11: Embracing Social & Observational Learning While Also Advocating for Our Dogs

Sean and Haley talk about social / observational learning with our dogs, how incredibly COOL and worthwhile those concepts are to explore, and also how they can fit into advocating for our pets. (Sometimes "showing our dog a person / dog / situation is okay" and "advocating for our dog" might sound contradictory, especially if we hear extreme statements at far ends of either spectrum, but they aren't mutually exclusive!)

Some specific books that inspired these thoughts:

• Dog is Love by Clive Wynne


• The Genius of Dogs by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods


• Dog Sense by John Bradshaw


• (Highly recommend reading the actual studies discussed for more context; all three of the above titles have nicely organized reference sections specific to dogs)


• Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are by Frans de Waal

Some related links:

• Running list of dog ownership books I recommend overall


• Running list of all the animal-related books I've read recently


• Sean's older blog about "just hanging out" with Scout (talks about social relationships, approaching them in a natural way)


• Blog on if my dog wants to please me or not


• Blog on thinking about my dog as a human friend


• Blog on advocating for my dog


• Blog on the line between advocating and "babying" my dog