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When we discuss dogs we often use expressions like
"innate behaviour", "fixed action pattern", "trigger level" and such scientific
stuff. This is of course needed to keep the discussion understandable and on
grounds of facts. However at least I am now and then brutally awakened from this
scientific and dry view of dogs, and find that they are made of thoughts and
feelings as well as .muscle and blood that are governed by innate
behaviours.
Last night I came home from a fast trip north to
get a big bunch of "dental care for dogs" = moose bones for Briz and the puppy
we probably will have sometimes this winter. Since it is a long drive I stayed
over night at our friends house along the road. They are the ones with the Irish
setters and we met them in the mountains some 13 - 14 years ago. Hence we have
hunted grouse with them and their dogs every year since then. Our dogs and their
dogs have come along very well and they have become really good friends for
life, it seems. The ceremony when we have parked outside their house has always
been rather heartbreaking, the dogs have been wild of joy and really shown how
much they like each other. They have not been able to find out how to fully
express their happiness.
Today their oldest setter has passed away and the
second oldest must be 11 - 12 years old. She is just called "Setter" and she
knows us and our dogs very well and she loved our late Foxy. When I arrived
Tuesday evening she first turned very happy but then, when she could not see
Foxy she started to search for her in the house like Foxy perhaps had sneaked
into the house before me. She became very sorry and started to whimper and
looked unhappy and worried. I got a tear in my eye when I understood that
there are other creatures but me and Maud who were missing Foxy. Setter was
depressed all night and not before next morning was she normal again, having
slept the night with me.
Well, whatever it was a good reminder that dogs are
more than a bunch of "innate behaviours with fixed action patterns"
 ))
Then again, what little I have read about human
behaviour, the shrinks think of us the same way we on this list discuss dogs. To
the better or worse? Is my yearning to kill still another deer a
fixed action pattern or an innate behaviour? I do not know...
Torsti
Borta Med Vindens Kennel "Ask not what your dog can do for you. Ask
what you can do for your dog." www.rospigan.net |