Canine Contrition - It Does Exist

 So-called dog experts have long since held the position that dogs are in capable of feeling guilt or remorse for doing something naughty.  

This position was confirmed as recently as January of this year, by the AKC.  The stance is and has been that when dogs demonstrate body language typically associated with shame or contrition, it's the result of them cuing in on their owners, who are upset over whatever transgression they committed.  Owner discovers shredded pillow, owner gets upset (even to a small degree), dog knows owner is unhappy about dog's behavior, dog offers contrite body language.  While I agree that's the most typical scenario, it's not always the case.  

I've called bullshit on this 'expert opinion' for years, particularly after a situation with a previous dog.  Today, I received another data point and call the so-called experts out as morons.  

Here's a quick review of my experiences.  The first was with my border collie, Isabel, who could recite Pi to 112 places and drive a car.  Don't call me a liar; she could dammit.  Anyway, when we first rescued her, she suffered from frequent urinary tract infections and would have occasional accidents in the house.  My first data point is from one such accident.  I was working from home, one day.  Isabel was sleeping just outside my office, but not where I could see her.  We were alone in the house.  From nowhere, she quickly walked into my office and glued herself to my side, her body language screaming 'I love you, Daddy!'.  Being Daddy's girl, it wasn't unusual for her to show the most affection to me, but this was over the top.  I suspected something was up and went to investigate, finding she'd had an accident.  Her body language couldn't have been a response to my reaction to her accident, because I wasn't yet aware of it.

Today, my dog Sadie offered very similar behavior, but I couldn't figure out why.  That is until I got a good look at her.  For the second time, she'd decided to roll around in her own shit.  Somehow, that I'd missed that little tidbit when she came into the house.  Still, she knew what she'd done was being a bad doggie, from the previous time she pulled that move, hence the contrition.  Again, body language of contrition offered before I was aware of her transgression.

In both cases, it was clear to the dogs that the behaviors were unwelcome, from reactions to their previous occurrences.  Be clear that neither were punished; that's a dumb way to modify a dog's behavior.  But there were cues that the dogs picked up on.  For example, Sadie got tossed right into a bath.  When they repeated the behavior, they knew they did something that didn't make their owner happy.

These were completely different dogs, with dissimilar demeanors.  While Isabel was insanely smart and loved her Daddy, but had some behavioral challenges, relative to strangers and was afraid of containers.  Sadie is a complete saint and the most even tempered, loving dog I've ever had, but she's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.  

In conclusion, the experts don't know what the fuck they're talking about.

Additional source material here.

Gratuitous doggie pictures below.

Isabel

Sadie

When Guns Aren't Such a Good Idea

 Despite our relationships being destroyed by manipulation from their borderline mother, I still feel some emotional attachment to my former step kids (see previous post Down in Flames II).  Rather than subjecting myself to the ultimate vulnerability of reaching out to them, I sort of keep an eye from afar.  In today's society, that means occasionally popping by their social media accounts.

The one of note today comes from my former stepdaughter, who posted to see if anyone knew someone who could sponsor her for membership in a gun club, back in Pennsylvania (where I lived until separating from her mother).  My initial thought was that I could drop a quick email to one of my old shooting compatriots and get her sponsored into the club to which I previously belonged.  The idea of helping her brought a bit of joy, for the brief moment until I realized how much of a mistake that would be.  If you've read the Down in Flames entry, you know that my dawter has become a borderline, just like her mudda.  Those who are unable to regulate their emotions and occasionally wander into sociopathic waters probably aren't what I would consider responsible gun owners.

So, I remained silent and silently wished her well.

Annual Dating Profile of the Week

It's been some time since I've posted a dating profile of the week.  This can be attributed to two factors.  First, I'm not actively looking and second, not much surprises me at this point.  The 'here are all the things I hate' profiles that share nothing about the person themselves, the half sentence profiles...they all run together at this point.  However, I recently stumbled upon a profile that made me stop in my tracks.  

This profile belongs to 'Bibbity' on Plenty of Fish and represents the essence of what Trump and willful ignorance does to people.  Unfortunately, the neither the website nor the app codes profiles as text anymore, which prohibits copying and pasting.  So, much as I'd like to share more of her lengthy profile, there was no way I was transposing the complete raft of garbage.  You'll have to make due with the snippets I did retype, which I did verbatim.  You can see it here - Profile

Bibbity is a 47 year old hair stylist from the same suburb in which I live and says:

If you are covid vaccinated please do not message me.  Im (sic) not interested in being with you...ever.  #mybodymychoice 

Full blown Trump supporter

But honestly if you hate him, please do not message me for as we will have zero in common.  I don't pander to snowflakes in la-la land.  Just tells me you are a follower, going with the flow and can't critically think for yourself.  Big fighter for freedom and truth.

Not only does this ignoramus want to risk getting Covid, but she won't be happy unless you do as well.  Apparently the idiotic hashtag only applies to her and not you, should you wish to date her; and I can't see why you wouldn't, considering her immense charm.  Seriously, I don't recall hearing any of the conspiracy fucktards spouting that being in contact with someone who's vaccinated could be harmful.  Perhaps she's a special breed of idiot.  

I'll skipe further commentary on this section, mostly because it makes my head hurt when I have to read the 'can't critically think for yourself' section.  

And why do people insist on putting hashtags where they aren't searchable?  

She goes on:

Don't send me hunky professional pics all the time and refuse to send a current. I WILL ASK YOU FOR A PICTURE DOING SOMETHING I ASKED YOU TO DO TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT SOME JERK CATFISHING ME. HOLY SNIKEYS!!!!!!! For example... Take a FACE selfie holding a spoon..... 

If a women demanded that sort of thing from me, regardless of whether she was a Trump supporter, I have just the photo I'd respond with.