Life Is Not Fair

As I get older I become increasingly aware of the unmistakable fact that Life Isn't Fair. Everyday I see evidence of this from the simple things like the amount of food we (Americans) throw away in any given day compared to the countless people starving to death every day; to the people who die in accidents caused by drunk drivers when the drunk driver himself walks away. It often makes me wonder what our dogs think about fairness.

For those people with only one dog, this thought probably never comes up. Or, if it does, it is easily answered in some non-anthropomorphized way: "Dogs don't think about fairness. They think 'Me Me Me!'" But, as a person living with a (sometimes changing) pack, I see the look on one dog's face as another one gets something that he/she doesn't. This is especially obvious when treats are dolled out. I have a very specific way that I hand out treats so that no one gives me "the look". The one that screams "NO FAIR!" Even though I always hand out the same number of treats to each dog, if they aren't passed around quickly enough and one finishes chewing before another one even gets the treat, the look gets shot my direction. The thought process of "oh I got a treat" is forgotten quickly when the thought of "she got a treat" starts.

There are sometimes however when the dogs know that everyone got their designated allotment. Dinner time is one of these times. They all know that they are going to get dinner and (usually) wait patiently for their own bowl to be placed in front of them. Once their bowl is finished, they often exchange bowls to see if anyone left anything behind. But never once have I gotten the look "I didn't get my fair share." Another one of these instances is the bed time kiss routine. Every night before we go to bed, I kiss each kid on the top of the head. I'm not sure when this started, but it's been going on long enough to be part of that un-breakable bedtime routine. Each dog knows that they are going to get a kiss good night and will wait for their turn once I start. No one ever jumps up and pushes another out of the way. No one waits for an "extra" kiss either. Everyone gets one and everyone knows that.

So, the question is: why are somethings a matter of routine and some things become a matter of "fairness". Why haven't the dogs figured out that everyone gets ONE treat when they have figured out that everyone gets ONE bowl. Is there something that I could do as a trainer, handler, dog-mom could do to make it seem more "fair." I know that dog's brains are not as advanced as ours, but I do think that they are more advanced then many people give them credit for. If everyone has figured out that you get one bananna chip before bed, why can't they figure out that everyone gets ONE chewie? Why do they wander around trying to steal each other's? They are ALL THE SAME.

But maybe the dog's don't actually give me that look. Maybe it is just me trying to make everything seem fair. Maybe they don't want extra, maybe they just want more. . .