Man meets dog

A growing trend has been gaining attention over the past few years: handbag dogs. Stylish women are often spotted carrying oversized handbags with a tiny puppy’s face peeking out. These small animals are frequently dressed up with ribbons that conveniently match their owner’s attire. The situation becomes even more peculiar when these pets are treated like children, as their owners are often heard using phrases like “come to mommy” or “look what mommy has for you.” This behavior highlights a lack of understanding and respect for both children and animals. What is often presented as love for these pets is, in reality, a form of superficial exhibitionism that comes at the expense of these miniature creatures, who have been stripped of the dignity and natural traits of their wolf ancestors.

Carrying an animal in a handbag confines it, isolating it in an environment where it cannot engage in basic canine activities. A dog that cannot walk, sniff, or leave scent trails for others of its kind is deprived of vital experiences that help it understand its surroundings.

For this reason, I am delighted to recommend the book Man Meets Dog by the renowned Konrad Lorenz, recipient of the 1973 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his groundbreaking work in ethology. This field continues to uncover the vast complexity of animal behavior. I hope this book inspires you to feel outraged and take a stand the next time you see a dog’s face peering out of a handbag.

In Man Meets Dog, Lorenz explores the idea of the first encounter between humans and the animal that would become a beloved companion in life and, at times, in work, forging a bond that has endured for millennia. While speculating about these initial interactions, Lorenz proposed that they might have occurred between humans and the golden jackal. However, his theory has since been debunked by later studies that he was unable to conduct due to the limitations of his time. It is now conclusively proven that the dog does not descend from the jackal; its sole ancestor is the wolf.

Although outdated on this subject, the book explores the life of a man and his dog, offering valuable insights into behavior and leaving a mark on the understanding of the complex dynamics between dogs and their owners. It delves into themes such as obedience, loyalty, neurosis, hatred, and the historical bond that has developed over time. Drawing on personal experiences, Lorenz masterfully illuminates the full spectrum of “caninality” with the storytelling grace of a skilled narrator, the precision and depth of a pioneering scientist, and the sharp intellect of a thinker who, through his studies of animals, sheds new light on human challenges.

In questo saggio che conserva intatto il suo valore, Lorenz approfondisce in modo dettagliato l’argomento del comportamento canino che aveva già, in qualche modo, anticipato nel famoso “L’Anello di Re Salomone”. Nel corso dell’opera, Lorenz esprime le sue osservazioni ed esperienze riguardo ai cani con cui ha convissuto nel tempo arrivando a dire che alcune volte i padroni danno una interpretazione sbagliata su certi comportamenti canini. Grazie ai suoi esperimenti è riuscito a provare che i cani hanno coscienza e sentimenti. Sentimenti che in molti casi si rivelano più forti di quelli umani: un cane non si sognerebbe mai di abbandonare il proprio padrone ma quest’ultimo invece potrebbe…

In this timeless essay that retains, Lorenz delves in detail into the subject of canine behavior that he had already, in some way, anticipated in the famous “King Solomon’s Ring.” Throughout the work, Lorenz expresses his observations and experiences regarding the dogs he has lived with over time, pointing out that owners sometimes misinterpret certain canine behaviors. Through his experiments, he demonstrates that dogs possess consciousness and emotions—feelings that, in many cases, prove to be more profound than those of humans. A dog, for instance, would never consider abandoning its owner, though the reverse is sadly not always true…

Crediti
Autore: Anna Lacci è divulgatrice scientifica ed esperta di educazione all’ambiente e alla sostenibilità e di didattica del territorio. E’ autrice di documentari e volumi naturalistici, di quaderni e sussidi di didattica interdisciplinare, di materiali divulgativi multimediali.

Credits
Author: Anna Lacci is a scientific communicator and expert in environmental education and sustainability and teaching the territory. She is the author of documentaries and naturalistic volumes, of notebooks and subsidies of interdisciplinary teaching, and of multimedia dissemination materials.