Dog-Human Relationship: A Shared History
The bond between humans and dogs dates back to roughly 14,000 years ago, some research says 30,000 years ago.
The two species have lived together, shared food and shelter, providing a mutualistic relationship beneficial to both.
Canines have served many roles throughout history, including hunting, herding, guiding, protecting, carting goods and even companionship in times of war. Although not a pleasant idea to many, dogs have historically been used as a food source in some cultures. The longstanding relationshipis filled with unanswered questions about canine nature and behavior.
This is therefore an often co-dependant relationship between humans and dogs and understanding it requires an understanding of dogs’ nature and behavior.
Unfortunately, despite years of companionship, real knowledge about dogs often remains vague or ambiguous.
Queries persist about their
- thinking,
- consciousness,
- memory,
- comprehension of human language,
- communication systems,
- emotions, and
- breed-specific cognitive abilities.
Further, human attitudes towards dogs aren’t always positive, reflecting a spectrum of perspectives that ranges from characterizing dogs with loyalty, faithfulness, intelligence, to viewing them as cowardly, dirty, or even dangerous.
The subjective perception of dogs, culturally influenced, sometimes depicts them as sacred or evil, their interactions implying purity or corruption.
Dog Population and Education
As staggering as it may sound, nearly nine million dogs are found in the British Isles and over sixty-two million in North America at the time of writing.
Regardless of their extensive presence, formal education on dogs is disappointingly rare. The source of most dog-related knowledge originates from personal experiences, literary works, and recreational forms of media.
It’s quite surprising such a lot of dogs pack the world despite the lack of official dog care education.
Often, people looking to find a dog to own rely heavily on personal experiences, anecdotes, literary works and entertainment media to learn about dogs – a practice not necessarily accurate or satisfactory.
Humorists and writers frequently portray dogs as creatures possessing reasoning ability and intelligence, which shapes our perspective about dogs.
| Celebrity Dog | Media Type | Impact on Perception |
|---|---|---|
| Rin Tin Tin | Silent Films | Portrayed as intelligent and problem-solving, influencing public views on dog intelligence. |
| Lassie | Movies, TV Shows, Books | Shaped public perception of canine intelligence with human-like problem-solving abilities. |
| Beethoven | Movies | Depicted as a lovable but mischievous Saint Bernard, showcasing a playful side of dogs. |
| Old Yeller | Movies, Books | Known for loyalty and bravery, highlighting the emotional bond between humans and dogs. |
| Benji | Movies, TV Series | Popularized as a clever and heroic mixed breed, emphasizing intelligence and resourcefulness. |
| Balto | Movies, Animated Films | Based on a true story, Balto represents courage and determination, symbolizing a hero’s journey. |
| Bluey | Animated TV Series | Portrays family life and childhood play through the adventures of an Australian Blue Heeler, highlighting imagination and social learning. |
Dogs are not people dressed up in fur coats, and to deny
them their nature is to do them great harm.
—JEANNE SCHINTO
Dog Stars: Rin Tin Tin and Lassie
Hollywood stars have found their match in Rin Tin Tin and Lassie, two famed canine characters.
Rin Tin Tin, an obedient and intelligent German shepherd, garnered applause for his roles in silent films where he masterfully unraveled complex predicaments.
Not unlike Rin Tin Tin was Lassie, a collie breed, that also took the spotlights, influencing people’s perception about dogs’ capacity to think and solve problems.
A fun fact you may not know is that Lassie’s appeal on-screen helped significantly in transforming the common perception of dog intelligence.
Translating Breed Intelligence
As emotional beings first and foremost, it is easy to slip into the contemporary preoccupation with Intelligence tests as the measure of all things. And Breed books descriptions are not exception to the consequences of this trend – don’t get carried away by breed book descriptions of their breeds’ superstar intelligence.
While it is true that breed books often present dogs as intellectual creatures, the reality might be a bit nuanced. Assessing a dog’s intelligence can be more than a little challenging and often the descriptions can be overly flattering.
For instance, the Dandie Dinmont terriers breed, widely known for their distinctively crowned head and insightful eyes, proves that descriptions of intelligence may not always be in harmony with the actual capabilities of the dog. Another important aspect to consider is data from things like obedience titles and training experiences. They suggest that certain breeds might have intellectual limitations that are often overlooked.
Dandie Dinmont’s Troubles in Obedience Training
Dandie Dinmont Terriers are known for their independent and determined nature, yet they seem to encounter roadblocks in obedience training.
One tale from a dog trainer highlights the difficulties faced when working with these small but sturdy creatures. The trainer emphasized the unpredictable behavior of the terriers who often do not respond to commands and instructions, increasing the complexity of the training process.
It’s interesting to note that some behaviors we interpret as amusing or goofy might actually be a result of the dogs’ inability to comprehend what’s expected of them. This makes training Dandie Dinmonts a challenging task that may reveal breed-specific hurdles.
The Theory of Breed-Specific Learning difficulties
The lessons from the obedience class amplify the hypothesis suggesting possible breed-specific learning difficulties with Dandie Dinmont Terriers.
Over a random three-year timeframe, not a single one of these fellas won an obedience title in the US, as per the dog world’s official publication, The Gazette. It’s not necessarily about the proficiency of the human handlers, but it could be that the breed itself inherently faces intellectual and behavioural limitations which hinder their ability to ace the obedience training.
Remember that these terriers were historically bred for hunting badgers, foxes, and otters, which might limit their problem-solving intelligence and affects their training positively or negatively due to the breed’s deeply ingrained instinctual behavior.
Understanding Dog Behaviour: A Call for More Research
The events and observations surrounding the Dandie Dinmonts in obedience training signal that there’s a lot we don’t know and understand about dogs’ cognitive abilities.
This lack of understanding could be contributing to the various challenges that handlers face during the training process. The American Kennel Club categorizes Dandie Dinmonts as smart, reserved, and determined, but these traits seem to contradict their real-life behaviors, suggesting the need for more comprehensive education and research on dog behaviour and psychology.
With more study and understanding of these wonderful and diverse creatures, we might be able to break down these breed-specific limitations and enrich our methods of training.