What I've Read: Inside of a Dog

As a big fan of dogs, my two in particular of course, it was about time that I read a book about dogs. Yes, I did read " The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" but I thought it completely sucked, so I'm acting like that book never happened.

Instead, being the dork that I am, I decided to read this nonfiction book about dogs and how we perceive them and (perhaps, more importantly) how they may be perceiving us. The woman who wrote it is a cognitive scientist, and she approaches the subject of dogs more knowing that they rely on the five senses in a completely different way then humans do. She's a dog owner herself, which also benefits the reader because she doesn't come off as a lab coat-wearing stick-in-the-mud with no feelings whatsoever.

Inside of a Dog traces the lineage of dogs back to their days as wolves, but makes the big distinction that nothing about dogs in the 21st century should be compared to wolves, because the domestication of dogs has completely sapped most wolf-like tendencies from man's best friend. Once she breaks that down sufficiently enough, it's off to the senses, and why dogs act so differently than we think they should.

The main reason is because, obviously, we anthropomorphize dogs way, waaay too much. We expect human responses from dogs when we are nuts to think such things. On average they see the world from two feet in height (think about walking around on all fours not just in your house but in grocery stores, etc.), so their perspective is vastly different. While we humans place a priority on the sense of sight, for dogs smell is the most important. It is a myth that dogs are colorblind; they actually see with yellow-tinted view (imagine life as the drug dealer scenes from Steven Soderbergh's "Traffic", you know, without the violence). There are a ton of other great dog insights she gives, but revealing them all would be stupid when you should just read the book.

I'm not saying I know my dogs specifically better because of reading it, but Inside of a Dog did help explain a lot about why they are who they are, and how dogs interact and communicate with the world that we take for granted. Definitely a great book for anyone who wants to get to know a little bit more about our four-legged friends.

My Dog Oliver

While my other dog Klondike may be anti-camera, things are vastly different with our youngest dog, Oliver. He's a young pup, just under three years old, and he's an attention hog.

Petting on Klondike are you? No sir, just until I fly over and wiggle my way into that space. Doing something else other than paying attention to me? Oh no you don't. Wanna take my picture? Sure, where do I stand?

Some of these photos you can just tell that he's a ham. A big, stuffed ham. What a goober.

The guys in my fantasy football league poke fun at me regularly because I am the proud owner of two poodles, but to hell with them. Many times I'm sure those poodles are smarter than they are (I did win the title for the second time in three years, after all), and Oliver is the best at knowing right when to rush over and plop his enormous paws on you and make you pet him on those days when work or life is just trying to make things miserable. It's awesome.

My Dog Klondike

Last summer when at the dog store buying food, a photographer was doing free portraits of dogs to try and drum up business for herself as a budding photog (sadly she did a great job but I can't find her info). Being the natural opportunistic taker of free services, the wife jumped right on board and got both our dogs some time in front of the camera.

First up is Klondike, and this slideshow is a feat of strength, believe me. I wasn't there at the photo shoot, but I know Klondike. Ever since the wife got him when he was a puppy 13 years ago, he has hated the camera. Doesn't matter whether it's a Polaroid, high-end digital or just some dinky cell phone camera, that dog has always known when he's getting his picture taken and he runs like the wind the other direction. It's actually quite hilarious as it's always been a battle of wills to see if we can trick him before he catches on.

While she doesn't show up in these photos, apparently in several the wife is either holding him steady (hence the closeups) or is within inches of him distracting him (hence Klondike never actually looking in the camera). It's good stuff, and I just couldn't resist showing off my cool dog. He's getting late in his years, but he's still the same dog (that first photo is how he gets me every time when he wants a treat or some extra attention), and it's awesome.