Pets and Their Humans
Domesticated animals have evolved to make their desires known
Annie Frelich from Vermont never questions whether animals have emotions. Instead, she sees her dogs as guides for human feelings. "We learn something about love from our relationships with our pets," she says. "They teach people how to love openly." The bond between dog and human is revered by the monks at New Skete Monastery in Cambridge, N.Y., where German shepherds are bred and dogs of all breeds are trained. Brother Christopher, who runs the training program, says dogs can "sensitize a human to the magic of life, to see how wonderful life really is." He says there is "no question" that dogs have emotions. "But," he adds, "we have to be humble with what we think we know."
[Picture captions]
READING THE SIGNS. Pasha is Chris Behrens's constant companion, and Behrens can read insecurity in the hound's facial expressions. Greyboy (foreground) is more stoic.
What are they telling you?
This German shepherd is using body language to convey a range of attitudes and feelings. All dogs adopt the same poses.
PLAYFULNESS Known as the "play bow," this pose signals a dog's desire to frolic. The animal maintains eye contact and perks its ears to show alertness, but its face remains relaxed.
SUBMISSION A dog will acknowledge another's dominance by avoiding direct eye contact, tucking its tail between its legs, pulling its ears back, and lowering the body and head.
ANGER This aggressive pose shows others that the dog is ready to fight. It bares its teeth while barking and stares directly, its ears alert and tail held high.
AFFECTION With its stomach exposed and its head and tail relaxed, the dog makes itself vulnerable to attack and thus shows its feeling of trust and affection.
advertisement
