Mood my job has shifted in the past few months. I work in a bar, I started as a food runner/dishwasher and saw I could switch over to prep cooking in the mornings. Great decision and people get to look at me less which I enjoy. I have one shift a week that I had to keep dishwashing so I get enough hours. I forget sometimes about service with a smile and just give people there food. I hate being perceived.
IMO Animals are like toddlers, in that they aren't sapient enough to internalize various social rules, and stifle intrusive thoughts and instincts. I don't think dogs are wagging their tails as an uncontrollable reflex of happiness. They are happy and choose wag to their tails. If they were smarter (and did social interactions like humans), they'd be able to hold their tails.
Frowns are natural reactions when you're upset and we've learned to hide those. You can hold back a smile if you shouldn't be laughing at someone. If an adult had expressive ears and tails, I'd expect them to be able to suppress their initial reactions.
That's not to say there's no one who might have difficulties, but I wouldn't expect it to be an additional challenge.
i think at least dogs are plenty capable of controlling their expressions, pretty sure i've seen them test different expressions to see how other (new to them) dogs react.
Or if someone's feeling down they might exaggerate happiness trying to make the other feel better.
5 replies
Mood my job has shifted in the past few months. I work in a bar, I started as a food runner/dishwasher and saw I could switch over to prep cooking in the mornings. Great decision and people get to look at me less which I enjoy. I have one shift a week that I had to keep dishwashing so I get enough hours. I forget sometimes about service with a smile and just give people there food. I hate being perceived.
IMO Animals are like toddlers, in that they aren't sapient enough to internalize various social rules, and stifle intrusive thoughts and instincts. I don't think dogs are wagging their tails as an uncontrollable reflex of happiness. They are happy and choose wag to their tails. If they were smarter (and did social interactions like humans), they'd be able to hold their tails.
Frowns are natural reactions when you're upset and we've learned to hide those. You can hold back a smile if you shouldn't be laughing at someone. If an adult had expressive ears and tails, I'd expect them to be able to suppress their initial reactions.
That's not to say there's no one who might have difficulties, but I wouldn't expect it to be an additional challenge.
i think at least dogs are plenty capable of controlling their expressions, pretty sure i've seen them test different expressions to see how other (new to them) dogs react.
Or if someone's feeling down they might exaggerate happiness trying to make the other feel better.
Dogs can do most things you want them to, it's just a challenge to get them to know what you want, and to get them to agree to do it
I think if I could show annoyance with a tail swish I'd be a lot happier.