What do we really know about man's best friend?

Washington Post

17 hours ago

Post readers write about their relationship with their dogs. And the president and CEO of the ASPCA shares how we can protect them.
Regarding Clive D.L. Wynne and Holly Molinaro's June 1 op-ed, 'If dogs' emotions seem simple, it's because humans have them all wrong':
Copper is one of our older dogs, and we've had her since 2011. In her younger years (and mine, too) she was my running buddy. She even ran half-marathons with me.
She was always a little mouthy, and she seemed to bark whenever she felt like we weren't including her in the conversation. Spending so much time with her, I always felt like I knew exactly what she was feeling. However, last year, she had to have her rear leg amputated. This made moving around challenging for her, and she barks even more to communicate her needs.
I try really hard to understand her, but sometimes it takes me a few tries to ascertain what she wants. It is interesting observing the other dogs when she gets frustrated communicating to me because they seem to try to soothe and support her. I don't know if they get it or if they are just as befuddled as I am. Either way, we are all doing the best we can together.
Stephanie McCaslin, La Plata, Maryland
It's incredible that, as Clive D.L. Wynne and Holly Molinaro's June 1 op-ed noted, dogs have learned to read humans much better than we can read them. One emotion I think I understand in my dog is disappointment. If we don't respond when he wants to play and brings us a toy, he will just lie down. We interpret it as dejection.
We also think that the shivering and whimpering he does as we approach doggy day care is excited anticipation, not fear, because he jumps out of the car into the waiting leash of the caregivers without a look back at us.
Maggie Symington, Rochester
Some years ago, I was walking on a beach with my Labrador, Fury. He has now passed on to heavenly beaches, but he used to love running about and sniffing the wonderful fishy smells. This beach was well known for the tide coming in without warning, so you'd be walking on firm sand and suddenly come across a soggy bit, which I feared because of my bad hip. As the tide sought to trap me by my shoes, I felt deep concern as I knew I would fall, and it would be difficult to get back up. Fury came up beside me, and I put my hand on his collar, and he led me to dry sand where I could walk easily again. Immediately after, he took off running again, wagging that wonderful tail. I was stunned by his help, as I had not understood before how in tune he was with my emotions.
Let's face it: If I'd been walking with a person, I would have had to ask whether I could latch on to their arm for support. I also realized how clever Fury was at behaving in such a knowing and empathetic way. No trainer could have taught him that trick.
Patricia Burbridge, Dublin
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The way I communicate with my dogs, I believe, is very common among observant owners. Benji, our small, 2-year-old goldendoodle, is our third dog, and he is very expressive. He has a goldendoodle girlfriend, Callie, whom he likes to visit and roughhouse with a few times a week. He has a variety of interactions with each of the 23 dogs who live on our street, and I believe that I can tell when he is happy, nervous or disinterested in his encounters with those dogs.
His downward-dog position is an invitation to roughhouse, so I prepare myself for wild chasing. His tucked tail, rounded back and slinking movements show me he is nervous. So I speak to him softly to reassure him and leave the encounter quickly. There are times when I can tell he would rather move along sniffing than engage with another oncoming dog, and he communicates that by raising his head and turning away from the other animal. When he is really interested in meeting a new friend, he will sit down and wait for the dog to reach him.
He also has definite ideas about the direction in which he wants to walk, and he balks if I walk in 'the wrong direction.' He will plant his paws and pull backward. We negotiate the direction with a pocketful of treats, and he either deigns to go in my preferred direction, or I give in and follow his lead.
Ellen Jacobs, Westmount, Quebec
When we brought our dog home, we had to spend some time getting to know each other. We had another dog at the time who happened to be our dog's biological uncle, and we watched their relationship grow as well.
I put our new puppy through extensive training, and she earned her good canine citizen certificate. I believe I can usually read her, but I also recognize that without a mutual language, I might get it wrong sometimes. Though, to be fair, we often get confused with interpreting human emotions or feelings, even with words!
While thinking about the studies Clive D.L. Wynne and Holly Molinaro mentioned in their June 1 op-ed, I wonder whether dogs have a dominant paw the way humans have a dominant hand. If that is the case, I think that our puppy is left-pawed. I wonder whether there has been research into that possibility, and, if so, would that affect how her tail wags when communicating her emotion?
Eric Pittelkau, Springfield
I pay a lot of attention to my dog, so I've learned a lot about him. He is a border terrier, a very smart breed, and I sometimes think he's just as smart as I am. Lately, I've been worried about how he reacts to the way I communicate to my elderly husband. My husband's hearing has been getting worse, and, because he doesn't like wearing his hearing aids, if I want to talk to him I sometimes have to almost yell.
I have noticed that my dog likes to lie in the bed he came with when we rescued him four years ago — even though he has other beds. And I have also noticed he knows many more words than he did when we rescued him. He also seems to think about food a lot.
Connie Davis, Pardeeville, Wisconsin
My relationship with my dog is still evolving. I've learned a lot from Turid Rugaas's book 'On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals,' which explains what it means when dogs lick their mouths. The licks are quick, often almost imperceptible, and for comfort. Watching my dog lick for comfort has caused me to modify my actions with her. I pay attention and stop whatever I'm doing that I may not have otherwise understood causes her discomfort. I will say that licking her chops for food is very different and definitely a happy sign. Going forward, I will now also watch the direction of her tail, even though it's docked, which might make deciphering which direction it wags difficult.
Dianne Holley, Austin
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No more puppy mills
Americans love their dogs. According to the Pew Research Center, a whopping 97 percent of us view our pets as family members. But as Jennifer McCartney discussed in her June 16 online op-ed, 'The 'puppy farm capital of Europe' changed a cruel practice. So can the U.S.,' many of our beloved animals come from horrific puppy mills, where dogs are viewed as dollar signs, not pets. It is a system built on deception and cruelty, designed to create big profits. And in the United States, it's completely legal.
The good news is that we've made tremendous progress in the past decade in shutting down the puppy mill pipeline. Localities across the country are barring the sale of such dogs in pet shops, but pet stores aren't the only outlet for puppy mills. Slick websites with cute photos and empty promises of humane care can provide a convincing facade for cruel puppy mills.
Buying a puppy? Then I suggest you meet the puppy's mother. This helps ensure that the puppy comes from a safe environment and that the breeder treats the dogs humanely. It's that simple.
And though members of the public can do their part by being informed consumers, we also need better legal protections for these dogs. Goldie's Act, which was recently reintroduced in the House, could help do just that.
No dog deserves to suffer, and Goldie's Act could be the lifeline that animals in these cruel facilities need. Congress should pass it now.
Matt Bershadker, New York
The writer is president and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Many people are unaware that the adorable puppies sold in retail stores often come from puppy mills, where their mothers and fathers can be severely abused. Luckily for the animals, several states and hundreds of cities and counties have banned the sale of commercially bred dogs in stores. As public awareness grows, I hope this trend continues.
The existence of puppy mills is one of the reasons we have a severe dog overpopulation problem in America, which leads to hundreds of thousands of dogs being euthanized in shelters every year.
I encourage readers who have room in their hearts and homes to visit their local shelter or rescue group. They'll be amazed at how many wonderful canines of all sizes, shapes, ages and breeds are ready for a home.
Jennifer McCartney suggested in her June 16 online op-ed that people only buy from 'responsible breeders.' But why buy a dog when you can rescue one? Until the overpopulation crisis is addressed, 'responsible breeder' is an oxymoron. Adopt, don't shop!
Stewart David, Las Cruces, New Mexico