Yesterday’s show comments got me thinking about animals and adventure.
I think there is a difference between causing intentional harm and the injuries that result from living life on the edge of adventure. It’s a very personal choice, and when it comes to animals whom we care-take, there is thoughtfulness to be considered. It’s another example of how I like to look at the whole spectrum of an issue, gather data, and then decide what makes sense to me. Tell me, what of this episode makes sense to you?
P.S. This topic inadvertently drifted over to a “fathers are cool” theme, just in time for Father’s Day in the USA this Sunday. For a good time, go to flickr and search for “dad” and you’ll find all kinds of neat stuff.
Beach Walk 162 – Are Animals Conscious?
Beach Walk 195 – Fear Factor
Hawaiian Word:
Hana hoʻopīhoihoi: adventure
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I agree. I did get a sense that Joe loves being on the skateboard and going fast through the park. I’ve also had the wonderful pleasure of seeing them in person winding their way through Kailua Beach Park.
I’ve had dogs since before I can remember. My parents have pics of me with Candy, a German Shepherd we had when I was 3-4 years old. I don’t remember Candy but I’ve pretty much had dogs for my entire 40 years except for a few years while in college. They each have a different personality. They have moods, likes, dislikes, preferences. I try not to attach “human” feelings and emotions to animals because we don’t completely know.
It is my opinion that if Joe didn’t absolutely enjoy being on the skateboard then there wouldn’t be much anyone could do, short of strapping/taping him to it, to keep him on it.
😎 As a marathoner myself (and former whitewater canoer and raft guide), I’m certainly not one to back off challenge, adventure or the risk of personal injury (or fit into a typical “Mom” role). My question yesterday was about whose needs on the skateboard were being met?
Certainly animals have their own innate desires. Like Lexi, jumping in the surf. Sure, she could drown. But no one would want to keep her from swimming.
I saw a news show on a Golden Retriever who had jumped into a ditch, cut it’s leg and wound up having the limb amputated. After she learned to walk on 3 legs, she was back out hunting again. She wound up saving her owner when he capsized the boat in cold water and strong current. That dog was doing what it was born to do.
I just never heard of a dog who naturally jumped on top of motorized skateboards to ride. I’m wondering if what Joe really desires is fun, loving time with his human.
OK…it’s time for me to weigh in here.
All dogs have highly structured social orders called packs. Every dog pack, including those in our homes, has a leader. There is almost continual communication within the pack, often quite subtle.
To Joe, Captain is top dog, head honcho, big cheese, master of the Universe. As such he will follow his leader on autopilot, as he was genetically programmed to do. And if you’ll recall, Captain had to “train” Joe to like being on the skateboard…it wasn’t his natural inclination at all.
Captain seems to have treated Joe as though he were a little child in a dog suit, but he’s still a dog!
Interesting observations Luci, and a great example of why i love having comments. 🙂 So many of these things distill down to “the energy” for me, and even that is a subjective experience. Shane and I have the distinct impression that Lexi is here (like an angel) to support us. We take good care of her.
There are days will swim with me, days she seems to do so begrudgingly, and then days she sits on the beach and waits determinedly for me to come back and throw her ball. I would say I would be crossing the line if I put her on leash and dragged her into the water against her will.
As for a dog being treated like a child – do you like that or not? Seems like an upgrade in most homes!
@Luci – I’m a huge fan of Cesar Mlllan, the Dog Whisperer, and completely agree with you, and him, on the Dog Pack issue and that dogs communicate on very subtle levels within the Pack and that every Pack has a leader.
Lexi is very clear that I’m her Pack leader, and that in my absence, Rox is second in command. I don’t treat Lexi like a human, or a child. I treat her like a Dog. But I treat her with love and respect and as a valued member of my Pack.
She responds in kind. She does, usually, as I ask, and usually happily. We are to the point where she and I can communicate with the flick of my eye or the slight nod of my head. And it all happens very naturally for both of us.
Motorized skateboards? I don’t know for Lexi. I also don’t know how quickly or easily Joe took to it. But I do know from direct observation that now he as learned about it, he voluntarily rides with the Captain.
I do know that Lexi will happily jump into the front of our kayak and seemingly loves to be out on the water with us. Of course it didn’t come naturally to her. We had to train her to sit and stay in the front and that it wasn’t appropriate to stand and move around. But now if we put a kayak in the water, she’ll bound out into the water and jump into it without direction.