> From: <Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx<mailto:Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx>> > To: <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> > Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 7:48 AM > Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: "And they called it puppy love" > > > > We like to think our dogs "love" in human terms, the only ones we > > understand > > really, and we all have dozens of stories to illustrate our belief that > > they > > DO in fact love, but I'm not so sure. > > > > Perhaps what we call love, grief, compassion and on some level > > understanding > > is really pack behavior, age old survival instinct or just plain > > instinct. > > Dogs obviously aren't solitary animals and a good many of them "invite" > > us to > > glimpse their world and even more seem to enjoy ours, but have you ever > > sent > > a dog away for a few weeks to a handler, worried about how they'll > > possibly > > manage to exist without you <G> and have them "love" their new person in > > a > > matter of days? AND (fickle things!) love them years later when their > > paths > > cross on a show grounds? Ever have a bitch in for breeding who acted as > > if you > > in fact whelped her within a few days? What about service dogs who > > transfer > > their "love" in a matter of weeks or months from breeder to foster > family > > to > > trainer to handicapped individual? Think of the dogs we have in the > > Middle > > East that transfer their loyalty when handlers are rotated. > > > > I know many dogs who are generous, patient, kind, forgiving...what we > > would > > call "good natured" in a person, but is it really the same thing? > > Probably > > not. Some are bullies and hard headed, again, we humanize these things, > > but > > what we're most probably observing are genetics, pack behaviors and > > results of > > early socialization (or lack thereof). > > > > It doesn't do much harm to humanize our companions. If you think back to > > the lot of domestic animals through the industrial revolution, it was a > > hard > > one. Wonderful works of fiction lead to the development of humane > > societies > > and raised awareness re the plights of animals. (I'd guess for most, > it'd > > be > > harder to abuse an animal if you think they "feel" what we do.) > > > > Most of our dogs trust us, they invite us to play, they willingly perform > > tasks for us, and because we have been invited into their pack, they > > protect us > > and what is ours because we are "theirs". I know mine enjoy their > > lifestyle:) We groom them and the softer among them "groom us back" with > > kisses. > > (Ever notice, a truly dominant dog isn't much of a kisser?) > > > > I'd like to THINK they love, and I'd like to think they realize how much > > they're loved but I've lived with a pack of dogs for far too long to > > discount > > the role pack behavior plays in how we view their responses....I like to > > think I > > can be rational...until I hold a graying head in my hands and look into > > the > > eyes that meet my gaze and "rational" goes right out the window:) > > > > > > Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC > > three generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions live here! > > visit > www.geocities.com/pinehillgsds<http://www.geocities.com/pinehillgsds> > > ======================================================================================================= My Cuz spent a good bit of time at the kennel of his handler (most of a year). However, when I was at a show in which he was entered, I hid from him. Unfortunately, at one show, I didn't realize that his handler had already brought him to ringside, and I walked over to speak to the handler. When Cuz saw me, he jumped up at me, knocked me down, licked my face, arms, and any other part of me he could get at, and it took a strong pull by the handler to get him off. I know from the interaction between Cuz and his handler that they really liked one another. Cuz was on the handler's bed in motels, had special treats and toys, etc. Cuz showed his feelings for the handler with his tounge and his eyes. But the bond between Cuz and me was much stronger than any he ever developed with anyone else. And, by the way, Cuz goes a bit beyond just dominant. He's the king of the universe, and will gladly let you know this. But he also has the longest, gushiest tounge of any of my shep s, and applies it regularly to my face and arms. He doesn't seem to like the taste of my slacks, though. Elaine ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================