Farei Infrequently 2026 0413

From the Laboratory of Tarma Shena

There is quite a bit of overlap when it comes to our training program and the LGD side vs the "pet" side. Keeping in mind that this has no bearing on "what" your dog does. If you have an LGD breed who guards your couch you should still be in our other section.

Work and it's subsequent value are defined by humans not dogs. They don't wonder if their activities are worth while or if their friends and neighbors will approve. They just do what they do.

I have had multiple conversations about a situation that I call "shit rolls down hill". If you had brothers and sisters growing up you will probably relate more to this conversation than if you were an only child although the playground does occasionally teach this lesson.

But the idea that canines are mentally and socially developed enough to feel things like resentment and "ill will" is an interesting conversation and one we don't have the answer to yet in the absolute, black and white, kind of way that humans are so fond of.

We still haven't decided what "constitutes" intelligence so we've got a lot of stuff to work on. It isn't "brain size" because a lot of animals like birds have rather small brains. We tried "brain to body ratio" but that doesn't work out either as a lot of whales and dolphins do not fit but they have proven themselves to be pretty smart. Then they tried brain size to skull ratio but it turns out Octopi are pretty smart and not only do they not have skulls they don't even actually have a brain as we "define" it. In fact it's more of a "brain stem" that runs body functions. Add to it that they have a "brain" in each tentacle so that puts us at nine "brains" and as far as they can tell they all act independently and do not communicate with each other.

Yet they survive, even thrive, in a multitude of environments. Reproduce, are excellent hunters, and can problem solve on a level that would put some fifth graders to shame.

How does that even work?

The truth is we don't know. Evolution, Creation, or Dumb Luck we may never know the answer but we keep asking the question. And that's what I do with dog behaviors. Keep asking the question.

I pay a lot of attention to what my dogs do, how they relate to each other, and the world around them. They are in a work/home environment that is a little unique and I use that to my advantage when it comes to studying social development and how dogs think.

I don't need a guy in a white lab coat to tell me that my dog might or might not feel resentment. I can tell you that a lifetime of watching individuals and now watching generational individuals grow up, learn, work, and die here; I can tell you that some of them, (not all, I assure you genius does in fact skip generations) are socially intelligent enough to not only feel resentment, but to carry out "ill will".

Farei Kennels Screamin' Mimi 10/15 - 01/25