There was research recently saying that dogs don\u2019t like being hugged and cuddled. Now if you read what it is about you will realise there was one regard in which they were right. Dogs are not the same\u2026 however, where they were wrong in saying that we are not the same as humans. Actually, we are very similar to humans and other animals. The way we are not the same is \u2018as each other\u2019. Now, let\u2019s just remember that humans are simply another form of animal. They like to think they are very different to other animals and even come up with highbrow justifications to convince other humans of that fact. Essentially however they are just another animal, highly developed in some regards, but woefully lacking in others. Oh they might be able to string together a conversation about the origin of the species, but can they sniff out and in season bitch from half a mile or more? And which of those, when you really come down to looking at the future of the species, is the more useful skill?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anyway, I resent being told that dogs do not like being cuddled. Of course we don\u2019t like complete strangers coming up and wrapping their arms around us tightly, but quite honestly most humans I know would feel pretty threatened by that gesture. At least have the decency to make friends first! I am never happier than when being cuddled by our Mistress and I don\u2019t mean just gently patted. Ari even stands up on his back legs so he can wrap his paws round her and totally reciprocate. Yes, there are dogs who don\u2019t like being cuddled but there are not so well emotionally adjusted humans who never develop a liking for it too. As for patting on the head. Let\u2019s just look at that one again. Surprise \u2013 having someone hit you on the head when you didn\u2019t see it coming is not nice. Try it on a human. Then find a human you know and love and try gently stroking their hair and see how much more they like it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Basically, what I\u2019m saying is I hate this \u2018non-research\u2019 that doesn\u2019t start by looking at what are reasonable behaviours and thinks we\u2019re odd if we don\u2019t like the things most civilised humans don\u2019t like. Wouldn\u2019t their time be better spent observing our interactions and learning from it? Take Wilma, she has that special something that makes her a top dog. She has a way of taking the irritation out of situations and calming everyone down. She went to say hello to a dog a while ago who wasn\u2019t feeling so friendly and when he snapped she did not snap back, she almost visibly held up a paw to say \u2018I\u2019m sorry, excuse me. No offence mean.\u2019 And faced with that he was fine again and accepted he apology. Our Mistress in observing that said humans could learn so much from us. Now, while you think about it, I\u2019m off for a good long proper cuddle and don\u2019t ever try telling me that receiving that from a person I love does not make me happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can find short stories to read at www.alfiedog.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alfie\u2019s Diary \u2013 the Book as well as our other books are available HERE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"