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by **Infinite** » Jun 26th, '09, 16:14

I am often impressed with the human's ability to glean truths from other orders in nature.

I'm a dog person so the vast majority of things that I have learned have come from them. Its amazing when you take away the complexity of the human interaction what you are left with.

I own a rough and tumble girl all of 7 lbs. The other dogs in this dog park ranged from slightly larger (15 lbs) to much larger (80 lbs).

Initially there were only two larger dogs and my poor little 7 lbs feisty girl. Their interaction is where I learned something. The two large dogs were running about playing dominance games.

My little girl was chasing behind them barking for all she was worth even if she was mostly dismissed by the larger beast. This is when I realized the simple truth of the phrase, "I am participating."

Such a simple concept illustrated so simply. It occurred to me that in fact there are plenty of places in your life where, "I am participating." will make your life better.

More importantly it clued me into the psychological precepts that some participants have when drug up on stage for various shows. The ones who have at least that basic attitude excel winning over the audience. (My experience is when I was doing Improv).

So I've set about trying to find places where for what ever reason I don't want to engage or my engagement is being held back by my own trappings. I'm applying I am participating to see if it can enhance my experience in other places (Even my poor attempts at mentalism!)

So then I ask you what have you learned from YOUR pets?

by **Lawrence** » Jun 26th, '09, 16:40

I have learnt that once a dog has been taught offer their left paw they cannot easily grasp the concept of doing the same thing with their right, which has lead to my puppy falling over on many occassions while trying to give me her left paw while I'm on her right side.
She is learning though.

by **MagicalSmithy** » Jun 26th, '09, 16:59

I have learnt that if you let your dog take a big stick home he will hit you in the shins with it several times over.

Um also that puppy dog eyes do work.

by **Lawrence** » Jun 26th, '09, 17:11

MagicalSmithy wrote:Um also that puppy dog eyes do work.

Even when the dog is well into their middle ages!

by **MagicalSmithy** » Jun 26th, '09, 17:15

Lawrence wrote:
MagicalSmithy wrote:Um also that puppy dog eyes do work.

Even when the dog is well into their middle ages!

by **Wishmaster** » Jun 26th, '09, 17:27

Dogs are wonderful animals and I dearly miss having one as part of my family. Many people could learn basic decency from a dog. They are always there for you, no matter what. Complete and unconditional love and trust. There's nothing like that.

I read a fantastic book called The Sense of Being Stared At by Rupert Sheldrake a while ago. He goes into some detail about extra senses. One of the things he examined, and I know most dog owners will know this one, was where your dog knows when you're coming or are due home. It can be different times of the day, but they always know! It's so strange and yet most of us with animals just accept that they do it.

by **bronz** » Jun 26th, '09, 19:33

I've always been a dog man but recently the missis treated me to two kittens. At first I was resolutely against caring for them in any way ("They're your wretched cats, you feed them and clear up their stinking poo",) but over the weeks they've ingratiated themselves to the point where I can't help but do whatever they want when they start yowling.

This is despite the fact that on a rational level I know that everything about their behaviour is geared towards them being nothing else but Nature's Terminator. Even their little stretches when they wake up are an evolved mechanism to take them directly from being in a state of sleepy stiffness to kill-ready in a matter of seconds, they even have nerves on their teeth that tell them when they've got to bite down for an instant dislocation of their prey's neck for heaven's sake.

However, their grace and fluidity of movement, and single minded pursuit of what they want in a way demands respect. And stroking and feeding. I think the only thing I've learned from having them is that I'm a sucker for furry cute creatures that interact with you, but funnily enough since they've been around I've paid hardly any attention to my much more valuable and overall more intriguing dart frogs. Little sods.

by **Beardy** » Jun 26th, '09, 19:37

Wishmaster wrote:One of the things he examined, and I know most dog owners will know this one, was where your dog knows when you're coming or are due home. It can be different times of the day, but they always know! It's so strange and yet most of us with animals just accept that they do it.

Can they not just smell you?

by **Wishmaster** » Jun 26th, '09, 20:06

Blapsing_Beard wrote:
Wishmaster wrote:Can they not just smell you?

