[nagdu] a bizaare question

[Jeffrey Schwartz]

You are ignoring another important factor, namely genetics.  Each bbreed was
developed to perform a particular  function .  Even the lap dog.  Centuries
ago before   central heating and plumbing, people did not bathe often and,
in many cases, had fleas.  They bred lap dogs to sit on their laps and act
as flea magnets.  Given the choice, the flea would rather be on a dog than a
person.  My German Shepherd was bred to keep the flock in a group, i.e. keep
any one of them from wandering off, and to protect them from any potential
danger, be it falling down the side of a precipice or being attacked by an
animal which viewed sheep as prey.  Therefore, my GS guide dog is hard wired
to protect me.  The first domesticated dogs were selected from the wild ones
for their proclivity to socialize as part of the human/dog pack and protect
the other members.  Thus today's dogs were selectively bred for the traits
of socializing with and protecting humans.  

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Marion & Martin
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 5:52 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] a bizaare question

    Well, I'm not sure if they necessarily "figure it out"! I think they 
learn that certain behaviors get an appropriate response. There is a basic 
principle in the area of behavior modification. "Any behavior that is 
followed by a perceived set of positive consequences will tend to increase. 
Any behavior that is followed by a perceived set of negative consequences 
will tend to decrease." If your dog wants your atention and you can see, 
standing in front of you wagging its tail with a longing look on its face 
will get the response ("perceived set of positive consequences". If, on the 
other hand, you cannot see, this behavior will not solicit the response you 
want. If, on the other hand, the dog lays its head on your lap and slides 
its muzzle under your hand to pet it and you do, that behavior will 
increase. The question is, "Do our dogs understand that we are blind?" My 
feeling is that they have no understanding that we are blind, because they 
have no concept of what blindness is. I believe they are only acting in a 
manner in which they have been conditioned to respond.

Fraternally,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "JULIE PHILLIPSON" <jbrew48 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009 11:35 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] a bizaare question


>I think they figure it out they are a lot smarter than I think people 
>realize.  I don't think that is a crazy question either.
> Julie Phillipson
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Chasity Jackson" <chasityvanda at charter.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009 12:02 AM
> Subject: [nagdu] a bizaare question
>
>
>>I have a question and I've never really discussed it...I know that our 
>>dogs
>> obviously guide us because it was what they were trained to do, but does
>> anyone really know or has it been discussed whether our dogs really know
>> that we're blind and understand that we are blind? I'm just curious of 
>> this.
>> My first guide dog, Vanda, moved out of my way when she would see me 
>> coming,
>> but Hadley just lays on the floor expecting me to walk around her. So I 
>> was
>> just curious about that.
>>
>> Chasity
>>
>>
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