Dog: Pragmatic Predator or Parasitic Partner?

Cowboy_Ken

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I may have posted this in the past but I find it a great read and good points made.

Dog: Pragmatic Predator or Parasitic Partner?
By Gaby Dufresne-Cyr, CBT-FLE

When humans started to express themselves on cavern walls, dogs were soon portrayed in various scenes ranging from attack to hunting. Where dogs truly hunting with humans or did dogs simply tag along because they saw a great opportunity to catch scraps of food left by human hunters. Today, we'll explore human and dog relationships; are dogs true companions, or have they evolved as symbiotic partners. The answer might surprise you.

Companionship Relationship

Dog owners, it seems, struggle to answer the why do you have a dog question. It’s funny how the simplest question is by far the hardest one to answer. I've asked this question to the majority of my clients for the last 20 years. It's true the majority of people answer companionship as the number one reason, but decades later, I still don’t have a clear reason as to why people share their lives with dogs. Let me explain.

I’ve always found the companionship answer to be superficial and meaningless. Think about the definition of companionship for a moment and you'll be propelled into the realm of confusion. To illustrate my point, consider the following definitions.

- Companionship: a feeling of fellowship or friendship.

- Friendship: a state of mutual trust and support between individuals.

- Fellowship: friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests.

Can your relationship be explained by these definitions? I think not. Here’s why. A companion relationship relates to a shared social structure, common linguistics, and mutual interests between two individuals. Although similar, humans and dogs don’t share the same social structure, nor do people talk dog or share mutual interests. I don't know about you, but I don't have the urge to roll in dead insects, eat poop, or smell other dogs' behinds. It's true we are two social species, but I don't bark or growl at people when I'm uncomfortable or angry. In other words, dogs are not human companions.

Partnership Relationship

A symbiotic relationship, on the other hand, is an exchange between two different species; the relationship can benefit or hinder both individuals. Symbiotic relationships are essential to organisms that enter them because they offer a balance which is only achieved by working together.

Humans have bred dogs based on symbiotic relationships for generations. Hunters employ dogs to find and bring back prey; farmers need dogs to organize and move livestock; public safety officials breed and train dogs to serve and protect; the entire terrier group saw the light of day to assist in vermin control. Throughout the decades, dogs have entered human lives with a very specific purpose in mind. A symbiotic relationship is by definition a working partnership, not a companionship. When a dog enters a home it should be to fulfil a service, whatever the service need be. To deprive an animal of performing the work it was created for is, in my opinion, cruel and abusive.

I’m in a symbiotic relationship with my dog. As my work partner, Albear offers educational lessons to aspiring puppies; he helps facilitate my human interventions; he assists me when my medical condition reduces my mobility; consequently, my dog is my partner. In return, I provide healthcare, excellent nutrition, training opportunities, comfortable sleep areas, play sessions, and exploration situations.

Canine Conundrum

The conundrum lies within the reason people have dogs: companionship. Although social media is omnipresent in our lives, people feel lonelier than ever before. The emotional isolation is often compensated through dog interactions. Unfortunately, dogs make poor surrogate people. Companionship relationships with dogs are truly parasitic ones. One abuses* the other till the relationship breaks down. Unfortunately, re-homing, abandonment, or death severs the dysfunctional link.

Thankfully, it is possible to change a companionship relationship into a symbiotic partnership; however, one question needs to be answered before I can explain how to change dysfunctional relationships into a functional one. Tell me, why do you have a dog?

Cheers.
G.

References

- Merriam Webster. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary

- Bekoff, M. & Pierce, J. (2009). Wild Justice; The Moral Lives of Animals. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.

* takes more than gives in return: human or dog.
 

queen koopa

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I think most people who say companionship is the reason is because they think thats the answer. They really might be confusing companionship with possession. A possession that you get a sense of providing care or nurturing for. Treat them like children that never grown up. Our society has made it much easier for humans to own dogs in confined space by depriving them any instinctual work and/or other natural dog tendencies. (And like you said, cruel)


All of our animals are adopted from others who could no longer care for them. (Horses, dogs, goat, tortoise, and cats!) My sisters bf took in a very small chihuahua that was abandoned at the vet. She was scared of everyone, overweight, and supposedly on some sort of pain pills. As one of those girls who has grown up loving small things, miniature everything is adorable, and an all around animal lover..... she soon became mine. I wanted to help her be healthy, not scared of life, and of course to hold her!!!! So I feel that with Little Dog, I fall into the category of fulfilling the need to care for a tiny cute being. I am constantly reminding myself that though she is only 6 pounds she is a DOG, let her do dog things and be one of the pack. Ive had her 2 years now and she is a whole new dog. We live on about an acre and she scales the yard perimeter, attempts to seek and destroy rabbits with our lab/pit, and is ok with almost all females now (men is a whole other story).
Here’s here stalking the neighbor and getting ready to eat with the boys.

