Western dogs vs. Japanese dogs: National stereotypes galore!

Maybe the “overreacting” foreign dogs just do not expect things to just disappear. This is known as object permanence.

Maybe the Japanese dogs just believe in the mystical.<= This is a B.S. observation but just as valid as the shows dog observation.

Though I do not disagree with the shows premises that the Japanese restraint their emotions a bit.

I didn’t really see the dogs reactions as unusual, they all seemed similar. The only exception being that the Italian dog was obviously the smartest (or hungriest).

It obviously all comes down to culture and not breed of dog.

The traditional western image of English people is that they conceal their emotions and reactions — stiff upper lip, and all that.

How about the reactions of the Japanese “talent” on the show? Every time something vaguely interesting happens they always let out a “Eehhhhhhh!?”

How is that not big?

TV says theres Siberia in the name but in fact its American dog.
im bit surprised westerners are outraged by pointing their overreaction out.its not bad thing at all.imho,just japanese ppl restraint their emotions a bit much.probably its coming from their social-cultural issue.

Uhh… wouldn’t the reaction be dictated by what the individual breed was, well, was bred for? Hunting dogs might look for the food, guard dogs might not care, etc. etc. A breed based reaction seems much more likely.

… and by that token, I’m dubious as to whether the second Japanese dog is really that Japanese. When was that breed introduced to Japan?

I guess the show’s just trying to be funny without being serious, and I enjoy a good laugh, but I dunno. It just doesn’t make me laugh. Not to mention I’ve heard plenty of loud Japanese people (Ehhhhh?!). They may be few and far between, but they’re dead set on making up for their quiet countrymen.

Every country needs it’s stereotypes concerning foreigners. And every country needs TV shows nobody called for, apparently.

Unfortunately the presenters haven’t heard of or read any of the studies that all have shown that the Masters of self-restraint aka Japanese react exactly the same way as “unrestrained” Westerners. If they’re shown pictures with disgusting, funny or sad content they make the same faces as any American or European would do. But they wouldn’t dare making those faces as long as the investigator of the study is in the same room. As soon as the investigator leaves the room Japanese look exactly like anybody else, reaction-wise. But only if they don’t feel observed.

Anybody really surprised?

Paul Ekman and others have shown and investigated this over and over again, always with the same outcome.