You’ve probably heard of the term “Circle of Influence.” But do you know "How the Circle of Influence Applies to Dogs"?
The Circle of Sniffs and Woofs: A Dog's Guide to Influence
In the vast, exciting world of parks, gardens, and the occasional forbidden sofa, dogs navigate their realm through two key circles: the Circle of Sniffs and the Circle of Woofs.
The Circle of Sniffs
This is the zone where a dog's nose rules supreme. It encompasses everything within direct sniffing distance—their food bowl, that interesting spot on the carpet, and the human's shoes (a particularly rich source of olfactory insights). Here, a dog exercises maximum influence, deciding whether to bestow a wet nose of approval or a dismissive sniff, moving on to more compelling scents.
Direct Influence: Choosing the perfect spot to nap in the sun, selecting which toy is worthy of today's chew session, and the critical decision of when to stare intently at the human until they provide treats.
Indirect Influence: Subtly guiding the human's hand with a nudge to ensure optimal petting location and intensity. Convincing the cat that yes, indeed, the dog bed belongs to the cat now, purely to secure the sunny spot on the carpet.
The Circle of Woofs
This circle stretches beyond the immediate reach of the snout, covering areas where the bark can travel but the paws may not. It includes the mysterious world beyond the fence, the enticing aromas wafting from the neighbour's barbecue, and the distant sound of other dogs having fun without you.
Direct Influence: Barking at the postman, ensuring they know who really owns this house. Alerting the entire household to the grave danger posed by a squirrel in the backyard.
Indirect Influence: Communicating with the neighbourhood dogs about the day's gossip, like who saw the biggest stick or who was brave enough to bark at the hoover.
And then there's the Circle of "Eh, What's That?"—the things beyond even the Circle of Woofs, like the inner workings of the human's strange box that makes noise (the TV) or the exact route of the daily walk. These matters are deemed too complex or irrelevant for canine concern, left to the fates while more pressing matters, like the next meal or belly rub, take precedence.
In conclusion, dogs live by a simple but effective model of influence, focusing on what they can smell or bark at directly. The rest is just background noise to the more pressing concerns of treats, scratches, and the best sunny spots for napping.
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Marketing Associate at IMC Logistics
3mo"There is nothing that makes a mom jump out of bed faster than the sound of her dog barfing at the end of the bed." As a foster home for many dogs this is the truest sentence I have ever read.