Communication, doggy-style
When we want to emphasis how hard life is, we often use a common expression: ‘It’s a dog’s life’. In common with so many common expressions, it fails to tell the story with complete accuracy.
Dogs’ lives are, mostly, outstanding; they live like Egyptian Pashas.
No other species has trained a larger, more powerful, supposedly more intelligent one to house it, feed it, groom it, play with it and pamper it. Oh yes, and spend fortunes on its health, welfare and upkeep.
One of my friends has a Maremma Sheepdog. These are hardy, independent and when full grown, huge. Bred by Italian shepherds to guard flocks of sheep, mostly solo and with the shepherd at some distance, they have become fashionable in the domestic environment.
When they join the human family, they can be tricky to train. Maremmas will always politely listen to your requests when you communicate them. Then, if they wish, will comply. More often they do not so wish and will regard you in the same way that a parent regards a child exhibiting signs of idiocy.
My mate’s dog refused to leap into the back of the car. He invested in an expensive ramp so the beast could mount the vehicle like a Dowager Duchess going aboard a yacht. As soon as the dog saw the ramp, it ignored the apparatus and on a single word of command from my chum’s wife leapt into the car like an athlete.
All owners are convinced that they can communicate effectively and in a meaningful manner with their pets. Many sentimental types, for example, believe that face-licking is a dog’s way of communicating love.
Possibly; though possibly not…
A puppy is first introduced to licking when its mother cleans it immediately after it leaves the womb. Puppies quickly learn to lick and clean all areas they can reach.
According to Fine Canine magazine, sent ’free’ to policy holders by a pet insurance company (and what a lovely earner that niche business is) dogs which lick our faces are more likely to be showing deference. They may also be communicating their desire to emphasise how dependent they are on us though it is more likely that they are reminding us about our duty to care for them.
Humans and dogs have different agenda. Generally, though, both parties are happy in their respective beliefs about the other which proves, quite clearly, that perception really is reality even though neither owner or dog actually understands completely what the other is communicating.
Is that helpful for those of us in the communication business? I believe it is.
