The sled dogs and sled dog racing


Dogs Think We're Crazy

It took me several years to realize I wasthey also might try to hug you. Wouldn't you
just talking to my dogs. Yes, talking. Nottry to control unpredictable as best you
communicating. In humans, it is well knowncould?
advice that communication is the key to all
relationships. Of course, communication is aUnless we humans initiate the action, we are
two way street. You can try to make yourselfon the defense to strangers. We have created
clear to another human in one hundredenvironments where we feel safer about social
different ways, but if they aren't open tohuman-human interactions...bars, restaurants,
listening,  you  will  get  nowhere.and stores. We know on a large scale which
of these social places we feel most
Surprisingly, your dog is actually listeningcomfortable. We like to hang out with like
to you. Desperately listening. He is tryingminded  individuals.
to make sense of your crazy arm movements,
your strange eye contact, your weirdWhy is it, that we expect our dogs to just
posturing,  and  of  course  your loud voice."get along" with everyone? We can't figure
out why they are shy or aggressive towards
I am guilty of it too. I spent years readingother dogs or people. We want socially
everything I could get my hands on about dogperfect dogs. How many people do you know
behavior. What I forgot to do was justare socially perfect? Surely, not me. I get
listen to what MY dog's were telling me. Mytired and cranky after a few social hours at
nose buried in a dog training book. My doga bar. My friend Kiana can go for hours and
across the room watching me. Wondering whathours.
I would do next. Would I scramble to the
kitchen when that loud noise started for noMaybe what we humans could do for our dogs is
reason (the phone). Would I suddenly jump upjust sit quietly and listen to them (keeping
and walk into the room with food (pizzayour paws to yourself of course). We could
delivery). Would I raise my voice and jumpstop demanding. We could try and be more
up and down when that other human showed uppredictable for our dogs. When your dog is
(friend coming over), and then proceed tostaring at you, he might not want anything.
dominate  them  with  my  arms  (hug  them).It is just he gets a treat every time, and
that  is  predictable.
If I were a dog, I would growl or cower when
a human approached. To a dog, humans seemRemember, communication is a two way street.
unpredictable. They might have a pizza, but



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