I have a dog. Or rather, my dog Banjo has a family of humans. At 12, Banjo's getting on a bit, but he's still annoying when he's not been walked. He's a great company the rest of the time. Truth be told, he's got a bit clingy since the start of Covid, but I suspect that's to do with having people home a lot more. Our 18-year-old can't really remember a time PB ("pre-Banjo").
Humans have domesticated dogs for a long time. New Scientist tells me the first dog burial dates back more than 14,000 years. For at least that long, people and their best friends have been hunting and gathering together.
As a result, we can see that dogs have a special relationship with us. They're among the small number of animals that hold eye contact with us, and who doesn't know the power of puppy dog eyes? The little blighters know how to milk it, and we've been trained to respond. And it's not something that every dog has to learn from scratch - there's an evolutionary history to it.
Denne historien er fra July 2 - 8, 2022-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 2 - 8, 2022-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
