"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!!