Dog Community

Dog Science

Posted : 6/27/2006 2:10:56 PM

So I took an animal behavoral class a year back and I was just thinking about what the professior said about dogs. First thing he ever said in the class was something like "We know absolutly nothing about dogs" I don't know his exact words but it's always entered my mind from time to time. Out of all the reasearch on dog behavor and all thoe dog behavorlist out there, dogs are still the least understood animal.

So out of everything we tell each other on how to deal with dog problems and issues and everything else we say, we know absolutly nothing. Now really, are dogs are just that smart or are we missing someing so obvious? Maybe thats why there are so many mixed openions on how to deal with the many dog issues that come up. Don't know, just something I was thinking and just wanted to share.

cyclefiend2000

Posted : 6/27/2006 3:01:02 PM

"We know absolutly nothing about dogs"

i dont know how true that is. i have been reading a book called "if dogs could talk" by a hungarian animal behaviorist. the university he works for has done many experiments on dog's behavior and he has documented many of them in the book.

i would also like to think that the anecdotal evidence and theories suggested by others, who work with dogs on a daily basis though not neccessarily behaviorists, gives some insiteful information. i also think that, like humans, their is no one way to solve the same problem for everyone. [sm=2cents.gif]

agilebasenji

Posted : 6/27/2006 5:07:47 PM

If Dogs Could Talk has got to be the best dog book since Other End of the Leash.

I think it is only recently that science has had an interest in dogs, perhaps that is what your prof meant

Mic

Posted : 6/27/2006 5:16:35 PM

I think it is reasonable to say that we have only broken the surface on a topic that is as deep as the ocean, but to say we know "nothing" just isn't true.

We have so much to learn, but I think we are making great progress.

Sandra TH

Posted : 6/27/2006 5:55:40 PM

Ha! I posted in June of last year about "If Dogs Could Talk" [linkhttp://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/49/142009.html]http://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/49/142009.html[/link] and no one responded that they had read it. I loved that book and found it truly fascinating!

Debbie R

Posted : 6/27/2006 6:27:57 PM

It's kinda of true, studies of wolves and fox have been done extensively but dogs no, I think it's because they have so easily integrated into our lives that no one felt it important. But I think now that so many people (thank God) are into dogs and because there are more dogs living in our lives and the consequence of over breeding and too many inept people owning dogs ( not even picking up a book) is perpetuating dog bites. Hopefully that will encourage some extensive studies.

cyclefiend2000

Posted : 6/28/2006 9:21:58 PM

ORIGINAL: luvarescue

Ha! I posted in June of last year about "If Dogs Could Talk" [linkhttp://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/49/142009.html]http://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/49/142009.html[/link] and no one responded that they had read it. I loved that book and found it truly fascinating!

i have been reading it a little at a time over the last month. his findings and analysis are interesting, but a little on the dry side for my tastes. the book i liked better was "bones would rain from the sky" by suzanne clothier. i especially liked her take on dominance and alpha status.