It is Memorial Day in the United States; a day for remembering those who have lost their lives in war. It is only fitting that National Geographic just came out with an article on “The Dogs of War.” I read with it the same mixed feelings I always have on the topic of young, healthy lives lost because of our inability to solve conflicts without violence–admiration and respect for those in the military, and deep sadness for all the loss that war creates.
It seems only right then to take a moment to thank all of the dogs that have been enlisted into our battles; for their commitment to a job, to their moments of bravery, and to the comfort that they give to the men and women caught in conflicts, far away from home. I admit to feeling a great sense of sadness that they are there at all, but tremendous gratitude that they give so much to the troops who need them.
I am one of the very lucky Americans whose lives has not been directly affected by war, but I do not forget for one day how many people, and animals, are being affected by conflicts all around the world. In the past my family was profoundly affected by war. I remember my mother telling us about her life in Hong Kong before WWII, when she dated British Naval Officers who were assigned to a submarine base. One of them, Monty I think it was, asked her to marry him. She declined. Not long after, Monty, and all the rest of the crew who had become good friends of my mother and her cousin, died when their submarine was sunk by torpedoes. Her cousin was captured and spent years in a camp in Japan. My uncle was the only survivor in his squadron of the RAF, and his father’s health was destroyed in WWI with mustard gas.
And so today is always a bitter sweet day for me. It is the height of spring–of new, fresh fern fronds and Veeries warbling their descending trill in the evening and baby rabbits poking their heads through the violets. So much vibrancy. So much life. And such a good reminder to all of us to thank those who have gone before, and cherish what we have now. I find myself thinking of my first dog Fudge, and my first Border Collie Drift, and feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for all they have taught me. Not to mention how grateful I am to have the best husband imaginable, along with three wonderful dogs and two perfect cats. I’ll be thinking about them, and all the things I’m grateful for, even more than usual today.
One of the things I’m grateful for is you… I never dreamed that this blog could result in such rich conversations. You’re the ones who make it so, so thank you. Thank you.
I thought you might enjoy a snap of Willie and Maggie playing tug this morning. I’ve gone back to letting them play without time outs… will explain later!
Here are some of those gorgeous ferns I mentioned earlier. We had a new retaining wall built last year behind the farm house, the first attempt at really landscaping behind the house that we’ve done. There is tons and tons of work to do, but the ferns are thriving and the wild ginger (bottom right) is starting to spread.
HITAYOHARA says
Dios les siga bendiciendo,y defender a los animales y protegerlo es algo q definitivamente
es maravilloso,hay mucha gente que vota a sus animales a la calle y ellos mueren
toca hacer una campaña mundial en contra del maltrato animal ,son seres vivo muy sensibles e inteligentes siempre nos dan afecto y mucha compañía
Carolyn Clough says
I only wish my dogs were as well mannered as yours. My rescue has a high prey drive and will try to eat anything that moves. He is very dog aggressive so I can’t take him for a walk. The two dogs play together, but sometimes it escalates into a fight so I have to keep an eye on them constantly. God forbid he should come in contact with one of the 4 cats. They would be a snack. Of course he is part Siberian Husky. I have him enrolled in a Kranky K9 class that starts next week. I hope it helps.
diane says
I recently enrolled myself and my dog in a nose work class. I look forward to the learning experience, and hope for fun for the both of us. Then I read an article such as “The Dogs of War” and remember some of the real work behind it. I can only hope that one day, if we humans ever evolve enough, the last paragraphs will be the standard – a family enjoying life, but without paying such a high price. My gratitude to all who give so much.
On a lighter note, but also important since it so improves quality of life, I love your garden space!
Joe says
Tricia, I share your sense of gratitude for all the ones who have given up their lives for this country of ours. Wise national policy, or folly, it is the individual grunt, swabbie, gyrene, zoomie, or coastie who puts their life on the line, and it is those who fell whom we honor today–along with, the dogs who have helped and comforted and guarded and also given their lives.
