assigning human characteristics to dogs

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBen

Currently have two interesting dogs, each with their own distinct personalities.
One is a young Malamute/Lab cross named Chaos (aptly named)
One is an old American Staff named Knuckles or Old man.

Both came to us from bad situations, especially Knuckles. We often describe him as an "old soul".
One "aspect" that is utterly unmistakable is his dislike or intolerance for tension. If my two girls are having go at it, as teen siblings do, and teen girls even more-so. Or If I am having words with one of them as dads and teen girls do.

He will quietly slink off and hide at just the smallest amounts of tension. He is probably more in tune to it, and affected by it, than many humans or young children.

If it is scared of tension it is due to a bad experience earlier on and probably the result of abuse from the previous owner or maybe a run in with a stranger that proved stressful or abusive to the dog. Even 1 negative experience can affect your dogs behaviour for life no matter how much you try to counter that behaviour. Thats why most dogs will bark or get excited when their owner is yelling they think the heightned atmosphere is play time cause dogs get loud and excited when they play so when trying to get them to learn and listen to you it has to be done in a neutral tone and without exciting cues like yelling or quick movements. Good for you for taking on a dog from a previous bad situation its nice to see people care for all animals as if they were their children.

According to New Zealand law, animals are now sentient beings:
http://io9.gizmodo.com/animals-are-n...eal-1706070278

Is that not true in Quebec now too?

Now that you say it Sharon, it does ring a bell.

The most human attribute I've ever seen a dog exhibit was my brother's lab/border cross.
You could be standing around minding your own business, and he'd come up to you, lift his leg and piss on your boot.
Just a little reminder of where you stood in the pecking order.
Seems like a lot of the guys I work with.