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KarenSoCal

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Interesting article!

I'm sitting on the side of my bed, looking at my 2 mutts sprawled out right in the spot I intend to fill shortly. I'm thinking about the question, "why do I have dogs?" And my answer..."they give me joy!"

Then I realize how selfish that is. What do they get out of the relationship?

They get the fun of turning themselves into solid, heavy, immovable objects as I try to stretch out my legs.

I'd call that symbiotic, wouldn't you? [emoji2]
 

mark1

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I would find it hard to believe that humans did not scavenge canid kills , if not actively drive them off their kills , dogs are much better hunters than man has ever been , which should be evident by the fact man is an omnivore , canids are carnivores ……. omnivores happen upon meals of meat , carnivores actively hunt it ……….

i'd be interested in the social differences the author sees between a human family and a pack of wild canids ?

all you need to do is pay attention , people absolutely "talk" dog , and dogs absolutely "talk" people , dogs always pay attention . it's why you can successfully raise a puppy exactly like you raised your kids ………… I have no problem telling when my dogs are excited , happy , scared , angry , stressed , or them conveying to me what they want , and it's even easier for them to tell what i'm feeling , what i'm going to do , or want …….. we absolutely have "shared interest" , it's why it works , and has worked since we were animals ourselves . canid bones have been found in association with early hominids going back 300,000-400,000 yrs , we evolved together because of shared needs and interest ………..

I often hear the term anthropomorphism , personally I believe you needn't look for the human in the animal , you just need to recognize the animal in the human ……… jmo
 

Tom

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As I read through the article, what I found more and more is that this person, the author I mean, hasn't ever had a good working relationship with a dog. Either that, or perhaps she just views the world differently than me.

In reference to her three questions that define or describe "companionship":
  1. My dog and I definitely have a mutual feeling of fellowship and friendship. Evidence of this abounds in multiple areas and with multiple means of testing or measuring.
  2. Mutual trust and support? Absolutely 100% without a doubt. My dogs have got my back and I've got theirs. They know it and I know it. Anyone watching knows it too, and they say so. I don't have this relationship with every dog I put my hands on, but I've had it with several of them over the years. It takes a lot of time, effort and skill to reach this level, and I'll bet this author has ever been there. Ask any K-9 officer, military dog handler, service dog user, bite work trainer, or movie dog trainer, and they will answer this question the same as me.
  3. Fellowship? Yep. There is definitely a friendly association with me and my dogs and most definitely a common interest. Look at any Harris Hawk hunter that uses a dog. In that case, the person, dog, and hawks ALL have a friendly association, common interest, and it is most definitely a three-way symbiotic relationship for all.
Advanced dogs absolutely understand my linguistics, although they admittedly cannot "share" my ability to make those sounds. But consider this. If I'm friends with a mute person and we use sign language, body posture, body position and facial expression to communicate, are we not still sharing "linguistics"? I say we are, and I say my dog and I do the same thing. And I most definitely bark and growl when I am angry or suspicious. I use different "words" than my dog, but the message is very much the same, and very much received the same by the person or dog on the other end.

Do my dog and I have similar interests? Yes again. Of course I don't want to roll in crap. My dog doesn't want to wash his hair or fly a drone. My dog has no interest in precision rifle shooting either. So what? We both want to get the rabbit when we are out with the hawk. We both want to lounge on the couch. We both like a rubdown. We both LOVE to swim, and we love swimming together. We both like to go for long hikes, and we both love to get in the car and go somewhere. We both love steak and potatoes and most other foods. Neither of us care for Brussels sprouts. My brother-in-laws dog likes watching TV with him and reacts to what he sees. The dog has favorite shows and commercials and knows the music and sounds by heart when they come on.

I cannot speak to the broad generalization that people are "lonelier than ever". I don't know how the author or anyone else could measure the worldwide, or just countrywide, feeling of loneliness compared to previous levels of lonely feelings. Her statements in this regard weaken the rest of her assertions. My dogs are not surrogate people. They are dogs. I treat them like dogs and they behave like dogs. I love them for what they are and what they can do, and they love me for the same reasons. Yes. I said love. Because that is what it is.

Departing from the article and relating my own experiences as a dog trainer. When I ask clients why they got a dog, or why they chose this breed, I usually get some variation of "we like this breed", or "we think they are pretty". I've found that many people ignorantly choose dogs based on size, coat or appearance, with no regard for the dog's behavior or what it was bred to do. I see people walking Huskies or Newfoundlands here in a city in a hot climate, and I just shake my head. Its sad. Or the border collie or Aussie stuck in a back yard with no job to do. Or the terrier that never sees or gets to engage in the destruction and removal of vermin. I ask them why they got a husky when the temperature here is ALWAYS too hot for them, and they have no sled for them to pull? Wy did you get a working terrier when you have no game and no work for the dog to do?