Nic1 says
What a touching post….it’s fascinating the stories people have about war experiences. I guess it affects all of us, directly and indirectly. Here today, gone tomorrow…there are so many similar stories that people share in this regard. 70 years later my partner’s grandmother still gets upset telling people of the day when she lost almost all her colleagues when the army building was bombed at work. All young women in their early twenties…
The horrific nature of mechanised warfare is terrifying. The stories of horses and dogs losing their lives in the First World war, along with countless young men of course, never fails to deeply unsettle me. That we have within our human brains the ability to kill each other over ‘ different opinions’ rarely rooted in evidence seems incredible to me. Almost that our cognitive and emotional wiring can be ‘faulty’ in this regard….I’m reminded of Kubrick’s film, ‘Full Metal Jacket’, where the conditioning of young men to fight was literally a dehumanising process. Horrific…
Steven Pinker does think that there is evidence to suggest that violence in our civilization is declining- a systematic review in his book ‘The Better Angels of our Nature’ claims that in the 20th century, although the century of Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao and Mobutu in the Congo, was appalling, the number of deaths by violence as a proportion of the total population remained relatively modest compared to the abominable cruelties of the wars of religion in the 17th century. Murder rates are falling everywhere too. Animal rights, civil rights, abolition of slavery, women’s rights – there is huge room for improvement everywhere in the world still of course – but as we become more ‘civilised’ there is an inevitability that our children will inherit this civilised nature themselves. I’m an optimist. Hopefully, we won’t self destruct..
So many British Army service dogs have lost their lives over the last ten years in conflict in the ME. Even those who make it back often end up being PTS due to ensuing trauma and ‘behavioural’ issues. Something like 800 in the last ten years have been PTS? The one saving grace for me is that the dogs are now trained with positive reinforcement and can develop amazing bonds with their handlers during the service.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/02/army-handler-dog-death-afghanistan
This floored me when I read it at the time – the dog most probably died due to stress and anxiety of separation.
‘ because of our inability to solve conflicts without violence..’
I was reminded of our distant ancestors when I read your comment Trisha, the Common Chimp and the Bononbo. When I study the Bonobo, I really do see ‘us’ in there – expressions, mannerisms, behaviour – more so than the common chimp, for some reason, who can be incredibly violent when it comes to resolving conflicts. The Bonobos’ ability to resolve conflict without aggression and their willingness to graciously accept leadership based on benevolence and experience is something we could all learn from today – perhaps we don’t need to indulge in their displays of ‘affection’ so much though 😉
Looking forward to the update on Tug games with Willie and Maggie 🙂 Fab pic of them playing. Love the picture of the Ferns! What is it about the colour green? It is so soothing and tranquil. Aren’t we able to see more shades of it than any other colour?
Trish K says
The landscaping is very nice, it looks like you’ve created a peaceful area . Fun picture of the dogs too! Is it just the camera angle or is Willie 20+ pounds larger than Maggie?
HFR says
Heard something on NPR once, can’t remember which show, but it was about how they recruited dogs for war during WWII by asking average Americans to “donate” their dogs. Only certain breeds. Many people did and the army would update the owners with their progress. Sometimes telling them they had been killed in action. People saw it as the patriotic thing to do. On the show they read the letters that the owners had written about their dogs when they gave them up. They clearly loved them. Heartbreaking stuff.
Susan S. says
Someone else who loves Veeries! I live on a little lake, a glacial kettle in the woods. The way that bird’s song reverberates over the water is surreal. It’s so unlike other birdcalls that my dogs cock their heads & listen.
Marcia in NorCal says
Not relevant to the most recent blog, but one of the other comments sparked a thought …
Both here and in so many other places, I see situations where the person says “I can’t take my dog to the dog park [or into competition, or to group classes, or _____] because he/she is so dog reactive”… why is this so extremely common? Is it more common than it used to be, do you think, or are we just more aware of it because dogs, like people, are increasingly forced into proximity with one another, rather than living one or two or three at a time in relatively isolated situations (e.g. the family farm). Neither of my own dogs gave a hoot about any other dog when they were younger, although they tolerated each other for 10 years and, as they grew older, were more tolerant of “outsiders” so I can empathize with this problem. But why do you suppose it’s such a common problem? If you’ve written about this before, just direct us to that item; but it would be an interesting topic for a blog post from a behaviorist!
