Pre-Ramble:  It’s been all over the news … outcomes of a recent poll of 1,112 pet owners nationwide indicate that 25% of dog owners believe that their dog listens better than a spouse, and one-in-ten pet owners talk over their problems with their pets. 

Los Angeles veterinarian Karen Sueda suggests that,

“Pets are great because they provide us with unconditional support, … never talk back, … give us their opinion, … and they are always there for us.”

Well, sure, that sounds like a good synopsis of the human-pet relationship. To test the premise and veracity of the poll and its findings however, I checked in with my highly astute and insightful assistant and muse, Daisy (shown above). As many of you know, Daisy, is a Pointer/Brittany Spaniel mix, and has been a featured guest blogger here on the site several times.

Not one to hold back, the Dais-i-nator immediately had a bone to pick with Ms. Sueda’s assessment of the human-canine dynamic.  Says Daisy,

“Of course dogs are stellar listeners and the go-to resource for talking out your troubles, but that just scratches the surface of the communication skills and therapeutic value that a good dog can provide.”

She goes on to suggest that in the day-to-day human-canine interaction, the dog’s role is far from passive and that it is a common misconception that dogs never talk back or give their opinion. Don’t let their relaxed demeanor or blank stare fool you – dogs are excellent communicators, insists Daisy, citing research which indicates that “animal communication is often more complex and subtle than previously believed. 

Listen up! Combined with other body language in a specific context, many gestures such as yawns, directional vision, or a wagging tail convey meaning. For example, even a simple tail wag can be used to communicate many subtle messages including:

• Excitement (“Look at this awesome squirrel I just caught!!!”)
• Anticipation (“Where are we going; and can I take the squirrel??”)
• Playfulness  (“Guess where I hid that gnarly squirrel!?”)
• Contentment (“I could lay here in this sunny spot on the carpet all day … “)
• Questioning the intentions of another animal or human (“Are you suggesting that I move off of this sunny spot on the carpet?”)
• A tentative role assessment, such as upon meeting another animal (“Who’s top dog?”)
• Brief acknowledgement (“I hear you” and/or “I hear you, but I’m still not going to come/sit/stay/heel …”)
• Statement of interest (“I want your lunch.”)
• Uncertainty or apprehension (“Oh, I don’t like the looks of this … You win … Here’s me rolling over onto my back…”)

Human whisperer. There’s a reason why they are known as “man’s best friend” – in addition to being great companions, dogs are way better communicators than most people. Beyond those big floppy listening ears, dogs are actually field ready to provide insight, offer consul, and fetch a stick if necessary. Dogs tell it like it is. If I’m about to do something stupid, Daisy is always standing by to give me the, “What the heck?!” look. When I’m taking myself too seriously, she will do something ridiculous to remind me that fun is part of the big picture. If I get too caught up in must-do’s, she’ll gently remind me that at the end of the day, we still need a walk up to the lake to sniff out the squirrels and watch the sun sparkle on the water.

The Take-Away:  Sure, your dog is listening to you, and there’s huge value in that. But the other half of the equation is, are you listening back? Woof!! 

Post Note:  Woof, woof, woof, … WOOF!  … Couldn’t have said it better myself, Daisy – communication is a two-way street (a concept which may work well in those human-to-human interactions as well).

Pre-Ramble: Hi, it’s me Daisy… Mom asked me to write the blog today, since she’s busy working on the book. The door to her office closed, so I guess she means business. Frankly, it’s about time… I’ve been dogging her for weeks to get going on that. I’ll give her at least 20 minutes before I start barking and carrying on.

Today I’m going to bring some much-needed synchronicity to President Obama’s economic recovery plan. While he has called upon each one of us to step-up and do our part, I’m guessing that he and his new pack of advisors have inadvertently overlooked a huge untapped resource – the doggy demographic. Dogs basically lie around all day; why not put that boundless bundle of exuberance and potential energy to work?

Cut to a story that I heard on Science Friday (National Public Radio) last week about a little slice of heaven called the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Deep Sea Sample Repository. Founded by Maurice Ewing in 1949, this place collects and archives “sediment cores” - essentially, long tubes of dirt – taken from sites all around the world. A special oceanographic research vessel scopes down through 2 or 3 km of water and 30 to 40 feet into the ocean floor to extract the muddy time-capsules which reveal invaluable historical climate data dating back millions of years. There are currently over 18,000 of them on file in the refrigerated basement repository.

Dirt!!!…  Digging!!! … Barack!! … Hello!?! …We can totally help with that!!!  Personally, I don’t like to get my paws dirty, but my buddies, like Turbo at right, are all over it. Who wants to chew on shoes or rawhide (a seriously disgusting and misguided notion) when they can be digging on the beach and making a meaningful contribution to science?

The Take-Away: Innovation is the name of the game here. If we are going to unearth real solutions to our toughest problems, we need to be willing to think about things in new ways. Whether it’s bringing in the dogs to help with the dirty work, creating new alliances with AmeriCorps, or appointing a Chief Innovation Officer - in this “flat new world” we need a strategy that nurtures the core values of ingenuity and hard work that are the foundation of our heritage as a nation.  

Carpe caninae, Barack! … Seize the dogs!