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My Dog Empathizes With Me

How many times have we been told that our dogs don’t experience human emotion, so we shouldn’t treat them like they are human?  Even when they give us that guilty look after scattering the garbage all over the kitchen, how do we know for sure that they are actually feeling guilty? 

Interestingly, there has been a scientific study of dogs and yawning.  Yawning begins in humans while still in the womb at around 11 weeks old.  Yawning can be a sign of boredom, hunger or to relieve unwanted elements in the body.  All vertebrae yawn, even lizards.  What about Contagious Yawning?    Studies have shown that Contagious Yawning is a sign of empathy and builds social bonds. Children, typically, do not acquire Contagious Yawning until around 4 years old.  Behaviourist may use Contagious Yawning in the future to determine developmental disorders in children.  Autistic children show less ability to empathize thus less instinct to perform Contagious Yawning.

What does all this have to do with our dogs?   Yawn next to your dog, and he may do the same.  Though it seems simple, this contagious behaviour is actually quite remarkable. Only a few animals do it, and only dogs cross the species barrier.  A new study finds that dogs yawn when they only hear the sound of us yawning.  In fact, your dog is 5 times more likely to have Contagious Yawning when he hears his master yawn rather than another person.  Dog acquire this Contagious Yawning at around 6 months old.  That is strong evidence that canines may be able to empathize with us.  According to Karine Silva, Behavioural Biologist, “The result of the study is not surprising.   People first began domesticating dogs at least 15,000 years ago, and since then we've bred them to perform increasingly complex tasks, from hunting to guiding the blind.  This close relationship may have fostered cross-species empathy over the millennia.”

But let us not forget that guilty look and not being sure if Fido feels the same type or level of guilt as humans.  We may never know if our dogs are feeling the same empathy as human empathy.  It may be a canine empathy that we cannot understand.  All-in-all, I find it pretty amazing that my dogs have this level of understanding and bonding with me.  Perhaps in another 15,000 years of training, they will be able to clean up after themselves.

UPDATE  UPDATE  UPDATE

Week before last I wrote in my blog about my girl being in false pregnancy and all the trails and tribulations that go along with that.  Well, my girls are the BEST!   We showed in Columbus, Oh that weekend and both my girls were BOW and earned 4 point majors.  Just goes to show, they were fine, it's just me being neurotic.  I should take a chill pill!   Thanks to Stephanie Chuchman, Debbie Kreig, and Cindy Niles for all their advice on food, supplements and hormone management. I really appreciate your support.

ASK THE EXPERTS

This is a regular feature of my blog.  I will be asking a question to a cross-section of Canadian experts involved in various areas of the dog world.  If you would like to participate or have a question you would like to have asked or have an expert you would like to answer a question, feel free to contact me.

Question:  What should owners and handlers do to prepare their show dogs for professional photo session?

Answer:  Katherina Dueck, Professional Photographer and owner of A Pawsitive Image Photography & Design, www.apawsitiveimage.ca

Katherina Dueck
A Pawsitive Image Photography & Design

I think the first thing people can do to prepare their dog for a professional photo session is to groom it well and bring their basic grooming tools with them for on the spot touch ups. They should treat it like a Best in Show ring and not rely on the photographer to fix things later. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to have ungroomed dogs for a session with owners saying things like "oh, you can just Photoshop that right?" While I'm not against some editing work after the shoot to fix stray hairs or clean up a bit of a tear stain, it's not up to me to do a digital groom on the dog.

Same goes for stacking - owners need to know how to do it properly and well so that I don't have to hear "you can fix that front, right?" And don't be afraid to tell the photographer what angle is appropriate for your breed, or to ask if you can see what the shots are looking like.  Bring some examples if you have them (from breed magazines, etc.).

Sometimes it's better if my assistant or the owner's helper does the stacking so the owner can do the baiting. But not always - we have to try different things to see what's going to work best. If you know of something that never fails to get your dog "up" then bring it - treats, toys, one of your children... whatever it takes. I have quite a few tricks of my own, too, from toys that do more than squeak to the ability to make some pretty weird noises myself! Don't forget to bring a show collar and lead - I usually carry some spares just in case.

If you want shots of the dog by itself, which people typically do, you have to teach it to stand/stay. It can work well if you are able to do this while standing behind the dog, using the lead to keep his or her head up but staying out of the shot. If that's not possible, then at least make sure he will stay if you back away.

Above all, you have to be patient. It takes a little while for the dog to understand what we're doing and even longer to get even a few really great shots.

I like to see people do nice things for others.  If someone does something nice for you at a show or you see or hear about something nice being done, please send me an email at djenkins@shaw.ca.   Be sure to put in the subject: Nice

We will mention that person by name in the blog.

Reported by:  Giselle Carlow; ShadowFrost Saints

Location of Nice Deed:  Canadian National Saint Bernard Specialty, Manitoba

Guy St. Laurent

Spotlighted This Week are:  Yves Maurice, Quebec,  Guy St. Laurent, Quebec and Junior Handler, Hannah Keenes, and her brother Spencer Keenes of Manitoba

This past October a US friend and I entered way too many dogs at the first Canadian National Saint Specialty in Manitoba. We found ourselves without the pro handlers we had booked, so we were not at all sure how we would get all 11 dogs into the ring........yes 11 Saints!

Not to worry however. Some of our COMPETITORS from Quebec, Yves Maurice and Guy St. Laurent jumped in to fill the handler void as did good friends from Manitoba, Hannah Keenes (junior handler) and her brother Spencer Keenes.  All our dogs made it into the ring.

A real show of sportsmanship on their behalf and something not seen enough at shows. 

Yves Maurice

Spencer Keenes

Show Heroes are those that considers others' needs and takes the time to help.

Heroes each week make our sport better.

Be a Hero at a show this week!

Hannah Keenes, Junior Handler

Remember to watch for "Nice Deeds".  They are happening all around us.  Let's talk about the people helping others.

Be sure to go to Canuck Dogs, http://www.canuckdogs.com, to see all the upcoming events and to check stats.  You should  bookmark it.  That's where you will find my blog. 

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