Its happened to almost all of us:
You come home and discover a pile of chewed-up letters on the floor or jagged holes in your favourite slippers – but you can├óΓé¼Γäót stay angry at your pet for long.
His guilty slouch and hangdog expression quickly win your forgiveness because, you tell yourself, he knows what he has done and is now feeling genuinely guilty.
In fact, his behaviour has nothing to do with remorse. As the world’s best-known pack animals, dogs are expert communicators and these submissive signals are their way of avoiding conflict with those further up the hierarchy.
This willingness to stand down is something which humans should try a little more often, according to Ryan O’Meara, author of an unusual new self-help book which suggests that our most faithful companions can teach us much about finding happiness and fulfillment.
He said:
“Dogs know that life is too precious to go into battle over something trivial. But people do it all the time.”
So next time an a$$hole cuts you off on the highway think just think “WWDD?” and remain zen.
Only… be sure not to stick your head out the window while driving.
[Image via WENN.]