Dominance and Affection, Essay Example

According to Yi-Fu Tuan in Dominance and Affection, “An animal may lose much of its natural vigor and still be serviceable as a pet” (Tuan). However, it is important to consider that an animal’s tendency to lose its natural instincts and become a pet is directly related to its ability to survive. Under extreme conditions, animals that have been domesticated could revert back to exhibiting their primal instincts in order to survive. Such was the case in Jack London’s Call of the Wild, when Buck, a dog who was originally reared as a pet, was forced to survive in the harsh winters as a sled dog in Alaska. While Buck was calm in his home, he quickly started dominating other dogs when he recognized that doing so was necessary to survive. Thus, the themes of Dominance and Affection and Call of the Wild indicate that animals will adjust to their present conditions; if they are in a loving home, they can be tamed, but if their survival is threatened, they will revert back to their natural behavior in order to survive.

It is apparent that animals are willing to listen to their owners when they are being properly cared for. As such, the love and affection of an animal can be described as a mutual relationship. When an animal has its physiological needs met and feels a sense of love and belonging, the pet will return this kindness with a sense of appreciation towards its owner. Even animals can avoid exhibiting their natural instincts when these needs are being met because such instincts are in place primarily to achieve survival. Thus, when survival is not a concern, animals can be domesticated and live in harmony with people. According to Tuan, relationships between animals and humans are positive when humans treat animals fairly and with respect. A sense of trust forms as a consequence, and the animal is able to serve as an ideal companion to the human.

However, when the trusting relationship between a human and an animal is broken, animals revert back to their initial instincts because they feel that their lives are being threatened. In Call of the Wild, Buck only starts acting aggressively because he needs to constantly be worried about how he will get food, compete with other dogs, and find a sense of belonging in his community. In his former home, all of this was given to Buck, but now he must find it for himself. In this situation, Buck reverts back to his natural instincts because he is no longer safe. He has no humans that he can rely on for safety, and he must take these matters into his own hands. This demonstrates that the relationship between a human and an animal is an important one. The extent of care that animals receive has a direct impact on their behaviors.

Overall, it is clear that humans can dominate animals and create relationships with them by showing them love and compassion by providing for their physiological needs and helping them develop a sense of love and belonging. Once this is lost, the animal will attempt to take survival into its own hands, which will result in a drastic change of behavior. It is therefore important for humans to be aware that their actions have a direct consequence on the actions of their animal companions and affectionate humans are more likely to train animals in a manner that will make them appear better behaved due to the establishment of a mutual relationship.