As if "cutifying" dogs were not enough...

[cyrax]

http://www.amazon.com/Doga-Yoga-Dogs-Jennifer-Brilliant/dp/0811841677
http://www.theage.com.au/news/pets/pets-team-up-at-doggie-yoga/2007/04/23/1177180522000.html

These are the very people who eventually start complaining that their dog doesn't listen to them. Later on they put down their dog because the dog bit someone.


-----
1) A tired dog is a good dog.
2) Owning a dog is a responsibility, not fashion.
3) Please do not humanise dogs.

[Sara]

I saw something about yoga classes that you can take with your 4 legged friends on cnn several months ago. I think that it is a neat way to spend some special time with your pooch and I think that it can be a really positive experience for both the dog and the human. I don't agree that people who exercise or do yoga with their dogs are trying to humanize them. Although, there will always be the few who have "purse dogs" that want to try things like dog yoga only because they think it is fashionable - without acknowledging or caring about the real benefit to themselves and their dogs. I think the majority is not of that "purse dog" mentality though...

There are too many people who simply do not care about their pets and neglect them as mere lawn ornaments, or worse. I think that it is a really positive thing that yoga classes are offered that actually encourage more interaction and bonding between humans and their pets.

[Karen]

http://www.amazon.com/Doga-Yoga-Dogs-Jennifer-Brilliant/dp/0811841677
http://www.theage.com.au/news/pets/pets-team-up-at-doggie-yoga/2007/04/23/1177180522000.html

These are the very people who eventually start complaining that their dog doesn't listen to them. Later on they put down their dog because the dog bit someone.
Cyrax, I read the blurbs from the books you linked to and it sounds more like it's people who want to learn yoga from their dogs than people trying to humanize the dogs in that case. I've never seen anything else about dog yoga, but I would guess that people who can take their dogs to yoga class have already passed obedience class with their friends. I think it's a stretch to say that the dog yoga people are the ones with dogs that don't listen to them. No, that's me. When I try to do yoga NOT with my dog, she thinks I'm on the floor to play. Or else she tries to nap on me. :/

Now, I admit I have a high tolerance for disobedience. We've never found an obedience class in Korea, so my dog lacks quite a few basic skills. But I would never ever ever in a million years think of putting her down. Different people can tolerate different behaviours. I'd guess dog yoga people have very obedient dogs.

That said, the dog yoga does sound a little weird to me (because of my previously mentioned experience). Because I don't really know about it, it strikes me as New Age Trendy. But like Sara pointed out, these are people who WANT to spend more time with their dogs, so how is that bad? Cyrax, please elaborate.

My last thought, from the word "cutifying" in your title. My dog is super cute and, though she hates it, I put sweaters on her after a haircut in cool weather. I am guilty of cutifying for sure. But how can I even have a miniature schnauzer? Aren't all (most?) breeds created because humans have chosen specific traits (function, but also looks) based on our own (human not K9) preferences? Beagles and Chihuahuas and Mastiffs didn't come to be by adapting to their environments. Humans created breeds through a process of cutification, have they not? Adding a Tshirt seems to be the next logical extension...

I'd really like to know your thoughts! Thanks for posting this interesting topic.

[cyrax]

:) This sounds like fun.
For me the book sounds more like a fad. I've seen dog owners carry their dogs in their arms on the roads where the dog could just walk. Initially I thought that it maybe that the dog has three legs/hurt leg but no. It was because the dog looks "cute" when it's being carried.
Dogs are naturally cute. For me a dog is a loyal companion. In my opinion doga sounds like "well-being cigarette".
I think I must make it clear. I do not have any problem with it when people say that they have spoiled their dogs rotten. I have a problem when they complain about the dog being a "bad dog" after having spoiled them. I am NOBODY to tell people how they have to live their life.
Breeding - *sigh* mother nature does a better job at determining the best suited animal in the given environment. Natural selection has been disrupted by humans. It's because of this that we see all kinds of genetic disorders. Breeding only determines some of the qualities at the time of birth. The cute little furball that one bought @ the pet store could turn into a vicious jaw snapping monster if not properly trained.
Cute - We see an explosion of demand for smaller breeds because they look cute and fit into a purse. I think the fact that everyone lives in an apartment in this crowded city adds to this. Regardless of their breed, dogs are dogs. Breeding only specialises certain aspects in the dog, mostly physical. It has a little influence on the mentality of the dog, but this can be fixed. I can understand breeding for championships, protection and guarding. For a normal companion dog, the energy level of the dog is what matters. I place discipline above cuteness. Just my way of thinking.
I have NO issues with people dressing up their dogs in cute clothes. It's your dog. I am NO ONE to talk about it. Karen, your dogs are not that spoiled. They are not aggressive either. They don't listen to their mom. You never had an issue with it. You are not one of those people who would panic and toss the dog into a shelter. You know what it means to own a dog. It is a responsibility and most people on this forum are responsible owners.
The issue that I have with Doga is that it's all about humanising dogs. Humans have a complicated life. Life is quite simple for dogs. I would like to keep it that way.
Then again, if someone does buy the book, tries it and gets some good results I'd be the first person to be happy to apologise.

[Karen]

Cyrax, I think we agree on most points, it sounds like. All dogs are naturally cute and "owners" shape their dogs behaviour by how they treat them. Without seeing what "Doga" is all about, I'm not going to form an opinion on it or its practioners just yet.

I'm not sure why I thought of you when I saw this next video. I'm not posting it to taunt you... I just thought that it was cute and funny and I thought I'd share ;)

Lobsterfying Your Dog:
http://www.dogster.com/video/496327/Dog_lobster

[Karen]

Found this on NPR.org today: Yoga Class Incorporates Canines (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10240557)