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Constructing Canine Consent> Conceptualising and adopting a consent-focused relationship with dogs
The concept of canine consent is far more than simply a buzzword in modern dog training practices. In its current form, consent is a distinctly human concept, designed by humans and for humans. Looking beyond species boundaries can help us not only consider concepts of canine consent and autonomy, but it can also help us to apply these concepts in our everyday interactions with fundamental for any professional working with dogs as well as everyday dog caregivers. This canine indexed definition of consent includes a model of five major Touch/interaction-based consent, cooperative-care using learned consent behaviours, activity consent, consent-based learning, and substitutive consent. These categories involve a two-way communication system, integration of salient choices, teaching consent behaviours and incorporating existing training protocols that adhere to the Humane Hierarchy of best practices, and an evaluation of dependent decision-making in extenuating circumstances. This book aims to merge the existing literature and new understandings about canine consent to paint a complete picture. It will challenge the current expectations of dogs and dog behaviour in our society with an intention of considering their perspectives, experiences, and emotional needs. It will be important reading for veterinary professionals, dog trainers and behaviourists, those involved in work with therapy dogs, and anybody working with or caring for dogs.
- GenresDogsNonfiction
138 pages, Paperback
Published March 12, 2024
8 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 8, 2025
This was a very interesting book, primarily focussed at looking inwards and asking ourselves questions. This is a book you read when you want to challenge yourself and how you view interactions between humans and dogs.
It doesn't have discrete answers to anything, more the book provides a range of information and perspectives, poses questions, poses tasks, and overall is about teaching yourself how to self-evaluate a range of situations with your dog.
It does provide a couple of handy practical pages on how to teach a couple of behaviours around consent and I would handsdown buy a book on that if the author should create one.
It can be a bit of a technical read on a controversial topic in a society built upon compulsion and coercion paradigms even between humans, let alone human-canines. So I expect this book is for a very niche audience of dog handlers who are already interested in cooperation with their dogs and are seeking to improve themselves in that respect.
Despite being technical at times, it was well written, introspective and easy to follow along even when delving into complex topics I don't know much about.
It doesn't have discrete answers to anything, more the book provides a range of information and perspectives, poses questions, poses tasks, and overall is about teaching yourself how to self-evaluate a range of situations with your dog.
It does provide a couple of handy practical pages on how to teach a couple of behaviours around consent and I would handsdown buy a book on that if the author should create one.
It can be a bit of a technical read on a controversial topic in a society built upon compulsion and coercion paradigms even between humans, let alone human-canines. So I expect this book is for a very niche audience of dog handlers who are already interested in cooperation with their dogs and are seeking to improve themselves in that respect.
Despite being technical at times, it was well written, introspective and easy to follow along even when delving into complex topics I don't know much about.
September 27, 2024
Super important considerations for anyone who loves dogs. Erin Jones encourages the reader to push past comfort zones and consider big ethical questions about dog guardianship. I loved the clear definitions (though it does read like an academic text) and the practical examples. I will definitely take this learning with me and use it to improve my work with patients and my own pets. I am so grateful for this contribution.
My only notable criticism is that the book is written from a lens of privilege. It fails to highlight the majority of humans who have have had their own autonomy and agency stripped from them by institutional systems like white supremacy, patriarchy, and late stage capitalism. Asking marginalized people to consider all the ways they might allow for autonomy and agency for their dogs—while idealistic and beautiful—is not often practical. I’m not sure we’ll be able to stop excusing the exploitation of nonhuman animals until the human consensus is condemnation of the exploitation of humans. But the text still stands as a great tool to help critically think about the responsibility of being a dog guardian and all of the nuanced moral issues involved in such.
My only notable criticism is that the book is written from a lens of privilege. It fails to highlight the majority of humans who have have had their own autonomy and agency stripped from them by institutional systems like white supremacy, patriarchy, and late stage capitalism. Asking marginalized people to consider all the ways they might allow for autonomy and agency for their dogs—while idealistic and beautiful—is not often practical. I’m not sure we’ll be able to stop excusing the exploitation of nonhuman animals until the human consensus is condemnation of the exploitation of humans. But the text still stands as a great tool to help critically think about the responsibility of being a dog guardian and all of the nuanced moral issues involved in such.
September 3, 2024
Really enjoy this book. I think this is an essential book for any veterinary professionals, animal behaviourists, trainers or anyone who works with animal in some capacity to read. I would like to see this concept being developed more in the years to come.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews