Age-old question: Do we really ever train our pets or do they actually train us?
Posted on March 2, 2008 - Filed Under Pet Care
One of the fascinating and amazing things about having pets is the extent to which we humans adapt to the needs of non-human species: We do indeed train our pets; they indeed do train us. So the question in this title isn't an "either/or" question, but requires a "both/and" response.
If you've never thought about this, I would direct you to a nifty little humor piece from this morning's CBS Sunday Morning broadcast. Unfortunately, after searching all around the CBS website, I was unable to find a link to the video feature they did with their "The Fast Draw" segment on dogs and humans. It had to do with the way people first domesticated dogs -- or dogs first domesticated people -- about 10,000-12,000 years ago, give or take a few years. They pointed out that early humans probably saw dogs as suitable companions who could provide extra warmth at night and guard the campsites against intruders -- and if it didn't work out, the humans could always eat the dogs. In a humorous take on that, one of the artists suggested the dogs might have been thinking the idea of having humans around was a good one because they could be persuaded to share food -- and if it didn't work out, the dogs could always eat the humans.
As I think about the cute, cuddly and loving things our cat does simply to manipulate me into the kitchen to drop a cat treat on the floor by her dish, I realize pets have domesticated and trained us just about as much as we've domesticated and trained them!
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