Dogs Breaking the Ice
One important new job for dogs is helping humans with our social interactions according to Jon Katz. He points out that because we are out walking and exercising our dogs, we end up meeting, conversing and sometimes befriending other dog people who otherwise would remain strangers. It’s been true for me. I’ve met many of my neighbours and made some wonderful friends because of a mutual interest in our dogs. Recently a popular academic paper has been promoting the connection between the development of human civilisation and beer drinking. Otherwise shy early humans found the courage to talk and exchange ideas after a few beers, the paper suggests. Lately I've been thinking that maybe dogs have been facilitating human to human interactions for a long time as well. Our neighbourhood is full of dogs and we've met many of them. Initially, I only know the dog’s names; there is Faith, the cute beagle, Josie, a fun loving labrador and Noki, a skinny border collie who can'