Nic1 says
Agreed Marcia. Dog-dog reactivity is a fascinating area and would love to discuss more. I think that there are probably a whole host of reasons that contribute, including our own expectations and a growing awareness and recognition of the behaviour which has been established as inappropriate. Would love to learn what Trisha thinks is going on here and if there is any evidence to suggest it is increasing, other than anecdotal.
Trisha says
It appears to me too that more dogs are reactive than before. I’ve speculated in previous talks and articles that it might be driven by a number of factors. First, more dogs are out and about. That’s great–going to agility, nose work classes, the dog park, etc. But it also provides more opportunity for dogs to see other dogs outside of their usual group. Second, dogs are on leash much more than before. I grew up when dogs were let outside in the morning and gathered back into the house for dinner. I suspect (this would be a great research project) that being on leash so much is relevant. This keeps dog safe, but also prevents appropriate canine greetings AND sets them up to walk inappropriately toward each other (head on, no curving etc.). I suspect that a lot of ‘reactivity’ is fueled by frustration (“Every time I see another dog and want to say hello I can’t! Grrrrr!) and/or fear (“I’m trapped and not allowed to behave safely or appropriately.”) That’s my speculation.. anyone else?
Trisha says
Susan S: So glad you cherish your Veeries too! The song truly is impossible to describe unless you’ve heard it. (Here’s a link to the song for those of you who haven’t heard it.)
Trisha says
HFR: The whole “recruiting your family dog to go to war” thing breaks my heart. You are indeed right that it happened, and tens of thousands of confused dogs were sent away. How many were actually appropriate as military dogs? Less than .5%? Argh, I hate thinking about it!
Trisha says
Willie is indeed bigger than Maggie. And much much taller and longer. He weighs about 46 lbs, she weighs about 34.
Robin Jackson says
@Trisha,
I, too, am old enough that when I was a kid dogs were free to run the neighbourhood. And I lived in a semi rural area where most people had several acres, horses, and chickens, even if it wasn’t considered a working farm. Population density was relatively low.
I have to say, though, that dogs attacking other dogs was pretty common, especially the males. Dogs came home with “minor” bites, and no one thought it was strange. Dogs chased both other dogs and kids off their property, and we all knew the shortcut routes through neighbour’s property that offered trees or fences to climb “just in case.”
It would be interesting to look at veterinary records from, say, the 1950s, but I haven’t noticed any particular increase in reactivity in my lifetime.
What I have seen, though, is a significant decrease in the number of hours people spend with dogs (and dogs with people), and a consequent lack of expertise on the human side in reading dogs.
Vicky in Boise says
The veeries are members of the thrush family, all known for their beautiful flute-like songs. Here in the northern Rockies, we have a number of different thrushes including the Hermit Thrush. Author Edward Abbey called its song the “loveliest of bird song,” as indeed it is, floating out from the depths of the forest. Check out Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds section on their website for great birdsong recordings. Birding and dog-walking are a great combination!
LisaW says
Marcia in NorCal: I have a dog with issues who was originally from the deep South, and I have seen that more dogs, at least in the northeast where I live, are being adopted from very rural, southern locales where there are drop off centers, meaning dogs are dropped off into a holding pen day or night, and those facilities then sell or transfer the dogs to “rescues” who adopt them out far and wide without any knowledge of their origins or behavioral or physical conditions. Many of theses dogs are close to feral or best-case somewhat unsocialized. Both my vet and vet behaviorist have noticed this trend increasing sharply over the past few years with many more dogs coming in with serious behavioral issues. The Internet creates a world without boundaries (a blessing and a curse) and long-distance dog adoptions are sometimes more e-commerce than altruistic.
