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November 23, 2011
Man's Best Friend, Even in Death - 6
by Brian Lynn
The web is abuzz with the loyalty displayed by one dog in China. It seems that the dog’s owner died a week or so ago and that the dog has stayed by his grave ever since. After a week, villagers began bringing it food and water, and now there are plans to build it a kennel. It’s reminiscent of Shep from Ft. Benton, Mont., as well as the story of fallen Navy Seal Jon Tumilson and his Labrador, Hawkeye, who laid down near the serviceman’s coffin during the ceremony. While the stories do pull at the heartstrings, especially the photos of Hawkeye at Tumilson’s funeral, I have to wonder: are the dogs really “mourning” as headlines and some people proclaim? Or is anthropomorphism blinding us and something else entirely is going on? I don’t know the answer. While I will admit that I do get a little choked up at Tumilson’s photos and story, Shep and his latest Chinese incarnation create a passing sense of wonder and interest but not an outpouring of emotion (maybe this says something about me?). While I will quickly acknowledge the extreme loyalty of dogs and their desire to please and fit in with a family, when I hear stories of one dog passing in a multi-dog household I often times wonder if what people are relaying is more of what’s inside them than what the dog is actually displaying. As humans we continually misread our dogs. Just watch an episode any canine “fix it” show and you’ll see. As hunters and trainers we’re usually far ahead of average pet people when it comes to understanding canine psychology and picking up on body language. But even many amateur trainers I know slip into this sort of touchy-feely mindset after a dog dies and then talk of how bad it has affected the other dog(s) in the house. I often wonder what’s really going on in the household. The dog might actually be mourning. But from what I’ve read and seen, any such mourning tends to be short lived. After all, if wild dogs or wolves were prone to mourning for any extended time, the livelihood of the pack would be put at risk because the attainment of resources (prey, safety cover, etc) would be interrupted. I’m not discounting that mourning actually takes place, but I think there’s a human element that comes into play with anything lasting more than a few days or week. We see the dog adjusting to life without a pack mate and inject our human emotions (read: baggage) into the process, giving the dog cues and reinforcements. The feedback the dog receives often comes in the form of resources (food treats, a uniquely human pacifier) and physical praise (touching, petting); both are highly regarded by the dog and strongly reinforce the dog’s behaviors. The sudden change in pack hierarchy combined with a human not acting normally (excessive petting and treats) has, from the dog’s point of view, turned his world upside down. Not only has a pack member disappeared, but the focal point of the pack and one responsible for providing resources has gone on the blink! The remaining dog is left to figure out how to stabilize the situation and if everything will be okay; that insecurity goes a long way to perpetuating behavior changes in dogs. While there are many scientific reasons why a dog might behave in the manner of Shep, Hawkeye or this yellow dog from China, it’s nice (from an emotional human viewpoint) to think that they really are so attached to their owners that even death can’t interrupt their loyalty. What say you, Gun Doggers? Do you think these dogs are really mourning? Or is something else taking place, too? |
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Comments (6)
Im no expert on dog Psychology or anything, but my 4 yr old Yellow Male will not eat if I leave him alone with my folks when I go away for a weekend. We have spent just about every weekend there for a year when I finished up my senior year of college. But the times when I drop him and my black male off to mom and dad's, my yellow male will not eat until I come home. He either lies in my room, or lies in the entry way in front of the door. He cant even be bribed away with a bumper...
My mother in law has a lap (rat) dog that is so attached to her that if she leaves the house, the little guy becomes a neurotic fool. It will sit and watch the front door if in the house; if put in back yard will cruise the fence looking for an opening and on occasional find of a place to squeeze through, suddenly be "searching the neighborhood" for my mother in law. Thats short term tho...I suspect when she passes, the dog will seem to mourn (as he does when she goes to the store) until someone new is providing the food and the attention.
I used to leave my old lab Wiley with my folks, they live out in the country. Wiley would get up in he morning, do his thing, then go lay out on the lawn and watch down the lane for hours and hours, presumably looking for me to come back. He never ever did that when I was up there.
If you think movies is sad, try the book, it will really get anybody that loves hunting dogs. You can explain why a dog is sad in terms of the pack order being disturbed, but that just another way of saying mourning. Probably not all dog mourn. I had two beagle pups that were the only pups in a litter. Those two dogs where absolutly connected at the hip. I sold them together. I'd be curious to know if they are still together.
I think dogs mourn for a spell. A friend of mine died last year who has a yellow lab, Traci, that went everywhere but turkey hunting with him. When George died Traci mourned in the same way that a dog does when the owner is gone for a trip. At the funeral though Traci was with George's widow and was fine. I would be interested in what others have to say about this subject though. I do remember reading that animals will stay near the body due to the smell of the owner. With modern embalming methods I don't imagine that sense of smell is long in lasting.
Reminds me of the movie "Where the Red Fern Grows"...sad movie.
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If you think movies is sad, try the book, it will really get anybody that loves hunting dogs. You can explain why a dog is sad in terms of the pack order being disturbed, but that just another way of saying mourning. Probably not all dog mourn. I had two beagle pups that were the only pups in a litter. Those two dogs where absolutly connected at the hip. I sold them together. I'd be curious to know if they are still together.
I think dogs mourn for a spell. A friend of mine died last year who has a yellow lab, Traci, that went everywhere but turkey hunting with him. When George died Traci mourned in the same way that a dog does when the owner is gone for a trip. At the funeral though Traci was with George's widow and was fine. I would be interested in what others have to say about this subject though. I do remember reading that animals will stay near the body due to the smell of the owner. With modern embalming methods I don't imagine that sense of smell is long in lasting.
Reminds me of the movie "Where the Red Fern Grows"...sad movie.
My mother in law has a lap (rat) dog that is so attached to her that if she leaves the house, the little guy becomes a neurotic fool. It will sit and watch the front door if in the house; if put in back yard will cruise the fence looking for an opening and on occasional find of a place to squeeze through, suddenly be "searching the neighborhood" for my mother in law. Thats short term tho...I suspect when she passes, the dog will seem to mourn (as he does when she goes to the store) until someone new is providing the food and the attention.
Im no expert on dog Psychology or anything, but my 4 yr old Yellow Male will not eat if I leave him alone with my folks when I go away for a weekend. We have spent just about every weekend there for a year when I finished up my senior year of college. But the times when I drop him and my black male off to mom and dad's, my yellow male will not eat until I come home. He either lies in my room, or lies in the entry way in front of the door. He cant even be bribed away with a bumper...
I used to leave my old lab Wiley with my folks, they live out in the country. Wiley would get up in he morning, do his thing, then go lay out on the lawn and watch down the lane for hours and hours, presumably looking for me to come back. He never ever did that when I was up there.
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)