiaries of wolf-dog social instincts which are the secret of their survival as a species in a hostle world. IMO most of the problems of dog bite and disobedience are the result of two things: (1) canine schizophrenia (about 1 per cent of dogs and humans alike); and (2) disturbance of man-dog dominance relationships. Canine schizophrenia can be characterized by bio-assay and microscopic examination of the dog's brain. I do not believe any cure exists for canine schizophrenia. But further research should clear this up. I don't expect much very soon, and I believe puppies who react to human beings (especially children) and other puppies with excessive, violent aggression ought to be destroyed or given life sentences in solitary without parole (too cruel IMO). Most animal behaviorists believe that training cannot help such animals.
Disturbed man-dog dominance is just bad training. Very young children cannot be trusted with dogs. Kids tend to be afraid of large, potentially dangerous animals, and many adults retain a childhood-trauma generated fear of dogs (if not puppies). Such adults can usually be desensitized, but anyone bitten and having had to take the often painful rabies vaccine shots is unlikely to have much affection for dogs. Older kids must be trained to dominate (or lead) their dogs, and when this isn't possible because the dog has too much ego in its cosmos (like many herding and hunting dogs) they must be separated and the dogs (or kids) confined. My border collie and my only grandchild are the same age. The puppy herded her as soon as she began to walk. She would pull herself up to standing by grabbing his hair. He was very patient and never nipped at her. (BC's are disqualified if they nip the sheep, and this kind of wolf killer aggressiveness is bred out of this as much as possible. Wolves head the caribou, and others of the pack tail them, biting and tearing at that legs and sides until they are pulled down). As she and he reached age six, she courageously dominated him, and he doted on her. Yet IMO border collies are simply small, slightly inbred wolves. Their conformation and inherited herding instinct is coupled with the highest canine intelligence (except for wild wolves) and a noble carriage and fierce bravery and loyalty. They are the most agile and athletic of all breeds. They are also nearly always a double handful.
Mine loves to haul my 250+ pounds up steep hills and mountain paths. Interesting (to me) that there has been no attempt in breeding sheep dogs in Scotland to exclude because of conformation or color defects. The only test is how they herd the sheep. (Of course, "Pig" was one or more tokes over the line, which must be drawn somewhere, I believe.
As a youth I had several pairs of dogs. They were far apart in age and breed, and rarely interacted, except from an occasional nip from the Scotch Terrier to the little cocker, or fruitless attempts by the Lombardy Shepherd to herd an aging, whining, grouchy cocker.
We got a border collie. This was a revelation. This dog is so smart, that he invents games and entertains himself. The famous border collie "eye" is devastating to other dogs. He can stare down any other dog or human being. He is the alpha dog of the neighborhood. (I once owned a GSP who thought he was alpha dog of the world). Proud, domineering, loving, loyal, he can learn any trick (my favorite "Pick it up and put in the wastebasket!").
We rescued two spayed bitches. Spot fell in love with Maile (Abyssinian mountain dog).
They are inseparable. There is no sex (she never can go into heat, and few dogs can go into season without female pheromones around). There is endless wrestling, play, and companionship. She teases him, plays at stealing his food. They enjoy each others' company. He has tried to teach her to herd (he's a header, of course, and he tries to turn her into a tailer.) The only animal they have to herd is Maka, a giant, lethargic, GSP. When Maka tries to play with Maile, Spot separates them. None of that stuff is permitted in his harem. All of the dogs are deeply social with us. The countess is a kind of goddess to the canine family. I am more remote, but fully approachable. Me and the dogs sleep calmly four to a giant bed. I have no fear that these degenerate wolves will turn on me and tear out my throat while I am asleep. They love and respect each other (as long as they stay in their places). They love and respect and obey me. Spot and Maka don't kiss human beings. Maile, still a pup, licks my face in anticipation that I will vomit up something delicious as any good canine parent would.
I don't think anyone should consider writing about dog behavior until they had lived closely with their own pack for a long-long time. I've always liked dogs better than people. I love dog packs better than human families. They are a lot more fun (and cheaper too!). And, as Ben Franklin wrote about the advantages of having an elderly mistress, "lastly, they are so grateful." |
