I believe we’re in desperate need for a more mindful socialization strategy for rescue/transport dogs. Over the decades, I’ve learned a lot about canine behavior and the human-canine bond from my clients. This includes what works–as well as what doesn’t.
Read more →Last month I began a noble experiment on the grounds surrounding the little house on the hill to test the findings of a study done by the USDA and partners funded by the National Science Foundation. Specifically, I wanted to know how mowing affected bee welfare in my yard.
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Any change in nature can influence the quality of the human-companion animal bond. But at no time of year is this as obvious as it is in spring.
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For eleven weeks more than a decade ago one of my dogs, Frica, daily reminded me of the disconnect between animal learning and teaching theory vs. the way we teach animals and expect them to learn. She taught me a lot that I still use today.
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As often occurs in science, once scientists started looking for tool use in nonhuman animal species, they found members of multiple species throughout the animal kingdom exhibiting this behavior in nature. (See this Wikipedia article for a nice overview of this subject.) Historically, tool use was considered one of those skills that made humans superior. Then when evidence of it appeared in wild animals, some said those animals must have learned it from humans. But then evidence ruled that out too. Naturally, this got me thinking about tool use in dogs and cats and whether the lack of reports of this
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I doubt that Bamboo the cat cared a bit about evolutionary elegance and anthropomorphism when he created his new cabin fever game. But that didn’t stop me from making the connection…
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This month’s commentary explores the trend toward publicly proclaimed polarized thinking in our society and how this may influence our interactions with companion animals.
Read more →Happy New Year Everyone! These wishes come as the animals and I take some time off to recuperate from a very hectic end of 2018. At this time of the year in the northern hemisphere, Mother Nature is in slowdown mode and I decided that the pets and I should join her and all the plant and wildlife round the little house on the hill and do likewise. At least for for bit. Podcasts will resume in January and commentaries in a month later. Wishing you all a very happy and healthy 2019 filled with starlit nights and quality
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When faced with a dark, frigid post-holiday season, an energy-efficient summary of key points to remember when facing animal behavior problems can help a lot.
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Human-Animal Bond Amblyopia: When animals get lost in translation
I never would have connected the human-animal bond with amblyopia until I had an experience that introduced me to this human orientation.
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