This video has been recirculating dog-related Facebook networks, so we wanted to share it with you because it's hilarious and give our thoughts on it. The caption of the video reads,
"We hope it makes you laugh, but also makes you think about how we sometimes forget that dogs deserve the same respect we give to each other."
Their goals for the video were definitely met! We found the clips throughout the video from the "dog's" point of view particularly interesting. They show us a unique perspective of how invasive human interactions can be. The video is a great jumping off point for learning more about dog bite prevention and dog body language.
In the video, the "dog" tolerates all of the risky human behaviors and never actually "bites". There is some tense body language and furrowed facial expressions, which are ways humans express fear or discomfort. As humans, we are more practiced in reading social cues and other people's body language.
The video doesn't show us whale eye, ears back, lip raised, growling, or other ways in which dogs express fear or discomfort (and warn us of an impending bite). So, it is important to note that it can be problematic to compare human/human to dog/human interactions because we express fear, discomfort and consent differently. An introduction to dog body language and warning signs for a bite would compliment this video perfectly.
This video was intentionally lighthearted, and the humor makes it a lot more palatable for viewers and easy to share. Kudos to Fort Wayne Animal Control for putting it together.