Doggone Etiquette —

Dog Drama

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:

Here’s a real stunner for you dogs to think about! What do you see when you look in a mirror? Do you see a handsome creature? Or, if you’re a beautiful female, do you see pretty, even glamorous canine?  Or maybe you don’t see the image as yourself, since it might be the dog next door, so you cock your head and wag your tail to say “hi.” Or perhaps it looks to you like some kind of strange object moving behind the glass – so you growl and attack it like crazy, just to make sure whatever it is doesn’t come through and get you. Glass is a problem for dogs, whether it’s a mirror or a window.

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:

Obviously it is fun to watch a dog watching himself in a mirror, just judging by the TV ads that use it to catch our eye. It can be amusing to see the specific reaction of your own dog, but in general dogs are apt to be fascinated by the moving reflection in the mirror only for a few seconds and then move away.  Some dogs are fascinated by the movement, but they don’t seem to realize they are looking at themselves, or even at another dog. That’s due, in part, to the fact that they rely on scent for identification and sniffing a mirror gives the dog no information at all. Similarly, touching the mirror offers no connection to the image.

On the other hand, lots of dogs are enraptured by the television screen! One bark from any TV program will draw a dog to the set, and may then keep him glued to the action. Whether or not they recognize what they are seeing (even on today’s huge screens) is debatable, but it’s probably safe to say the constant movement and the sound are what make the difference between a mirror and a TV screen. Sounds such as barking, children’s voices, or certain music (which they may join in by singing) are what stir the interest of most dogs. But others will be glued to almost any action on the screen, even with the sound off.

I had one dog that watched ice hockey games intently, then casually walked to her water bowl during the commercials. I’m not making a claim for grasp of the game. No doubt she merely picked up on my negative reaction to TV ads! Most dog owners can come up with similar stories of their dogs’ strange antics.

This whole concept of “dog drama” brought up the fascinating question as to whether or not it is possible to hypnotize a dog. No doubt there are people who claim it is not only possible, but that they can do it.

However, accredited veterinary behaviorists agree that while some dogs (not all) can be seduced into a temporary mild state of euphoria, it is a purely temporary condition. Hypnotism presumes an outside power of suggestion that would govern the dog’s actions both present and future. And that fortunately has not yet been accomplished. It’s especially fortunate for those of us who own dogs that remain free-thinking or just plain forgetful of what they’ve been taught. They keep us observant, amused and on our toes. Anyone who thinks that canine hypnotism would be a beneficial means of training might prefer to own one of those man-made robotic dogs!

Of course, we will always try to figure out what our dogs are dreaming about as they yip, twitch or almost run in place while sound asleep. Running free in a field? Chasing a cat? Or perhaps enjoying some idyllic adventure we will never know or understand. 

Until next time – BE GOOD!

-  Bardi