Human Whisperers , livre ebook

AuthorHouse - Guy D. Perkins

Découvre YouScribe en t'inscrivant gratuitement

Je m'inscris

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

120 pages

English

Vous pourrez modifier la taille du texte de cet ouvrage

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

A propos
Informations
Extrait

Description

Full of anecdotes and conversational humor, this personal narrative considers the deep and long-lasting connection between dogs and humans and the lessons we can learn from one another.
Author Guy D. Perkins has spent more than fifty years being around and observing dogs. He still learns from them every day—and also learns from humans, who are in the clan of “dogdum.” To him, dogs are more interesting than many people. They fit directly into the conservation world. And from there, he gains insight into the human race.
Human Whisperers explores the partnership between humans and dogs—especially sporting dogs, in the context of hunting. Using stories from his own experiences, Perkins seeks to convince you that the four-legged partner you might take hunting is more than a tool, one that isn’t meant to be a yard ornament either. What’s more, a canine companion is a big responsibility, with the potential for significant costs. But the right partnership with a dog can provide a human with a complete and fulfilling life.
Full of anecdotes and conversational humor, this personal narrative considers the deep and long-lasting connection between dogs and humans and the lessons we can learn from one another.

Sujets

Social Theory

Social Science

Sociologie, société et politique

Sociology

Informations

Publié par	AuthorHouse
Date de parution	29 avril 2022
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781665557931
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	7 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0250€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Human WHISPERERS

GUY D. PERKINS

AuthorHouse™
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.authorhouse.com
Phone: 833-262-8899

© 2022 Guy D. Perkins. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 04/28/2022

ISBN: 978-1-6655-5795-5 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6655-5794-8 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6655-5793-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022907751

