Human's Emotions vs. Dogs

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 104356

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pandrea100" <pandrea100 at h...>
wrote:

> 
> ...edited...
> 
> Of course, Sirius-as-a-dog still has human thoughts, enough to 
> control his actions, but it seems rational to me that they could be 
> dampened down, like someone on tranquilisers or something.  As an 
> example, let's say Sirius' favourite food normally is sushi.  As a 
> dog, is he going to crave sushi, or more doggy type food like steak 
> or bones?  I would think the latter.  Or, let's say he sees an 
> attractive woman (...) while in dog form - he may realise that she
> is attractive, but he's not going to be attracted TO her, because,
> well, he's a dog.  So in animal form, his animal nature has to 
> override his human one at various points, while still allowing him 
> to know that, eg, he has to go to a particular place to hide out.
> 
> Pandrea


Asian_lovr2:

Of course what I am about to say is pure speculation, but I think it
re-enforces what you have said above. This is an old theory that I
proposed in a similar thread a long time ago.

This is how I picture a wizard in animagus form.

The human mind and the instinctive animal mind are like a rider and a
horse. The animal's instintive mind in this analogy is represented by
the horse, and the human mind is like the rider. For the most part the
rider gives the horse his head and lets him run, only adding guidance
as needed. The horse and the instinctive mind have free will and are
capable of acting independantly. The rider or human mind is long for
the ride unless circumstances dictate otherwise. This 'along for the
ride' allows the human mind to stay in the background undetected by
external forces when the situation demands it.

There are times when it's best for the passenger to let the
instinctive mind have complete control, such as when a dog is trying
to catch a rabbit for dinner, or when the 'body' is depending on
skills unique to the animal.  In the dog example, the dog has a
uniquely keen sense of smell, very accute hearing, strong homing
instinct, and eyes that are adapted to a particular type of vision
that suits a dog. There are times when the uniquely dog
characteristics must dominate in order to survive.

Now when human danger is near, or the animal needs to act with
calculated stealth, the human mind and instinctive mind work together.
At other times, it more important for the human mind to be in control.
For example, in areas of language, understanding what bad wizards are
saying, although, reading the demeanor and body language would be
important too, and in the latter case, the instinct and intellect
would again work together. Another example of when the human must
dominate is when they/it/he needs to form and carry out a complex plan
of action.

In the example in the book of Sirius getting past the dementors in dog
form, I think Sirius let his human mind fall to the background. The
instinctive Dog part of him knew the objective, and was able to act on
that basic information to get himself out of the prison. across a
large expanse of water, and back on to the main land.

Just as the rider and horse are in a constant an ever changing
interplay, so too are the human intellect and animal instinct of the
animagus. Each dominating when the situation demand the particular
skills of one or the other.

Again, pure speculation, no canon support, but it seems like a
reasonable analogy. I have to believe that an animagus form serves
more purpose the just a disguise. If this is true, then the animagus
has the additional power to draw on the resources that are unique to
the animal in which it transform. There are times when being able to
smell a Death Eater from a mile away could be a definite advantage.

For what it's worth.

Steve/asian_lovr2