On Friday, June 8, this provocative title drew New Yorkers to Hunter College where four scientists provided a behind-the-scenes look at our beloved companion and extraordinary foot-warmer, the dog.
The host was Thinking Animals, an organization dedicated to providing “a scientific and ethical rationale for valuing the intrinsic worth of other species.”
 |
| http://popsci.typepad.com/popsci/2007/07/science-in-the-.html |
In real life, scientists are not insane nerds as depicted by The Simpsons. Instead, scientists are storytellers, and the Thinking Animals speakers each presented a unique tale of who the dog is.
 |
| http://www.vet.upenn.edu/PennVet/News/Bellwether/WorkingDogs/tabid/2352/Default.aspx |
If anyone ever tells you, “This is how dogs were domesticated...” ask them where their time machine is parked and if you can borrow it for a few hours. If they don’t have a time machine, then they probably don’t have the answer.
As Dr. Serpell explains, we’ve collected loads of information about how dogs came to be dogs, but the picture is still messy. The mess includes the archeological record, which examines skulls and burial grounds, as well as the genetic record, which examines both mitochondrial DNA and single-nucleotide polymorphisms.
One domestication hypothesis suggests a single dog origin in Asia, while another suggests multiple origins in different locations around the world. The more information we gather, the muddier the story becomes. Right now I’m sticking with James Gorman of the New York Times who wrote, “only proximate answers [currently] exist to the question of where dogs came from. Mine came from a shelter. How about yours?”
As Dr. Serpell explains, we’ve collected loads of information about how dogs came to be dogs, but the picture is still messy. The mess includes the archeological record, which examines skulls and burial grounds, as well as the genetic record, which examines both mitochondrial DNA and single-nucleotide polymorphisms.
One domestication hypothesis suggests a single dog origin in Asia, while another suggests multiple origins in different locations around the world. The more information we gather, the muddier the story becomes. Right now I’m sticking with James Gorman of the New York Times who wrote, “only proximate answers [currently] exist to the question of where dogs came from. Mine came from a shelter. How about yours?”
 |
| http://www.alfredstate.edu/news/2012-02-01/commencement-speaker-announced |
Many dogs spend their days and nights serving the role of companion to humans. According to the ASPCA, there are about 1 million dogs in NYC. For both parties, this can be an incredibly rewarding arrangement. Because scientists like to measure stuff, they even found a way to measure this relationship. When spending time together, oxytocin -- a social bonding neuropeptide -- increases in both dogs and their owners, particularly if the owner and dog have a close relationship.
But this union is far from perfect. Between 3 and 4 million dogs find themselves in animal shelters each year, and behavior problems are a common reason for relinquishment.
How might this be alleviated? While dogs have been primed to look to and cooperate with humans, dogs do not receive a handbook in utero titled, How to Live with Humans So You Don’t Wind Up in a Shelter. Until this handbook becomes available (and on Kindle), it would be great if humans recognized that there is a 100% chance that a terrier will dig and a 100% chance that a beagle will go through the trash (percentages made up by author, who is definitely wrong because all dogs are individuals).
Training can help dogs and humans get on the same page, but unfortunately, only 19% of dogs have formal training. Because perceived behavior "problems" can be associated with our expectations of dogs, a less anthropocentric view of dogs might help the dog-human relationship. That entails getting to know dogs for who they are, and that’s where Dr. Alexandra Horowitz comes in.
How might this be alleviated? While dogs have been primed to look to and cooperate with humans, dogs do not receive a handbook in utero titled, How to Live with Humans So You Don’t Wind Up in a Shelter. Until this handbook becomes available (and on Kindle), it would be great if humans recognized that there is a 100% chance that a terrier will dig and a 100% chance that a beagle will go through the trash (percentages made up by author, who is definitely wrong because all dogs are individuals).
Training can help dogs and humans get on the same page, but unfortunately, only 19% of dogs have formal training. Because perceived behavior "problems" can be associated with our expectations of dogs, a less anthropocentric view of dogs might help the dog-human relationship. That entails getting to know dogs for who they are, and that’s where Dr. Alexandra Horowitz comes in.
 |
| http://insideofadog.com/author.php |
“Dogs are anthropologists of us,” reminds Dr. Horowitz. They read us, look at us, see us. They hold mutual gaze which can give us the feeling of understanding and intimacy. But does this understanding go both ways? Is our reading of dogs as good as their reading of us?
Instead of looking at dogs on the surface, Horowitz explained how experiments can explore dogs’ inner perspective. She reviewed two such studies -- conducted by her research group (which I manage, so I clearly have no bias) -- one investigating how dogs behave when treated unfairly and the other exploring whether the so-called guilty look maps to a knowledge of disobedience or is instead a response to owner scolding.
The main message: The dog's take on a situation is not always the same as that of humans. Dogs are not simply little people dressed in awesome coats.
Instead of looking at dogs on the surface, Horowitz explained how experiments can explore dogs’ inner perspective. She reviewed two such studies -- conducted by her research group (which I manage, so I clearly have no bias) -- one investigating how dogs behave when treated unfairly and the other exploring whether the so-called guilty look maps to a knowledge of disobedience or is instead a response to owner scolding.
The main message: The dog's take on a situation is not always the same as that of humans. Dogs are not simply little people dressed in awesome coats.
 |
| http://evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/research/dogs/people |
Intelligence is not a have-or-have-not concept. Every species excels in different areas based on what they need to thrive in their niche. Dogs are socially savvy but, left to their own devices, are not particularly masters of the physical world. When a dog encounters a problem in its physical environment, many will not likely seek out a solution. But bring on a human to indicate a solution, particularly by way of pointing or gazing, and dogs take that information and literally run with it.
When scientists ask whether non-human animals use tools, the answer is an obvious yes. Every day all around the world, a dog turns to its tool -- I mean “owner” -- barks loudly, and then someone gives that dog exactly what she wants.
When scientists ask whether non-human animals use tools, the answer is an obvious yes. Every day all around the world, a dog turns to its tool -- I mean “owner” -- barks loudly, and then someone gives that dog exactly what she wants.
 |
| http://nationalzoo.si.edu/AboutUs/Staff/BiosAndProfiles/MooreDon.cfm |
Dr. Moore, a zoo-based animal behaviorist, moderated the event and introduced each speaker by the number of legs found in their home. Dr. Serpell has the most legs.
The evening’s message was clear: Throughout the world, many two-legs live with many four-legs. But despite thousands of years together, the dog is still not “known”. Our job: recognize this and get to know dogs for who they really are.
Speakers
Dr. James Serpell, PhD Director of the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society and Professor at University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Steve Zawistowski, PhD, CAAB ASPCA Science Advisor
Dr. Alexandra Horowitz, PhD Assistant Professor of Psychology at Barnard College Horowitz Dog Cognition Lab
Evan Maclean, PhD Department of Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University
Dr. Don Moore, PhD Associate Director of Animal Care at Smithsonian National Zoo
References
Gorman, James. ‘What Is’ Meets ‘What if’: The Role of Speculation in Science. May 24, 2012. New York Times
Gorman, James. ‘What Is’ Meets ‘What if’: The Role of Speculation in Science. May 24, 2012. New York Times
0 comments