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Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

The Old Trainer: What came first? Human or the dog

DEAR OLD TRAINER: You seem to know a lot about dogs. Maybe you can tell me when and how man first domesticated dogs. I want to write a term paper on it, but no one seems to know the facts.

-- Honor Student, Berkeley

A: One of the first things an honor student should learn, Honor Student, is not to assume a fact for which there is no evidence. What makes you think it was man who domesticated the dog instead of the other way around?

Think for a moment. The wolf, from which all dogs descend, had a sense of smell superior to man by a factor of 5,000, far better hearing, was a better hunter and could eat virtually anything, instinctively understood how to hunt in a pack, and could defeat a man in a fight.

The divergence of dog from wolf occurred at least 15,000 years ago and more likely, based on DNA studies, as many as 2 million years ago. The wolf was a smarter, more fully evolved animal than was man when the domestication occurred.

Who was more likely to domesticate who?

Nietzche, a free thinker who would never have made the assumption you make, said, "The world was conquered through the understanding of dogs; the world exists through the understanding of dogs."

Kafka, a lawyer instead of a philosopher, came to a similar conclusion: "All knowledge, the totality of all questions and all answers, is contained in the dog."

Write the paper by all means, but begin with an open mind, utilize the thoughts of the two great thinkers above, and add your own analytical skills. I smell -- at least I would smell if I had the powers of the dog instead of mere man -- an A in your future.

DEAR OLD TRAINER: I just lost my beloved cocker spaniel, Annie, that I had for 16 years. It was just me and Annie, and now I am so lonely all the time.

I want another dog to love and love me, but I am afraid I won't make a good owner because I miss Annie so much. I miss her every day.

I know you must have lost dogs. What should I do?

-- Lonely, Amarillo, Texas

A. "With rue my heart is laden, for golden friends I had ..." Those beautiful, poignant words by A. E. Housman describe the feeling that all dog owners know. Yes, I know well the overwhelming sadness and grief of losing many magnificent dogs over the years.

It is a fact that all pet owners must face. One of the tragedies of sharing your life with a dog is the knowledge that their lifespan will be much shorter than yours.

My thought process when I lose a dog is simple. I don't want a day to go by without the love of a dog.

The shelters of this country are full of wonderful dogs who are counting on us to rescue them. I know the dogs I lost do not want me to be without the love of a dog.

It is an easy decision for me, and I adopt a dog, or dogs, as soon as I find a good fit.

You have to make the final decision, but my advice is, find a dog to share your life as soon as you can.

I will back up my advice with this offer -- when you are ready for a dog, e-mail me and I will help you find the dog, train her, and fly her to you.

Send questions for The Old Trainer to: theoldtrainer711@yahoo.com.