As I’m watching The Greatest American Dog, I can’t help but wonder what gives us the right to treat our pets certain ways. It’s something I think about from time to time anyway, but more so now that I’ve been watching the challenges on the show.
Abusing Their Trust?
Our dogs trust us unconditionally. It’s about as close to a true unconditional love and acceptance relationship as you can get. Is it right for us to expect them to do certain things? Not only expect them to, but in some cases demand them to perform.
Take the personality episode for example, when the dog owners had to capture a shot of their dog conveying a certain emotion. Dogs can’t fake emotions like humans can. They have to actually be feeling them to express them.
The natural solution would be to make them feel that emotion. Or do something to illicit such a feeling. If that can’t be done, then the next logical thing would be to put them in a situation where they might act a certain way. With any luck and skillful maneuvering of the camera, you can catch a shot that us humans might interpret as a certain emotion.
I can’t quit thinking about Teresa and Leroy. What she put that dog through using the snarl bands to get him to appear angry!
But that’s the great thing about dogs. They don’t hold grudges.
What Do They Like?
Do dogs who do dog shows like doing them? Do dogs who are made to wear clothes like it? Or do they just tolerate it?
Do circus dogs like to perform? Do canine actors understand being on set? Or do they just do it to please their people?
Do agility dogs like running the courses? Do diving dogs like going to the competitions? I’m supposing they must, otherwise surely they wouldn’t participate with such enthusiasm.
But do the dogs on the “Greatest American Dog” like being made to do all the various challenges? Do they like seeing their people stressed? (Because the owners do get stressed.) Do they long to go home and back to normal life? I’m thinking some must. I haven’t watched all of the most current episode yet, but Bill and Star both seemed pretty homesick this week. (Maybe that changed as the episode progressed.)
What Makes My Dog Happy?
Murph loves going for walks, rides to the park, sun baking on the lawn (especially when the grass is freshly mown), and hunting for rabbits. But what other things does he like to do? Am I being a bad mom by not introducing him to more activities?
But what if I introduced him to all kinds of things and he seemed to like them all? How would I know if they really made him happy, or if he was just trying to please me?
The Beauty of Dogs
Thankfully dogs are about the most forgiving creatures on this planet. Sure, they might be happier doing a variety of different things. But at the end of the day, as long as they get some food, some loving, and time with their people, they seem to have had a very good day.
Perhaps that’s a lesson their people could learn from.
Question to Readers
Do you know what your dog likes (and really doesn’t appreciate you making him or her do)?
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