fact--cat people vs. dog people!

Posting from Trabant Coffeeshop, while the Trabant Cosmonaut looks on...

Mt. Rainier was visible from the UW campus today, but I couldn't get a decent pic. In person, the mountain looks huge and dominates the land for miles around. Through the lense of my cell phone camera, it was either invisible, or it looked dinky, which is very un-mountain-like, and you don't want to bruise a mountain's pride.


There's the keyboard. Begin typing!

So. Cat people vs. dog people.

I realized yesterday that I am obsessed with the "dog person" mentality. At the B&N down the hill, I found myself poring over the two books on puppy rearing by the Monks of New Sketes.

It must have been something about my week spent watching over Nellie, the little scotty dog, that has me interested in this topic. While dealing with the dog, I found myself having to assume the virtue and purposely exert my dominance over the doggie, like a true dog person does naturally.

It was taxing, but interesting.

Normally, I am a cat person through and through. It's a laid back, "live and let live" sort of mindset, and you accept that you cannot dominate or manipulate a cat.

As a cat person, you understand the value of a good nap in the afternoon.

The cat will get on your lap when it's good and ready, usually only after you ignore it.

Cats are territorial, but as long as you don't intrude or mess with its turf, no problem.

The key phrase I've heard is:
"Dogs have masters; cats have staff."

So, taking on the role of "Master" when dealing with this little doggie was a bit strange. When you walk her, she's always taking off to investigate a scent, and as Master, you must pop the leash and apply a firm "No!"

The New Sketes monks assert that when you apply proper discipline, the dog will ultimately appreciate and respect you for it. They're pack animals after all, and you are the Alpha head of the pack in the dog's world.

This is so alien to a cat person.

And it made me wonder about the dog people out there, and I began to suspect this explicitly dominant/submissive relationship paradigm would color and affect how such a person relates to the world.

Their's would be a world of dominance games and perpetual jostling for their place in the pack. Perhaps they would seek to "pop the leash" on those they seek to dominate, and then expect us to appreciate and love them for their firm correction of our wayward path.

Maybe that's what has baffled me my entire life.

I'm a cat person in a dog person's world.