I devoured this fascinating book about dogs. Marc Bekoff is a dog lover and an ethologist. Ethology is the science that
studies animal behavior. I am always curious to learn more about dogs; I am
enthralled by the ways my furry friends surprise me through their understanding
of human language and expressive gazes. The communication that ensues when we
genuinely care to pay attention to them leads to a more peaceful and meaningful
coexistence.
The
first point to remember is that each dog is a unique individual. Marc Bekoff
makes it clear at the beginning of his remarkable book: “As I will discuss,
it’s wrong to talk about ‘the dog’ as if all dogs were the same. They’re not.
Dogs are as individual as people, and learning to care for your dog means
paying attention to your dog, discovering his/her likes or dislikes, and so
on.”
At
least 67 percent of American households own a pet, and dogs are the most
popular one. Sixty-five million households in the US own a dog, and stats show
that there is an increase in the numbers of dog adoptions in other countries of
the world.
Marc Bekoff sensed the need to write a book
about their cognitive, emotional and moral lives. Canine Confidential inspires
us to be excited for this endless field of exploration. There is still a lot to
be learned about dogs.
Food, water and shelter are not enough.
Building a relationship of love, trust and support is crucial for a healthy
existence.
Did you
know that dogs can understand hundreds of words?
Like
human beings, dogs require mental stimulation and physical exercise. Taking dogs out for
regular walks is essential, and we need to let them explore everything through
their sense of smell, which is highly developed in dogs. This exploration is an
important source of stimulation and learning. (I don’t understand why some
humans deny dogs their basic right to go out for walks and explore the
territory as much as they need to). Tail wagging is another interesting subject of
the book.
Marc Bekoff prefers to use the word “teach”
instead of “train” when he talks about the education of dogs. Unfortunately, in
the United States of America anybody can call himself or herself a trainer, so
he urges people to use caution when they choose a person for such a purpose.
Transparency is one feature that should be sought for to make sure that the dog
is in safe hands. Bekoff shares the experience of an acquaintance whose puppy
was killed by a so-called “trainer” in the state of Florida.
When we teach dogs, we have to do so with
respect, love and kindness—being bossy is not a good option. Also, a sense of
dominance over the dog should be avoided.
Researchers
refer to dogs as “social catalysts”. The reason for this is that they foster
connections between people. Marc Bekoff loves to visit dog parks because he
learns a lot about dogs and people in these places, although he acknowledges
that not every dog likes to visit dog parks, and their wishes should be
respected.
“Dogs grease the way for people to open up
to one another, and this seems particularly true at dog parks. Most people go
to dog parks to let their dogs have fun and meet other dogs, but people wind up
meeting one another, too.”
It was reassuring to read Canine
Confidential because I know that taking the time to observe my furry
friends helps me to develop a solid relationship with them. It is enlightening and fun to watch their
quirks and actions and to get to understand their unique individualities. Dogs
sense the world differently; Canine Confidential delves into this
crucial topic to gain insight into their behaviors.
Dogs
help human beings in various ways, but this should not give humans a pass to
abuse them. Seventy-five percent of the dogs of the world are still struggling
to survive. Although Marc Bekoff highlights the progress that has been made
across the world in this regard, he also educates us on the multiple ways in
which dogs continue to be abused and treated with cruelty.
“People still breed dogs who they know will
have short and likely miserable lives because of inbreeding and selecting for
traits that make it difficult for them to breathe or walk. These people are
breeding for beauty over health…at the cost of empathy. At Texas A & M
University, dogs are intentionally bred with deformities to study various forms
of muscular dystrophy. Many of these experimental dogs are profoundly crippled
by six months of age, and half of them don’t live more than ten months.”
It is necessary to educate ourselves to do our
best to advocate for dogs. In advocating for dogs, we are building bridges of
kindness toward one another and toward other non-human animals.
I hope Canine
Confidential will inspire people to treat dogs with respect and to
celebrate their existence with consideration and love.
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