I finished a book titled Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human by Elizabeth Hess. It's an interesting book, although I admit to mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it is a fascinating account of a research project designed to determine if a language is a uniquely human trait, or is something that can be used and understood by a non-human primate. It was initiated by a Columbia University psychologist named Herbert Terrace. Terrace was interested in challenging Noam Chomsky's contention that language is exclusively human (thus the name of the chimp as Nim Chimpsky, I always did love the pun). Mind you, he was not talking about labeling objects or using sounds to communicate; specifically he argued that syntax, or the use of the order of words to create meaning, is uniquely Read More
Personality versus Temperament; Poor Spot
Here's some more information from IFAAB, based on a talk presented by Dr. Samuel Gosling at UT-Austin. He is studying personality in animals, and has looked at it in species as varied as hyenas and dumpling squid. (And yes, dumpling squid are just as cute as they sound). He spoke briefly about the history of scientific attitudes toward personality in animals--at one point it was almost a dirty word, but in the last twenty years the term (and the concept) has become generally accepted. (Although he mentioned one researcher who still uses the term "behavioral syndrome" to avoid sounding anthropomorphic.) I must admit, as a someone trained in science myself, I still find it remarkable that the concept of personality in animals was ever controversial. It is astounding how essential it is to Read More
Need Your Advice and Ideas! [Stay tuned for Podcast…]
I'm working with some wonderful folks to get a web/pod cast radio show going, and would love to hear from you about it. First... what the heck should we name it? We can't, obviously, use Calling All Pets. We had talked about Calling All Critters or Calling All Animals, but we are going to have to start simple, on a shoe string, so are only going to be able to answer email questions rather than phone calls. Thus, "Calling All.. " doesn't make sense any more. The plan is to start with a half hour 'show,' with a guest interview as before, and me answering a few questions about training and behavior. Any ideas about what to name the show? Here's another question for you: Although Larry Meiller wouldn't be available as a co-host, there is someone else who could act as co-host, sort of an Read More
Speaking for Spot; On the Road Again
I just received a book from veterinarian Nancy Kay, titled Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life. I haven't read it yet, but it looks very interesting. Anyone read it? I find the whole issue of medical advocacy fascinating and compelling and terrifying when I'm in the midst of oh, deciding, for example, whether to have Luke's foreleg amputated or have him undergo radiation therapy for his cancerous tumor. It's such a good thing that so many of us are informing ourselves about medicine in so many ways, but it's a double edged sword. Some days I yearn for the old days, in which life was simpler (tell me what should I do, Doctor?). I don't think it was better (neither for health care professionals or for patients) but lordy it was Read More
Horse and Dog Training–Similarities
I just finished reading a lovely novel, The Hearts of Horses, by Molly Gloss. It's about a young woman who strikes out to make her living "gentling" horses in 1917, when many of the men were off to war. She's more comfortable around animals than she is around people (a current topic of postings on my Feb. 4th '09 blog) and uses methods atypical of the time. Rather than "breaking" horses, Molly uses what people often now call "horse whisperer" techniques to teach horses to work with, rather than against, the people who ride them. In spite of my lack of fondness for the title "horse whisperer," I will never forget watching horse trainer Pat Parelli work an "uncatchable" horse in an arena in Madison, Wisconsin. The horse was so difficult to catch that the club who brought Parelli to Madison Read More
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