"Culture Clash" A book discussion....

"The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson is the latest book in my attempt to better understand canine behavior and communication systems. Over the next few posts, I'll share my thoughts and experiences putting some of the theories into action with my pack. Feel free to comment about your own ideas, opinions and experiences.

CHAPTER ONE: Getting the Dog's Perspective (Dog Intelligence & Morality)

The very first premise here is the Walt Disney dog VS the B.F. Skinner dog. Without going into the entire theory, here's my take in a nutshell. The Disney dog is a manipulator and problem solver -- knows right from wrong, does not do wrong when owner present, does wrong when owner's gone because it want to punish owner for leaving, and behaves apeasingly when owner returns. The Skinner dog is primal in nature -- does not do wrong when owner is present as punishment will follow, does wrong when owner is gone because it feels good (fulfills some need), when owner returns dog does not know why it is punished - cannot connect wrong behavior with delayed punishment.

Donaldson asserts that Skinner is actually correct. She furthers this by indicating that dogs are simply input/output natured. Dogs are not like us -- they are not, as she calls them "honorary humans, " not our substitute children, best friends, surrogate family members, etc.... We have created the above relationships with them - and much like a Disney theme park, it is an exaggerated, perfected facade. Donaldson continues by indicating that in fact we must begin to acknowledge the differences between humans and canines and that we have a responsibility to the species to know the basic needs and how to train them to live in our world "so that they fit into our society without totally subjugating their nature" (p. 11).

Now Donaldson is not saying that dogs are not intelligent or worthy of being "honorary humans." She is simply indicating that we are unfairly comparing them to humans and holding them to human standards. Dogs do not think the same as we do -- do not have human morality. But we base our interactions and relationships with our dogs on our human expectations. We love them like humans, reward and punish like humans, and talk to them like humans. Donaldson reminds us that dogs are not humans - not equal to us in intelligence, emotion or in spirit - and that we are doing them a disservice by attempting to mold them into our "tribal society."

Then there's the "Eager-to-Please" theory. Donaldson says this is a fallacy - that there is no such dog out there who lives solely to please his human(s). She goes on to explain and tie back to the operant theory -- dogs learn from immediate feedback -- this action gets this result. For example, dog sits, dogs gets immediate praise and/or treat from owner. If the dog does not sit it receives a correction. Dog learns to sit after much repetitive practice. Does the dog perform the sit action because it wants to please the owner? Donaldson says no; the dog actually learns how to avoid correction. It learns to associate events that happen together in time. Perhaps this is why Clicker training is so successful!!

Lastly, Donaldson discusses "Pack theory." Through a series of anecdotes, she dismisses the dominance issue completely. She explains that no amount of "flipping a dog on its back" will improve behavior. Only proper training -- operant conditioning -- will bring about the wanted behaviors. Overall in this first chapter Donaldson indicates that dogs have no concept of morality (right VS wrong), that they do not desire to please (it's all about their immediate needs), and that they have simple thought processes and learn through operant conditioning.

I must admit that I have fallen into the Disney model. I want to think that my dogs are part of my family and that they are loyal to me at all costs. But as I am reading more and more on dog behavior, and from what I recall from my psychology classes during college, I'm finding Donaldson’s assertions are ringing true. I plan to begin paying closer attention to the true behaviors my three are performing -- what lies behind them, and what their motivations are. I am finding this to be very mind opening!!

Whose Happiness Matters?

Well, let me just say that I now realize that our lives completely revolve around our fur babies!! Last week we were on vacation -- tried to go camping for a week with the dogs. It did not work well at all. Let me start at a near beginning.

When we got Pru and Neo almost 3 years ago we were a boating family -- we boated every weekend, traveled and spend weekends on the boat. But, neither Pru nor Neo liked the boating, so we stopped and sold our boat.

We then thought we'd go back to camping on weekends. We've tent camped for all 25 years of our lives together, even camped on the boat, so we knew we'd enjoy it. But alas, that plan too was altered. Pru and Neo would not go into the tent. The wind blowing on the awning and the sound of their paws on the flooring scared them, and they wouldn’t go in. So we bought a travel trailer.

At first we thought this plan would work. The three like the trailer - and actually prefer to be in the trailer rather than out by the fire! Brin (not two years old yet) has always been fond of being where ever we are, so camping is fine with her. But Neo and Pru just do not like it. They are nervous the entire time -- have those worry wrinkles on their foreheads. Neither of them relaxes the entire time we are away. Pru cries to go into the camper; she’s quite happy in there as long as she can see where we are. Neo is on constant alert – guarding every leaf that falls and every sound that echoes through the woods.

This past week we gave the experience one last try. We set out for a week long camping trip around Indiana. We hoped that the longer time frame would allow the dogs to become more comfortable with the experience. Nope!! On day two, Brin began limping after our first hike (so we knew that hiking was out of the picture), Pru begged constantly to stay in the camper and Neo, well, he simply growled at everything. So, we took them home. We then went ahead with our camping for the rest of the week. Both Himself and I were miserable without our dogs. The guilt of leaving them at home (they had our youngest son to care for them, but he isn’t us, you know?!) was more overpowering than the experiences we were having.

After much thought we have decided to sell the camper and find another activity that we can all enjoy – humans and K9s alike. Strangely to others, we are very pleased with our decision. We love spending time with the dogs – quality time when we are all relaxed and all having fun. Some say this is too great a sacrifice. We say, no – this is simply a choice – whose happiness do we value? Our own and theirs is the answer. We were not happy without them, and they were not happy camping. The decision seems logical to us.

We choose everyone’s happiness!! Don’t you just love win win situations!!!