Roberto Barata's Social Feed
Anthrozoology | Ethology | Behavior Modification
The views expressed in this social feed are entirely the author’s own, and responsibility for them rests solely with him. Read more about the author.
Goodbye to a special friend
Goodbye to a special friend Photo: Martim. Photo taken by Roberto Barata Today, I want to pay tribute to a special friend, Martim. Although he wasn't my dog, he had a profound impact on my life and the lives of those around him. Martim was a bundle of energy and joy, and his presence brought people together in a way that will never be forgotten.He was a master at teaching us about loyalty and friendship, and his love for his family was unwavering. To his family, he was a beloved member of the household, and his passing leaves a massive void in their lives.I had the privilege of knowing Martim and being inspired by his spirit. He may have been a small part of my life but greatly impacted my heart. His family, however, was his world, and he loved them with every fiber of his being. They gave him a...
Read MoreThe Useful Idiot Trend
The "Useful Idiot" Trend I have grown weary of revisiting this topic, having already devoted considerable attention to it in my previous writings and publications in the Human-Animal Science. I don’t intend to comment on it further. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to acknowledge the ongoing relevance of this issue, which continues to affect the integrity of scientific inquiry and the welfare of animals despite the relative scarcity of voices speaking out against this current “madness.” In recent years, some scientists and dog trainers have aligned themselves with ideologies, prioritizing belief over empirical evidence. These well-intentioned individuals may not realize they act as "useful idiots” for specific ideological movements, inadvertently undermining the very foundations of their fields when promoting theories and practices that lack rigorous scientific backing. For instance, some researchers publish papers that are heavily influenced by subjective interpretations and cognitive biases, resulting in conclusions that lack robust scientific support. This...
Read MoreThe Expected “Boiling Frog”
The Expected "Boiling Frog" Dear Colleagues and Students,I appreciate your requests for my participation in the ongoing discussion surrounding "ethics and dog training." However, I respectfully decline to engage in the current "panem et circenses" dialogue.Firstly, this conversation is not new. Since the late 1970s, a movement has emerged to introduce scientific rigor to dog training, drawing from diverse fields such as ethology, veterinary science, and psychology. Their disciplines approached the subject from various angles, but they shared a common objective: to enhance the welfare of dogs through best practices, and a collaborative spirit contrasts sharply with the current discourse, which often emphasizes divergence rather than convergence.Secondly, the present discussion has become increasingly immature and exhausting, and often serves as clickbait. Over the past seven to eight years, the dog training community has been inundated with a phenomenon I classified much earlier in my book as “Technical Fashionism." The concept...
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