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
CONTENTS
Preface
Introduction
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1:An Introduction to Dogs
Chapter 2:Dolly Dog
Chapter 3:Star
Chapter 4:Shall We Fish?
Chapter 5:Across State Lines
Chapter 6:Closing on a Double
Chapter 7:Becoming a Pheasant Snob
Chapter 8:Believing In the Nose
Chapter 9:Let Us Talk Puppies, Shall We?
Chapter 10:Pointing Dogs Don’t Retrieve or Swim
Chapter 11:Hard Day Decision
Chapter 12:Fighting Off the Dog
Chapter 13:Winning?
Chapter 14:Have a Coke
Chapter 15:Coke the Mentor
Chapter 16:Mixing Mutts and Messages
Chapter 17:The Black Club
Chapter 18:One Is Enough?
Chapter 19:Cove and Company
Chapter 20:A Higher Power
Chapter 21:Faith? No Ruby!
Chapter 22:Faith Because of Ruby
Chapter 23:Leaning into It
Chapter 24:Ruby, Gem of Balance
Chapter 25:A Better Place!
PREFACE
A buddy told me I should consider writing a book.
“About what?” I asked.
“Conservation,” was his reply.
I pushed it off for several years. But he was persistent, painfully persistent! I guess he thinks others should feel the pain of my inquisitive nature. Positive steps for conservation as it pertains to outdoor use of natural resources often gets complicated. The negative and positive effects move mostly via selfishness—or the fact that folks have payments to make to someone. Too bad it has to work that way. We, as humans, are here and there, and unfortunately, we want to be everywhere.
Everest leaps to mind as one example of overuse. Can we just stop climbing that peak?
See? Your first thoughts were selfish. Then you may have justified them by saying, “Nepal relies on the income.”
OK, send them some cash—just go over there, sit on a bench, drink some coffee, and look up at that big mountain. The litter left from the climbing efforts boggles my mind. The fact that they have to organize cleanups tilts me even more. It’s a big mountain with a small trail, all things considered, but it is no longer the Everest it once was. And maybe it is fine. I’ve only been there a couple times with National Geographic , via television, so I don’t really know. Sometimes passion to do things outdoors overshadows clear thinking of potential outcomes that are not necessarily good for the resource you’ll be in and around.
So, there you have one of my views on conservation. And what could have been a long, specific book full of research and examples of ecological abuse has become a question that has taken years to develop. Before we go imposing ourselves on Mother Nature, ask yourself this: “Is what I’m about to be involved in good for the resource?” We have one earth; we should consider taking care of it better.
So, with that somewhat in mind, I’m writing about dogs. Dogs are more interesting than many people. At least they are honest if nothing else. For me, they fit directly into the conservation world. And from there, I gain insight into the human race. They help shape me.
Mostly it is the error of the human partner when dogs don’t reach their potential in the field—or anywhere else for that matter. I have found myself party to that guilt in many ways. We are not born dog owners, partners, and/or trainers. And while I started my days in the field of feathers without the aid of a dog, I just cannot imagine being without one while hunting upland birds and waterfowl. Helping recover game that is shot is a direct line to conservation. Experiences with dogs in the field have helped me sort through several of life’s folders. The trick is to learn to listen to your dog.
This book will focus primarily on sporting dogs, mostly ones I have partnered with since I know those best. Some variance is allowed for the breeds that are included in their so-called specific breed function. For example, a dog for waterfowling will not always be a Lab. If you and your dog have hunted with us, and I fail to mention it, don’t take it personally. If I didn’t specifically follow along behind your pooch, then it is hard to offer accurate firsthand observations. However, I believe you will find some similarities in my dogs and yours. Your stories have indeed contributed to this writing.
If hunting bothers you, then you most likely won’t find any interest in this writing. But, hey, what if you could better understand someone who chooses to hunt? What if you better understood an activity that was a necessity that allowed humankind to survive? What if you learned the value of wildlife? Well, then you have learned something. What would be wrong with that? I’ve certainly learned from both nonhunters and anti-hunters in my experiences in and around wildlife.
INTRODUCTION
If you have never been part of “dog partnering” and are looking to become involved, let me be brutally honest. Maybe I can save you some money and heartache—and save a dog some frustration. Make sure you search deep and long in your head and heart. Let some time pass. Do some more research and decide if you deserve a dog and can handle one. Part of the focus of this writing is to aid you in that decision.
You have the right to express your opinion as to what a responsible companionship would be. I will be expressing mine. Most likely, in some cases, we will both be right—and both be wrong. The following thoughts in this book are mine. I’ve spent fifty plus years around and observing dogs. I still learn from dogs every day. I also learn from humans, who are in the clan of “dogdum.” (Don’t google it—I made it up).
It took me years to finally understand what Bob Barker was expressing as host of The Price is Right . To this day, I’m still not sure if he had a canine close in his life. At the end of the show, he’d say “Remember to have your dogs and cats spayed or neutered.” His comment offended me for years, and I wasn’t sure why. Then, one day, it just clicked. I don’t remember the day or the situation that caused the click, but it all boils down to responsible partnerships. You never really “own” a dog, and it has begun to bug me when I hear it or when I use the expression.
I’m going to try to convince you that your four-legged partner that you might take hunting is more than a tool. Dogs are not yard ornaments either. I’ve always had difficulty when a dog is kept staked and chained, especially if there is not cover present. Well, it’s a guard dog, you say? Really? What is it guarding—that ten-foot circular area of dirt where the chain allows it to circle the stake? Oh, it’s the bark that keeps the crooks away—and every neighbor awake for five homes in all directions. You’d bark too if I chained your butt outside in all sorts of weather.
Maybe you live in Alaska and a big part of your life centers on sled dogs. Tethering those dogs could be, and most likely is, a part of responsible partnering. The tethering might be a necessary part of the training exercises and safety for the dogs and other creatures. Again, research, soul-search, and decide on a plan as you go into the canine partnering. And if you do the evaluation and still miss the mark, leave yourself an out that is good for all involved, especially for the dog. In the following chapters, you will see that I used, or was party to, a couple of side-door exits.
There is a big responsibility that comes with keeping a dog. Let’s do a little math. A thirty-three-pound bag of dog food at this writing is thirty-five to fifty dollars. Manufacturers sometimes crack me up. They don’t raise the price; instead, they just hide the cost increase with a smaller bag. Really? If the dog has some kind of health glitch, you can add twenty dollars a bag. For a fifty-pound dog, that supply of food may last a month.
Vet bills, depending on where you live, are going to run a hundred to two hundred dollars every six months just for minimum shots. A little bad luck with the dog ingesting something it shouldn’t, and you could add another five hundred dollars just for starters—give or take a couple bucks. Been there, done that.
If you decide on a vacation and can’t take the dog, add a hundred dollars a day minimum for a dog-sitter. Last I checked, I couldn’t find insurance for that cell phone the dog disassembled or the new couch that became the dog’s new chew toy. Then there is the big one: a bite. They are animals, and even the best-tempered animal can have a weak moment and lash out. Bite the wrong person, and a good lawyer might get most of what you own.
The same friend who asked me to start writing about conservation is missing a portion of his ear because the dog thought it was a chew toy when he was a toddler. I’d like to think my experiences with do