No. They show the behaviour several minutes or more before you return. There was a documentary on TV ages ago where they left CCTV in the homes of people with dogs and you can see them waking up and beginning to pace and becoming increasingly agitated just before the people came home. They varied the times, but it made no difference. Really strange. From what Sheldrake said, it's not connected to smell or sound. The book is well worth a read.

by **themagicwand** » Jun 26th, '09, 20:07

From my dog I learned that it is okay to lick your own penis while laying in front of the TV.

by **IAIN** » Jun 26th, '09, 20:42

don't forget the berries too...

i miss having a dog - good lads they are if trained correctly...

standing in their basket when you first start integrating them into the family...stern but fair gestures and commands, with rewards when done correctly...

after about 6 months of that - that's all thats needed...you rule the roost, not them...you're head honcho...

in all honesty, kids nowadays could do with the same treatment...

by **Mandrake** » Jun 26th, '09, 20:43

Just wondering how long before the inevitable reply to that is made

!

by **Mandrake** » Jun 26th, '09, 20:52

The link betwixt magcians and their dogs is perhaps strangely illustrated in the story of the sad demise of The Great Lafayette:

Courtesy of http://www.pro-magic.net

Beauty & The Great Lafayette

"You may drink my wine. You may eat my food. You may command my servants. But you must respect my dog!"

So read the bronze plaque affixed to the door of the palatial London home of Sigmund Neuberger (1872-1911) -- The Great Lafayette -- the highest paid magician and quick change artist of his time.

Mostly forgotten today, he was undoubtedly as gay as a pink (vanishing) elephant.

The pampered object of The Great Lafayette's affection was Beauty, a perky terrier once given to him as a pup by fellow conjurer and admirer Harry Houdini. Beauty had her own suite of brocaded rooms, ate five course meals, and wore a diamond studded collar.

"The more I see of people, the more I love my dog," confessed TGL, who carefully avoided romantic entanglements with women, treated most people with disdain, and lived a life of sybaritic luxury on a salary of 40,000 British pounds sterling per year.

"If Beauty should die, I'm sure I shan't live much longer," predicted TGL -- a prophesy that surreally came true.

According to William Goldston, 19th/20th Century historian of magic, "Lafayette was the most hated magician that ever lived. He was so intensely unpopular that he was greeted everywhere with the most utter and open contempt."

This may have been Goldston's sour grapes, as TGL was on cordial -- if somewhat reserved -- terms with fellow magicians Houdini, Harry Kellar, Howard Thurston, and Chung Ling Soo (aka William Robinson). There was, of course, no complaint from Beauty. She, or was it he? was TGL's inspiration.

Beauty lived like a king (or was it a queen?), chauffeured about London in TGL's silver-gray Mercedes, the radiator ornament of which was the little dog's likeness. Beauty also had his/her private railway carriage and at home dog-sized settees and porcelain baths. He fit snugly (and smugly) in the crook of TGL's velveteen-sleeved arm.

TGL was actually more of a quick change artist than a magician, and one with campy flair and exuberant panache. Audiences adored him. He usually entered center stage to a trumpet fanfare, and was dressed in a close-fitting satin costume of pastel shades. He'd shake dozens of birds from a sequined cloth, finally producing a bejeweled goat from its folds.

His magic was laced together with switcheroo routines, in which he skillfully traded identities again and again with his staff of well-disciplined (and well paid) assistants. The end of his career (and life) began May 1st, 1911 with a two-week season at the Empire Theater in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Four days before opening Beauty died of apoplexy, the result of much over feeding. TGL was grief stricken (but the show must go on). He had Beauty laid out in his hotel room, surrounded by lilies. The treasured pet was embalmed, and TGL bought side-by-side burial plots at nearby Piershill Cemetery.

On May 9, 3000 people packed the Empire Theater to see TGL. The finale that evening was called "The Lion's Bride," a popular audience pleaser, at the end of which TGL magically changed places with the lion. Tragically at that performance the scenery caught fire, and the theater was hastily evacuated.

Among the three who perished was The Great Lafayette, identified only by his many rings. He had tried to rescue his animal menagerie. His funeral was described as "one of the most extraordinary internments of modern times". There was great sorrow for all, as Beauty's coffin was opened and The Great Lafayette's ashes were placed carefully enfolded by his beloved and faithful terrier.

by **Wishmaster** » Jun 28th, '09, 00:09

themagicwand wrote:From my dog I learned that it is okay to lick your own penis while laying in front of the TV.

I bet you have interesting dinner parties!

by **Wishmaster** » Jun 28th, '09, 00:16

Mandrake wrote:The link betwixt magcians and their dogs is perhaps strangely illustrated in the story of the sad demise of The Great Lafayette:

What an interesting story. Sad though.

Lafayette must have been quite an amazing character. It does say a lot about him that he preferred the company of his companion Beauty over most people, and not necessarily in a bad way.

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