Spoilers for people who don’t want dogs ruined for them.
The author is correct that dogs are an artificial status prosthetic for humans. People misinterpret dog body language. Many of the things that are colloquially interpreted as happiness are actually status anxiety. The way we interact with dogs, especially with regards to food, makes them believe they at the bottom of the pack hierarchy and therefore potentially at risk of losing their place entirely. This likely is exacerbated by the fact that they don’t contribute to the pack in any way that they are wired for. It is possible to relieve some of these anxieties but obviously most wouldn’t care to.
Where can I read about this? It seems easier to verify than the claims in the OP.
ETA:
I looked at google images for “dog body language.” I see some people saying that showing the belly is happy, while others said it was submission (and one saying both!). This seems like a good example of what you are saying, but are there more? Added: nose lick as stressed vs peace, although maybe that isn’t even a confusion, but just opening the box of what it means to sue for peace.
If I’m understanding right, you’re saying that dogs don’t get their basic needs and pleasures met well with humans, whereas the author is making a (to me) more surprising claim that their lives lack meaning.
Spoilers for people who don’t want dogs ruined for them.
The author is correct that dogs are an artificial status prosthetic for humans. People misinterpret dog body language. Many of the things that are colloquially interpreted as happiness are actually status anxiety. The way we interact with dogs, especially with regards to food, makes them believe they at the bottom of the pack hierarchy and therefore potentially at risk of losing their place entirely. This likely is exacerbated by the fact that they don’t contribute to the pack in any way that they are wired for. It is possible to relieve some of these anxieties but obviously most wouldn’t care to.
Where can I read about this? It seems easier to verify than the claims in the OP.
ETA:
I looked at google images for “dog body language.” I see some people saying that showing the belly is happy, while others said it was submission (and one saying both!). This seems like a good example of what you are saying, but are there more? Added: nose lick as stressed vs peace, although maybe that isn’t even a confusion, but just opening the box of what it means to sue for peace.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_behavior I’d guess textbooks would be the best place to find research.
If I’m understanding right, you’re saying that dogs don’t get their basic needs and pleasures met well with humans, whereas the author is making a (to me) more surprising claim that their lives lack meaning.
I think that status anxiety is more unpleasant than is intuitive.
Replaced the rot13 in your comment with spoiler tags. (Accessible via >! in the WYSIWYG editor)