Temple Grandin anyone?

[Jennifer and Jack]

Has anyone read any of Temple Grandin's books or seen her movie? I really love her book, "Animals Make Us Human" I totally subscribe to her belief system about dogs, about the way they should be raised and about her connection to understanding them.

Temple Grandin is autistic with a very high functioning level and is responsible for making the "squeeze machine/hug machine" that is now used on autistic children as well as cows that are about to be slaughtered. I am absolutely fascinated with her. 

 

I recently watched her movie and I have decided she is my hero...

 

Any comments from anyone who has read her book, what do you think of her style of dog training or belief system?

[Adina P]

I think she's pretty neat too.  I have seen her movie and read some of Animals in Translation.  I don't accept EVERYTHING she says on the fact that she is autistic and has made some excellent observations about animals.  But I like a lot of what she says.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jennifer, Did you know there is a book group on DK? You should post there too about this book.

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

Yes, I watched the movie too and thought it was pretty good. Although being a life-long vegetarian...I did find it hard to watch in some of the scenes. Thanks for the info regarding her books. I will check into it as I did love the way she bonded with the animals....

[Diane]

I got to hear her speak at Dartmouth a few years ago and really want to see the movie. Here's a link (I hope) to a discussion started by Leigh who spoke with her at a conference not too long ago:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/had-a-blast-at-the-associa...

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks Laurie, I think I will post there as well.

 

Adina, I am very interested in what doodle owners think of her. She is so unique and I really think she is on to a lot. I do not accept everything she says either, but I love her insights into dogs and their DNA. It certainly falls in line with my "doggie religion" if you will.

 

One of my favorite points that she makes in "Animals Make Us Human" is that yes we are the pack leaders, but dogs have the same DNA as wolves. Wolves actually don't live in packs, they live with their families. So the mother and father are the natural leaders. Just like for the most part, a parent doesn't necessarily verbally demand respect (except in the case of teenagers lol) but it is  a respect is naturally given to them because they are the leaders. 

 

Wolves do not leave their families until they are going off on their own to get their own family. Then again another family unit is formed.

 

I like this thinking because it is more of a natural dominance mindset. Of course we are in charge, we are their substitute parents. We just need to act that way, show them, guide them and teach them what is expected. I personally do not like the idea of dominating just because I can. I will pull rank when necessary, but I don't just because I can.  Her philosophy is respecting a dog for who and what they are. I like it anyway.

She does talk about Ceaser and the Dog Whisperer and she believes that in large forced packs. Forced packs meaning animals of different breeds and different parents that live together because they were put together, need to have a more dominate pack leader, but I don't have a pack, I have a single dog.

[Michael Gurley]

Yes, I've read Animals in Translation. I love that she developed the squeeze-chute for herself at only about 15 years old!

[Kyoko]

I am a big fan (?) of her work. I work with autistic kids, and her books has been such a tredendous help to me. Also it helps me in a process of training Charlie. Her view lets me know of the importance of consistent visual cues, such as my body posture.

[Kyoko]

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/trainingmindsets/forum/topics/bio...

 

Above is a discussion from " Training....." Group.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I have read all of Temple Grandin's books.  I am fascinated by her and her ideas.  She certainly has been successful in making the slaughter of catlle for beef much more humane.  I am currently reading Inside of a Dog by Alexandra K???.  It too is fascinating, and gives insight into how dogs senses influence their world and how the speak volumes with their body language and how important our body language is to them.

[Ginny Nightingale]

LOVE the book, the woman and the movie! She is a true hero--I highly recommend the movie--starring Clare Danes, who just won a Golden Globe for the performance. It was an excellent movie from HBO and can be rented through Netflix if you have that.

My daughter got to meet Temple Grandin at Cornell Vet School and was inspired by Temple's insights, particularly when it comes to cattle. (My daughter  is graduating as a large animal vet in May.) This is also an interesting movie for anyone who has a friend or family member with Asperger's or Autism to watch--it really sheds light on the disorder.

My son read her book as part of a report he did in high school on emotions in animals--he is following up on that now as a Neuroscience major in college--so her work goes far and wide. I love her style of thinking and believe that she truly has a gift that connects us to animals and their way of thinking. He is at Dartmouth--I see Diane mentioned hearing her speak there, but I don't think my son was there yet. He would have wanted to go to that!

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have the movie from Netflix waiting to be watched. But I have read some of her writing for years. She is fascinating to me because she is so articulate and intelligent that she can give us an insider's view of Autism. Like many psychiatric illnesses, I am not sure all we lump under the label, in this case Autism, is one thing. But rarely can anyone express what it's like to understand human emotion only from an intellectual viewpoint as Temple Grandin does. She has written that she doesn't read novels because she doesn't "get" the characters emotions.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I loved the movie so much...I know I find it so interesting that she doesn't get human emotions..I also think that dogs do not understand human emotions either. I love how she is a link to help us understand. In no way shape or form do I believe she is less then human, I think she is supra human...