Week Four
This week we read Bruce Fogle's novel, The Dog's Mind: Understanding
Your Dog's Behavior. In chapter four, we read about hormones in canines
and how they affect their behaviors. In chapter five, we read more
about the ways dogs communicate, between other dogs and humans. In the
later chapters of the book, we read more about the social behaviors of
dogs, such as aggression, eating behaviors, fears, anxiety, excitement,
pack behaviors, maternal behaviors. The conclusion to the book
discussed how to deal with a sick and/or elderly dog. Dr. Ersoff put
his own psychological spin on learning about what causes the specific
behaviors of a dog. Incorporating psychology into common canine
behavior was an interesting way to learn about the basic operations of
the canine mind.
The final assignment for the class was an oral presentation on a topic that interested each student. I gave my presentation on the UGA lineage and the common collegiate tradition of English bulldogs as mascots. Teams across the nation have dogs as their traditional mascots for years. The most popular breed is the English bulldog, with at least ten schools having a live and/or costumed bulldog on the sidelines. The most famous of these bulldog mascots is the live English bulldog lineage of the University of Georgia. I concluded that because of the place dogs will always have in our hearts, the will continue to remain part of the traditions in our football stadiums and serve as faithful mascots.
Mary Riddle Walker, a Salem alumna, visited our class on Friday. She has been training dogs for children with autism for 19 years. Penny Rasins, a vizsla breeder, visited as well. She discussed how to differentiate between a poor breeder and a reputable breeder. Jake, another one of Dr. Ersoff's vizslas visited as well. Mary Walker and Penny Rasins worked with Jake on various training techniques.
