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Elizabeth
Valinor
Sep 5 2012, 6:52am
Views: 301
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My experience with dogs and, to a lesser extent, horses, is that they are happiest when given a role to play.
There is an old tale that I can't swear is true, but is consistent with my experience of horses, that there was a horse who for many years spent many hours a day harnessed to a wheel that ran a pump, going round and round. He became old, and was put out to pasture. He seemed depressed, and wouldn't eat. Then the farmer who was caring for him started him walking around a tree in the pasture, and for the rest of his days he did this for hours every day, and gave every sign of being a happy old horse.
My German Shepherd (long dead, now) was obedience-trained. He was never happier, from all indications, than when we were out practicing his routines, or when he was being asked to Fetch! or perform other services.
My Indian friends similarly swear that the elephants they knew years ago were happiest doing routine chores like the horse.
Now, serving tea is farther removed from "normal" animal behavior than services such as turning a wheel, but who's to say these animals didn't take pride in it?
Join us NOW in the Reading Room for detailed discussions of The Hobbit, July 9-Nov. 18!
Elizabeth is the TORnsib formerly known as 'erather'
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