No tags yet.
There comes a time in our young lives when we have discover a secret palindrome. God spelled backward is Dog. Causing our young minds to wonder, Is this a divine clue to the secret of the universe?
Dogs are programed by years of natural selection to be our friends, to understand our individual needs and quirks, and to accommodate them as best they can. They are born needing our approval and well equipped to earn it. A dog you have lived with for a while is similar to a well made and fitted shoe that you have worn for sometime. It is the best shoe ever, for you. So it is with your dog: the more time you spend with him, the more you take care of him, the more he becomes a perfect friend for you.
Nobody knows exactly what the deal was 15,000 years ago when canine and human first teamed up. We do know that humans at the time were hunters. Hunters with great vision, but very limited sense of smell and hearing. Dogs on the other hand could put their nose in the air and lead you to a wild boar hidden in the bushes half a mile up wind. As to eyesight, well they didn't run into trees. Over short distances the dog could run and turn on a dime like Jim Brown in his prime. When it came to covering 20 miles without a break the man and the woman of 15,000 years ago was more than his match. The dog was perfectly equipped to corner good sized prey, but to safely bring it to the ground, he needed the help of his pack, or his new friend, man.
Man’s efficiency at the kill may have come as a surprise to the first Fido. Man did not have very big teeth and his claws were a joke. As to a good thick protective coat, forget about it. But these humans were over achievers. No coat, put on a bear skin. No claws, make a spear. No teeth make an axe. You can just see those early canines looking at their new human cave mates and thinking, “Who could have imagined what these ugly creatures could do with opposable thumbs, this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
All Mr Long-ago Wolf needed in order to take full advantage of the humans was to evolve into an animal suited by temperament to be a helper and friend. Now here is where a non dog person might take exception, not to the helper part, but to the friend part. This person who prides himself on clear, hard headed reasoning will insist that the relationship between dog and human is purely transactional, i.e. I will help you catch the rabbit and you will give some to me. Now I am sure that in those days, thousands of years ago, there were dogs who thought this way, we will call their representative, Mr. Smarty Dog. And it worked, up to a point. The point being when the human was making life and death decisions.
In a pack threatening event, Mr. Smarty would certainly be worth saving after you had the essentials taken care of, but Mr. Friend, who had stayed with you when you were hurt in the blizzard, and kept you warm without regard to his own comfort, then brought help, Mr. Friend would be saved before Mr. Human’s most valuable belongings. Thus being a friend, looking for ways to be indispensable to the success of the little human pack was the trait which defined the dog, Canis lupis familiaris. Now we can only guess that the wolves that lived in those times looked down on their accommodating brethren, but friend of man has made old Mr. Go It Alone Wolf look like a loser. In fact science tells us that Mr. Wolf of 15,000 years ago no longer exists. He is the common ancestor shared by the modern wolf and the dog. Mr. Modern Wolf, more the chip off the old block has seen his number constantly dwindling, while Mr. Friend Dog is now the most widely abundant terrestrial carnivore.
We will concede that humans are prone to see human characteristics in other creatures, or even in their cars. But there are an equal number among us who want to put humans on a totally separate plateau than all other life forms on the planet. Some interpret our bible that way, in marked contrast to the religious views of the people who lived here when the Europeans arrived.
As to the degree of separation between humans and our fellow creatures on earth. Modern science is more on the side of the native Americans. Science tells us that the genetic makeup of a dog and a human is not very different. In 2005 scientists conducted a genetic study on 29 dogs by testing their DNA. What they found was that all samples from the 29 dog specimens contained human DNA, often at levels exceeding the amount of authentic ancient dog DNA.
This is obviously not to suggest that dogs are in the same league in things which we humans take most pride, our ability to understand and manipulate our environment. It is however instructive to understand that our relationship with our canine friends have left us more alike than human snobs would ever admit and possibly more than our equal at human traits which we do not value so highly, such as building the bonds of friendship.I won’t attempt to argue this case in full here, I would recommend "Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?" by Frans de Waal .
I will also offer this example. My wife Barbara and I are lucky to have an adult son, Nick, who lives nearby. We’re even more lucky that he and his friends see us several times each month. We have friends we see more, but of course Nick has a special place in our hearts. Nick loves animals and when he visits he is attentive and playful with Hudson but not significantly more than other humans Hudson meets with us. But, Hudson goes crazy with joy when he sees Nick. When he was a puppy he would wet himself. He still cries with joy for 4 or 5 minutes. I have given this much thought and my working hypothesis is that Hudson has this affection for Nick because he senses our love for Nick and reflects it. “Oh you are a most loved member of the pack, great to see you safely among us.”
Want to be loved, love the people whom the object of your affection cares about. Humans are not particularly good at this. We let our bonds of love be torn apart for the most stupid reasons, many of which are matters of pride. A dog is not inclined to squander the love and affection of his human friend because one night the friend treated him badly in front of a dog friend or held a different political point of view.
A dog is comfortable and happy when he is contributing to the health and happiness of his whole family. Non dog people can quietly scoff at this, but those of us who have lived most of our lives in close contact with family dogs know from experience it is true. I will share one story which stands out in my own experience. After I graduated from college I taught school for a year and for the first semester my first wife, Linda, was far away finishing her studies. During this period I spent my free time with Frank, a smooth coated St. Bernard. I lived in a small mobile home in the middle of a large field. After Linda finished her studies she joined Frank and I at the mobile home. One day I was outside some distance from our home when Frank came bounding up to me. I welcomed him and proceeded to continue my walk but Frank insisted I follow him and go back to the trailer. It took me a few minutes to understand his demand and to give in to it, but when I got back I found Linda had a medical emergency which demanded attention. I am not going to say it was a matter of life or death, nothing that dramatic, but both Linda and I were very grateful for Frank’s intervention.
I am sure this conduct between wolves is not uncommon. When one wolf is hurt the others are rounded up to protect the vulnerable one. What makes the action special is that it evidences the dogs acceptance of the interspecies family. This provides dogs with well earned protection of their human friends.
When Lewis and Clark led the expedition across America, Lewis understood that he had to deal with native Americans with skill and diplomacy. They were passing through land under the control of these native people. Their success and their lives depended upon not alienating their hosts. Only once in that long journey did Lewis’s restraint and self control desert him and that was when on the return trip some natives stole his dog Seaman. In a move which could have had grave consequences for his group Lewis threatened to send men with knives to kill the tribes people unless he got his dog back, Luckily he did.
Dogs are very special friends but like human friends they are not perfect. Hudson for example, will jump up If he gets excited. He usually comes when called, but if he still has to relieve himself or thinks I am taking great liberties with his playtime he will ignore me for a few minutes. He likes to go into the bedroom, find an object of clothing and bring it out, usually uninjured but wet with dog saliva. So he has his faults and I am sure my wife Barbara could name a few more. Barbara also suspects that I spoil Hudson when we are alone together. Did I mention one of dogs greatest qualities, they are very discrete.
I would love to hear about your experience. Tell us about when your family retainer stepped forward in a time of need and promoted the general welfare of you and your family. And PLEASE share pictures if you have them. When done I’ll put them all together and we’ll call it the Friendship Wall.