Imagine one day you’re living in a shed with your siblings, then you get hauled to a holding pen, left overnight, get transported to a another strange place, and then you are put into a truck for a 700-mile trip, and a week or a month later you find yourself on a leash in an agility class. I’d be reactive, too!
As an aside, we are seeing more dogs testing positive for heartworm in the northeast (untreated adopted dogs and also dogs who get bitten by mosquitoes that have previously feasted on untreated, transported dogs).
Tina says
I know this is not the best place, but unsure about getting the message to you…
Just had an interesting thought, with the dog bite awareness campaigns, and my nephew’s family is thinking about getting a dog as he is getting over a fear of dogs…Have you considered writing a children’s version of ‘The other end of the leash’? It think it would be a helpful tool in educating children about dog’s behavior and fostering cross-species love! Good luck in all your endeavors, thanks for what you do! Your writing and this blog have made a big impact in my life (and my dog’s life).
Trish K says
Marcia and Lisa W- I adopted my boy dog Simon from a place here in Michigan ( canine companions) and the caregivers said they go down to Ohio kill shelters and pick dogs up and bring them here. Simon was 8 weeks old and I couldn’t pick him up til he was 10 wks. because they HAD to neuter him! That’s a STORY for another day, neutering a baby puppy! Simon is a sweet wonderful smart dog.
I got my sweet Bella from bowling green Kentucky, she was 12 wks. They told me she was dropped off with her two brothers. I know that’s not the Deep South. I think they told me that some Amish farmer don’t believe in fixing their dogs and that they drop them off at shelters. Maybe Bella wasn’t going to be a good working dog? She is so sweet and smart and easy to train. She was advertised as a border collie mix but I’m not sure. She’s my little southern Bell. Although she is 50 pounds she looks thin to me, kinda like Trisha’s Maggie’s build but taller.
ABandMM says
@HFR. The NPR story that you mentioned was aired on “This American Life”. It is episode #480 called “Animal Sacrifice”. It was re-aired on March 23rd. I’m a bit behind in my TAL podcasts and I listened to it this morning while walking my four-legged companions.
diane says
I agree that dogs are exposed to more situations today than they were. My previous dogs were not taken to any parks, classes or activities consistently. I take my current dog to classes and everywhere I can. As gentle as he is, I have seen other dogs react negatively toward him. When he was younger, I used to naively take him to dog parks or similar activities. Now that I am trying to learn to understand their language, I have enough knowledge that I am uncomfortable with bringing him to such an uncontrolled environment. I wouldn’t say the parks are bad, especially when they are visited by the same people/dogs who all get along. …but then that’s a more controlled group. I’m not dog savvy enough to feel confident …I need more “training”.
Marjorie says
My father was a Hong Kong POW for four years, captured at age 16. I remember him telling me as a child about his regiment’s (Royal Rifles) famous war dog “Gander” a Newfoundland dog that died catching a grenade and taking it away from his squad, saving many men. Coming back from the war with no help or understanding of PTS at that time, these men suffered terribly. One thing that helped my father through these difficult times when no one else understood his pain was our beloved family dog “Socks” a Beagle/Lab mix. When pain, trauma and grief are so beyond words, I think animals, especially, our canine companions can be a vital bridge for those who suffer.
Lara Elizabeth says
LisaW – what a very interesting point you make about rescue dogs from the south! My extremely reactive Border Collie/Jack Russell mix came from Arkansas. I also recently adopted (foster failed) a potcake (street dog) from the Bahamas and she is absolutely the most well-adjusted and relaxed dog!
Sheri Cassens says
Could so much dog/dog reactivity come from the unnatural lives or modern dogs? Long hours, many situations, whole days confined to crates for ‘”house training”, living on slippery floors, never playing with other well adjusted adults and puppies, walking on leash and never allowed to run in a fenced enclosure, e-fences in busy urban neighborhoods, puppy training classes that focus on corrections rather than teaching and good experiences. It is a wonder that any dogs manage to survive the modern world. Life must be a long series of frustrations with no relief for the average pet dog.