This article, published in The New Yorker (2/6/2006 issue), explores the logic behind “breed-specific legislation,” especially as it applies to pit bulls.

Using anti-terrorism and law-enforcement “profiling” techniques as an example, the author points out the problems with profiling. Relying on generalizations and categorizations very often misses the mark. In many cases, profiling targets generalizations that are actually unstable (based on a trait that actually varies among the population the profiling is meant to target). Racial targeting of Islamic terrorists is a good example, as Islam is a worldwide religion with adherents from many races. Not every Islamic person is of Middle Eastern descent (and vice versa). (more…)

“Dominance and all that jazz…” by Sue Ailsby explores the idea of “dominance” and how thinking in terms of dominance can adversely affect our relationships with our dogs. There are a lot of myths surrounding the idea of “dominance” as it applies to human/dog interactions, and this article debunks some of them.

See the full article.