A Biting Dog and Culture
February 25, 2014
The Danish dog Thor has savaged another dog and by Danish statute Thor risks to be put down.
Now German tourists worry about their safety of their dogs when coming to Denmark.
German and Danish Legislation
But the fact is that German and Danish legislation on dogs are very similar. For example every dog must be marked and registered. If it harms a person or another animal and therefore can be presumed dangerous some measures must be met.
|
German Legislation |
Danish Legislation |
|
The dog must be leashed and/or muzzled |
The dog must be leashed and/or muzzled |
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must be walked only by pers. over 18 yrs |
must be walked only by pers. over 18 yrs |
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can be put down |
can be put down
|
Understand Your Own Culture
Why are German tourists afraid, when the legislations are alike? The answer might be culture. In the culture, to which we belong, we feel safe and this culture is number one. However, if we look at it neutrally, we will sometimes see that the differences are not that big. If the German tourists had looked at the two legislations objectively, they would not have reacted as seen. This is, nonetheless, easier said than done.
The same goes for international negotiations and communication. To succeed in intercultural communication you must learn to see your own culture through more objective glasses.
