Henry David Thoreau wrote that “Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.” The same holds true of all animal behaviors, whether in response to those of their own species or members of a different one. At that same time, though, sometimes our teaching methods cause us to forget that this flow and the sequential approach to learning that it gives rise to represents the norm and not the exception. And not only is it the norm, it’s the hallmark of a quality human-animal relationship.
The problem is that sequential thinking flows so effortlessly that we may not realize what a key role it plays in our relationships with animals unless someone points it out to us. But my guess is that once you become sensitized to this phenomenon, like me you’ll see numerous examples of this in your daily interactions with your own animals.
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