is excellent , and it does not shy away from blending together the subjects of human sexual consent and all types of dog consent . It seems Wittmeyer might have a point .
However , consent refers to many things unrelated to sex . A person with a health condition is likely to associate the word with medical consent paperwork . A parent with young children might think of field trip permission slips . Nearly every new website I visit asks me to consent to cookies and other privacy infringements . This is typical of words with many meanings , and reveals that the word “ consent ” alone does not refer to sexual consent .
Still , could there be a better word choice ? We could instead say “ permission ,” “ assent ,” “ sanction ,” or “ authorize ,” but these terms don ’ t hit the target . Zak George , for his part , said that he is open to considering other terms , and insisted “ that any alternative term must still emphasize the importance of acknowledging and respecting a dog ’ s signals and choices .” We need to use a term that packs a punch , because when we talk about allowing our dogs to have a say in how they are handled and touched , we are swimming upstream against a current of cultural denial of dog autonomy . Unfortunately , many people think that dogs are so inferior to humans that they do not deserve any rights or consideration . It is commonly assumed that a dog should accept touches and petting whether they like it or not .
Some folks even think that dogs are incapable of having any preferences whatsoever . If dogs aren ’ t capable of having preferences , then they are incapable of consent in the same way that an unconscious human cannot offer consent . When someone is unconscious , we the conscious have an obligation to determine what is best for their welfare and to behave ethically in caring for them . This sort of welfare stance agrees that dogs deserve respect and consideration , but it views dogs as unable to know their own boundaries . It suggests that because a dog isn ’ t human , they cannot consent , which would render the whole discussion moot . Many of us who use the term “ consent ” in our training , are attempting to dislodge and disavow these entrenched ideas .
In the face of this cultural anthropocentrism ( placing humans at the center of all things ), Dr . Erin Jones , who wrote the book on “ consent ” in dogs , likes the term because it has “ powerful implications for valuing dogs and their experience .” Weighted terms tend to overlap across subjects , especially when those terms apply to our understanding of systems of oppression and power dynamics . Looking at such overlap is important , because humans tend to oppress those they consider inferior in similar ways across subgroups and examining the ways we do it in one arena can influence our behavior in another . In other words , with our dogs we are likely to violate boundaries in ways similar to what we do unconsciously with other humans , and if we can be taught to listen to and respect the boundaries of our dogs , we plant a seed that might grow in other areas of our lives . If this holds , then learning to respect dog consent could , in fact , help people be more respectful not just with dogs , but in all areas of their lives , including sexual encounters . Insisting that people respect the boundaries of a dog doesn ’ t distract or take away from any other area where consent is valued , it contributes to it .
In the end , it is fair to say that the word “ consent ” has come to carry an association with sexual assault advocacy . Because of this , we should consider avoiding sexual jokes and allusions . However , it also carries meaning in many other forums in which paying respect to the boundaries of a significant other are extremely important . Because our culture still considers dogs to be property , people often make the mistake of overstepping a dog ’ s personal boundaries without appropriate consideration of the dog ’ s needs and wants . Therefore , dog-human interactions are among the arenas in which humans must consider consent in order to behave ethically toward others .
Amanda Gagnon is the founder and training director at Amanda Gagnon Dog Training , where she teaches apprenticeship programs , conducts training programs for shelters and rescues , and researches dog-human cultures around the world . She has a master ’ s degree in anthrozoology and is certified as a behavior consultant by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and certified as a dog trainer by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers . She is also a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers . Amanda was a founding board member of Muddy Paws Rescue and a founder of The Riverside Dog Owner Group .
She has lived and worked with dog-lovers on Manhattan ’ s Upper West Side for more than 15 years , and she is passionate about improving the relationships between dogs and humans in her community . She is sought after by major media outlets including ; Good Morning America , Inside Edition , News Week , and Fox and Friends . She speaks worldwide at dog training events and workshops . She is passionately committed to staying abreast of current science , theory , and application so that she can provide the very best coaching methods for the dogs and humans in her community . Her favorite thing to do is to work directly with humans and dogs during her group classes , private training sessions , and online courses .
References Barry , Jim . The Ethical Dog Trainer . Dogwise Publishing , 2008 . George , Zak . Email Correspondence . 5 Jan . 2024 . Jones , Erin . Telephone interview . 2 Jan . 2024 . Jones , Erin . Constructing Canine Consent : Conceptualising and Adopting a Consent-Focused Relationship with Dogs . CRC Press : Taylor and Francis Group , 2024 . Rollin , Bernard E . Science and Ethics . Cambridge University Press , 2006 . Stewart , Grisha . Consent Culture : Don ’ t Just Grab the Pussycat ( or Dog !). https :// school . grishastewart . com / courses / consent Wittmeyer , Alicia P . Q . “ My Year of Being Extremely Online About Dogs .” The New York Times , 20 Dec . 2023 , https :// www . nytimes . com / 2023 / 12 / 20 / opinion / dogs-culture-wars . html .
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