My message is simple: Treat a dog like a dog, and give it a job. That is what makes for a happy dog and a happy dog owner.
 

mark1

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Siberian husky's are more heat tolerant than most any dog breeds of comparable size , as heat tolerant as any dog I know of …….. dogs are designed to neither lose or gain heat through their body , short haired breeds are not as efficient at this as longer haired dogs ……. dogs that are not heat tolerant are dogs with abnormalities in breathing functions , the more efficient they breathe , the more heat tolerant they'll be ….as for newfoundlands , they're more heat tolerant than a bulldog 1/3rd it's size , depending on how extreme their heads are , they can be as tolerant of heat as any dog with comparable mass ………..

here is a death valley coyote , and a sonoran desert mexican wolf
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KarenSoCal

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My message is simple: Treat a dog like a dog, and give it a job. That is what makes for a happy dog and a happy dog owner.

Tom, this is just beautifully written! And absolutely true!

So many people think we're crazy for saying dogs love, respect, are loyal, and yes, even have a sense of humor.
How sad for them.
 

ShirleyTX

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Shih Tzus are said to have been bred by Tibetan monks and offered as gifts to the royalty of China. There they were revered as sacred; and, they slept at the end of the bed as royal foot warmers.

I can report that my dog is, in fact, doing the job for which she was bred. I do revere her and my feet are warm at night.

PS. I didn’t choose her, she chose me. She was a 10 year old stray when I was lucky enough to invite her to live with me.

PPS. Joviality aside, this is a good and interesting thread.
 

Tom

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Shih Tzus are said to have been bred by Tibetan monks and offered as gifts to the royalty of China. There they were revered as sacred; and, they slept at the end of the bed as royal foot warmers.

I can report that my dog is, in fact, doing the job for which she was bred. I do revere her and my feet are warm at night.

PS. I didn’t choose her, she chose me. She was a 10 year old stray when I was lucky enough to invite her to live with me.

PPS. Joviality aside, this is a good and interesting thread.
My little foot warmers take a ride with me to drop of their little girl at school every morning.
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Yvonne G

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Misty's job is to let me know when something is going on outside that's out of the norm. She's very good at her job. I always praise her for doing her job, and never scold her for barking.

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ShirleyTX

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My little foot warmer often accompanies me when I pick up the grandchildren from school. Yours, btw, are extremely cute.

I've often thought I should find a job for her but I'm not sure what. She's bright and still learning even at current age 14. Her left back leg is weak, having had one surgery already.

She's helpful when someone does not feel well; although not overly cuddly, if one of us is hurt or sick, she will lay on a lap. She's very quiet and solid, and feels like a big warm beanie baby. But I don't know that she understands how useful she is in that moment.

@Tom Do you have other jobs for your fluffy bottoms?



Cricket: 14 years old. When I'm in the kitchen and she give me those eyes, of course I let her have a bite of tomato. Who could say no?
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Cricket sometimes acts like a cat.
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mark1

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dogs will always find a "job" , you would need to keep one totally inhumanely to prevent them from finding a job ....the notion your dog is a certain breed and it would be cruel not to allow them to do whatever the breed was supposedly bred to do , is a mirage....dogs are more so raised to perform a task than they are genetically preordained to perform a task ……. ….. it's no coincidence that the highest success rate with "working" dog pups are always raised by folks who "work" and train their own dogs , second only to folks getting pups raised by someone who "works" and trains their own dogs , the common denominator being "raised" ……while I don't believe pups or kids are born a blank slate , environment is a much bigger factor in their limitations than genetics , raise your pups properly , or get your pup from someone who raised them properly …….. anyone who has followed dog weight pulling competitions would surely have noticed the very small amount of representation by the breeds bred to pull sleds , pitbulls and American bulldogs by far are lb for lb the best at pulling , neither was genetically bred for the task ………. if any of you follow such things as the iditerod , you would know there are very few dogs that even resemble the "Siberian huskies" you see in your neighbors backyard ……..
last I heard this guy is in 2nd place
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KarenSoCal

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My little foot warmers take a ride with me to drop of their little girl at school every morning.
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I'm kind of surprised that you have foot warmers. I pictured you with all working dogs. Of course, not every movie needs a dogue de bordeaux, right?

I have 1 foot warmer and 1 ankle biter. The foot warmer is retired at around 13, so just part-time now. He footwarms, and he is the household clock. He rather loudly "talks", telling us it's time for food, cookies, to go out, to watch tv, to go to bed. Sometimes cute, sometimes not.

The ankle biter is 10, and she keeps us safe from EVERYTHING outside. She barks at anything that is not a sedan or SUV...trucks, motorcycles, pedestrians, ATV's...I swear, if a flea burped across the sea, she would know.

Sherlock, footwarmer...
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Blanca, ankle biter...milking the injured foot...
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