BETWEEN A HUMAN AND A BEAST: Between myths and scientific proofs. Defining interspecies relationship in dog training

• Authors: Pręgowski, Michał

Abstracts

EN

The bond between human and dog, the first domesticated animal, is a unique one. No other species is involved in such deep and multi-faceted relations with humans as dog; such relations include work, cooperation, sport, assistance in therapies, and companionship. Contemporary dogs often live among their humans, while enjoying care previously reserved only to same-species family members. Canis familiaris, “man’s best friend”, transcends the boundaries of Nature and Culture. In this article I present the field of dog training as one of few in which dogs are still perceived, by some, as the representative of Nature and a metaphorical Beast that needs to be tamed. Such vision is present in the socalled traditional training philosophy, dating back to the first decade of 20th century, as well as in the training programme of the contemporary TV celebrity Cesar Millan. At the same time, this vision is also in conflict with scientific reports and research outcomes of behavioral, cognitive and social psychology, ethology, as well as ethics.

Keywords

EN

szkolenie psów/ dog training; teoria dominacji/ domination theory; zaklinacze psów/ dog whisperers; Cesar Millan/ Cesar Millan; radykalny behawioryzm/ radical behaviorism; B.F. Skinner/ B.F. Skinner; pozytywne wzmocnienie/ positive reinforcement

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Gdański
• Journal: Miscellanea Anthropologica et Sociologica
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 15(1)

Contributors

author

Pręgowski, Michał

Identifiers

DOI

10.5604/20842937.1122751