Emotional Intelligence

[sanford]

This is a quote from today's Home Page of cairntalk.net:

Why do we keep referring to this particular yardstick, intelligence, to evaluate another species? The reason, of course, is that it's our strong suit. When will we start to see that there's so much that's truly fascinating about dogs, it makes intelligence a red herring.

I agree... More and more, another yardstick, or measure of intelligence is emotional intelligence. By that measure, I have to admit that Ruffy has me beat by a mile!

[Hillscreek]

What is emotional intelligence? Picking up on how another species feels?

Would we really still feel the same about them if our cairns weren't intelligent?

What does the second sentence mean? Why is intelligence a red herring? What is "truly fascinating about dogs"?

 

[Sam I Am]

What is fascinating to me is how we and our dogs live together. We read each other body language, we both  understand each other’s body language, tone of voice and for sure our emotions. 

Pick up a suitcase and see two worried little faces, have a wee cry and both dogs react by trying to console. This is a thinking and emotional reaction. 

In the dog world “experts “ seem to think that being obedient and easily trained means intelligence. To me intelligence in a dog  is more in the form of able to think  independently, react independently, something that is a common trait with most terrier breeds. 

In our own species I have met many a human that are educated beyond their intelligence! 

[Hillscreek]

Here's a contribution from the Atlantic. First part of the article is"how dogs make you fall in love with them". The rest of the article is about other doggie things

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxwDqndDRhcFhnBCKBkqjwpmldnK

[Hillscreek]

Oh dear I guess I didn't make the link correctly. Sorry!

[bradl]

Was it this one? 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theatlantic.com/amp/article/591868/

[Hillscreek]

Yes it was. Thanks Brad

 

[pkcrossley]

thanks for the link. like most people here i've been thinking most of my life about people and dogs, and why we have depended on them for 10,000 years or more. they are so much that we might once have been, but lost.