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Title: Why we love our dogs so much
Source:
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URL Source: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/03/18/why-love-our-dogs-so-much/
Published: Mar 18, 2012
Author: Josh Dean
Post Date: 2012-03-18 17:42:21 by Mad Dog
Keywords: move, over, rover
Views: 4277
Comments: 11
When people hear that I spent more than a year wandering the aisles of America’s dog shows while working on a book about the culture, the first question they inevitably ask is: Why? Why do otherwise normal humans with decent jobs and sound minds spend all of their free time and much of their disposable income on what seems like such a frivolous pursuit—primping and preparing their dogs to be judged in the show ring? It’s really quite simple: because people really, really love dogs—almost as much as they love their children. Sometimes, even more. That said, there are probably plenty of you who own dogs who still don’t see how that explains the motivation to put them in dog shows. So let me put it to you this way: Do you adore your dog to the degree that you sometimes call yourself “Mommy” or “Daddy”? Do think he or she is the most beautiful and special creature there is and ever has been? Do you often brag about him or her to friends and family? Do you post adorable photos on Facebook? Well, this is exactly what we do with our children. And it’s why people show dogs. Because while dog showing is ostensibly about breeding — it’s the way the best and healthiest stock is identified — it’s also about validation. Just as parents want teachers to tell them their kid is the smartest and politest in class, dog owners want to hear people lauding their dog’s beauty and obedience, and there’s no better place to hear that than in the show ring. Which isn’t to say that dog show participants need a ribbon to prove what they already know. If there are 3,000 dogs entered in a particular event, you’ll find 3,000 humans who’d argue for hours about why their dog is best. It’s almost impossible not to feel that way. Because the bond between humans and dogs is more intense than our bond with any other species, and there’s not even a close second. Dogs were the first domesticated animals, the ones that made domestication of all others possible. Scientists can’t seem to agree whether it was 10,000 or 15,000 or 100,000 years ago, but it’s inarguable that dogs evolved from wolves because of us. They were selected and honed to be our companions — to help us hunt, to guard our homes, to look after our livestock and even our children and, over time, to do so many useful and wonderful things that it boggles the mind. For all the talk about wheels and metal and gunpowder, we often overlook one very important tool that helped lead us out of the caves and into societies: our dogs. We have dogs that serve in combat (famously assisting in the capture of Usama Bin Laden); dogs that detect bed bugs; dogs that defend sheep from wolves (and cattle from cheetahs), in the process protecting the wild animals too by keeping ranchers from shooting them; dog lifeguards; dogs that guide the blind and allow the disabled to live better lives; dogs that sniff out cancer and drugs and invasive species. And dogs that simply provide companionship, making millions of lives around the globe much, much happier. There seems to be no job dogs were asked to do that they didn’t figure out how to do capably, and if only they had thumbs we’d probably have taught them to drive us around by now. Every day our scientific knowledge about these amazing animals increases, enabling us to better understand the very special voodoo that dogs have over us. What exactly makes canines so malleable is not yet fully understood but the fact that the species was literally born at our side explains why they seem to understand us at a level that’s sometimes spooky (but always nice). Recent research shows they can read our facial expressions and pick up subtle cues that even toddlers can’t, and any dog owner has experienced moments where it seems like there’s an almost extrasensory frequency by which our two species communicate. What owner hasn’t come home on a bad day to find his dog immediately understanding, and offering a little extra love as a result? And the best part of this relationship is how simple it is. While we often ask so much of them, they require almost nothing in return. You can ask your dog to chase a Frisbee, take a nap on the couch, herd some sheep, or run around a show ring and he’ll do it, happily, for hours on end. He only wants to be fed, and told he’s good, and most of all loved. If a dog has love, he really needs nothing else. Unlike your kids, who will bug you for money until the day you die.
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#1. To: Mad Dog (#0)
I can't stand the smell of dog urine. I spent 17 years getting ill to my stomach from this. No more.
. IMO you can't trust people who do not like dogs. There's something deeply wrong with their souls. THIS thread will sort the goats from the sheep. I bet that I already know who will TRY to trash it. BRING it!
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
. Having two four month old puppies who I have been raising inside for the last four months, I understand all too well. Nothing worth doing is easy. BUT, given your personal physical response, I understand and agree with your decision. If you aren't going to love and take care of your dogs you don't need to have any. PS, I feel the same way about cats. I will start puking when I go into a house that has cats in it. I have no idea how anybody puts up with that stench. Anyhow ... of course you have the right to take care of yourself.
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
There's something deeply wrong with their souls. THIS thread will sort the goats from the sheep. I bet that I already know who will TRY to trash it. BRING it! . I would think that it would be obvious that this does NOT include people who have actual health issues with being around dogs. If dogs make you sick of course you will stay away from them. Hell those of us who love dogs are sometimes still totally freaked out at how NASTY they really can be. Ever have a dog roll in weeks old rotting salmon and then come back wanting to get into your lap? BAD! LOL! (now years later).
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
If to my right Cujo was drowning. And to my left Obama was drowning. I would save Cujo.
My mom had a heightened sense of smell. I got it from her. The dog urine just makes me ill.
. I'm not stinking this thread up with the O word. The thing is that ALL dogs are better "people" than ALOT of people are.
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
Duh. What decent person wouldn't save their dog over ANY politician? Would you let Cujo sink if the choice was the dog or, lets say....Sarah Palin, Ron Paul?
Never swear "allegiance" to anything other than the 'right to change your mind'! That is strange. I've never noticed a specific odor about dog urine and I've had dogs all my life. Of course, except during housetraining...they all do their business outside. Cats now, that is another story and have never owned one and wouldn't.
Never swear "allegiance" to anything other than the 'right to change your mind'! I'd pick the people in that case.
I got it from her. The dog urine just makes me ill. . That is a mixed blessing I imagine? I had a lady friend MANY years ago, she was fine but she was HIGH maintenance. Anyhow we were eating at a nice place on Fisherman's wharf in San Francisco and our orders came. She had ordered the Crab Cioppino. She simply refused to even try it let alone eat it. Why? To quote her, "it's UGLY". LOL! No worries, remember she was fine? I bought her whatever else she wanted after making sure it wasn't "ugly", and took the Cioppino home in a doggie bag. Later I told her that she was lucky to have never served in the military. She asked me why? Because, I told her if you could not/would not eat "ugly" food in the military, you'd STARVE. LOL! Of course with her it was a choice. But imo the principle holds. I wouldn't have wanted some of the jobs that I've had if I had sensitive smell. Hell they were bad enough with normal smell. I'd advise you to avoid ALL boats/areas where fish meal is made. In fact avoid all commercial fishing operations just to be safe. I bet gardening is a good thing for you to do? Even though some smells are rude none of them is strictly "bad", while others are just intensely GOOD such as the morning dew on the squash blossoms etc., at least imo? I wonder does food and drink that you like taste better to you because of it? I bet it does. Sorry, such variability in our human senses interests me, I always wonder how such things affect each individual's persona? I am in no way trying to make light of your condition.
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
Iran’s main drive for acquiring atomic weapons is not for use against Israel but as a deterrent against U.S. intervention -- Major General Zeevi Farkash, head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate
#2. To: All (#0)
#3. To: jwpegler (#1)
#4. To: jwpegler, All (#2)
IMO you can't trust people who do not like dogs.
#5. To: Mad Dog (#4)
#6. To: Mad Dog (#3)
BUT, given your personal physical response, I understand and agree with your decision.
Iran’s main drive for acquiring atomic weapons is not for use against Israel but as a deterrent against U.S. intervention -- Major General Zeevi Farkash, head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate
#7. To: A K A Stone (#5)
#8. To: A K A Stone (#5)
If to my right Cujo was drowning. And to my left Obama was drowning. I would save Cujo.
#9. To: jwpegler (#6)
The dog urine just makes me ill.
#10. To: Brian S (#8)
Would you let Cujo sink if the choice was the dog or, lets say....Sarah Palin, Ron Paul?
#11. To: jwpegler (#6)
My mom had a heightened sense of smell.
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