The science of tummy rubs
February 2nd 2009 07:06
You just can't trust scientists. Would you believe that there is a widely held belief that dogs roll over onto their backs when their owners approach as a sign of submission?
Dogs are pack animals, so the behavioural science version of things goes, and this action signifies their acceptance of you as the alpha member of the pack.
They even developed something called an alpha roll, which is the act of flipping a dog onto its back and holding its throat. The idea for the alpha rollover technique came from studies of wolf packs in the 1940s and, supposedly, this flip and grab thing teaches the furry one who's boss. This training method is also now obsolete because it is considered dangerous for both the human and the dog.
So that's where believing science gets you and, I can tell you, this submission theory is all wrong too. I know because I asked my dogs.
"Daisy," I said, "why do often roll onto your back when I enter the room?"
"To get a tummy rub, of course," she said. "Can I have one now?"
After rubbing Daisy's tummy for a while, I turned to Scratchy and said, "Scratchy, why do often roll onto your back when I enter the room?"
"I don't, you clueless twit," he said, "and if I did, it was probably because I had an itchy back. Now listen, go get me some dinner. Pronto."
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Comment by Elizabeth2-7
A shadow of herself
Comment by HoundChef
Comment by Chris Champion
LettersToNorm
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Hi Janice, science could also learn things about black holes by watching Scratchy eat.
Comment by Queenie
Quirky Folk
Quirky Queenie
People believe the same thing about cats. Anyone who has ever tried to touch a cat's belly when it is lying on its back will know 90% this is crap and that in this position, the cat can easily grab you with all four paws and bite you at the same time.
Comment by Chris Champion
LettersToNorm
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Comment by Elizabeth2-7
A shadow of herself
I'm enjoying your site and reading thru your previous posts