8: Balancing the "Magic" of the Dog-Human Bond with Science & Critical Thinking

Sean and Haley talk about embracing the mythical magic of our relationship with Scout (how incredible is it that we harmoniously share life with a creature of a whole different species?!) while also staying rooted in an accurate perception of what makes our cattle dog, well, a dog.

Sometimes we see animal lovers delving into "folk nonsense" and expecting unfair things from their companions (or creating potentially dangerous situations by assuming our pets automatically understand societal norms, illnesses, or so on in ways they actually might not). On the other hand, we also see trainers try to dismiss the potential depth of connection between dog and owner in favor of a more robotic or negative view of our pets. I personally think the healthiest approach is one in between!

Books mentioned:

• For the Love of a Dog by Patricia McConnell (the first I read this past week)
• Dog Sense by John Bradshaw (the second I read this past week)
• Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are by Frans de Waal (I just can't stop talking about this one!)
• Dog is Love by Clive Wynne (apparently I also can't stop talking about this one...)

Some related blog articles:

• Does My Dog Want to Please Me? Yes and No
• Pros & Cons of Thinking About My Dog as a Human Friend
• What Advocating For My Dog Means & Why It Matters (the first part of this talks about honoring my dog as a canine)
• Imagining My Dog’s “Umwelt” Helps Us Grow as a Team (all about trying to understand how Scout experiences the world)