PURELY as a matter of curiosity, and NOTHING ELSE, what is a semi-vegetarian - what about (e.g.) lamb, pork, fish??

Snorri
(omnivore)

This issue is hard to explain...easily prone to misunderstanding:

On another thread, there is a discussion concerning the problem of treating dogs like humans.
An example: dressing them in clothes.

I agree this is silly...because I think the vast majority of dogs are not interested in cute clothing (although Ernie does enjoy wearing a costume once a year)

However:
I believe in treating my dog with the same respect and dignity as I treat people.

I allow him to go on the couch, even though he scratches it somewhat...but I want him to feel like an equal in the house.
I think this is important to the dog psyche (he is not a dog with dominance issues, so I don't have to counteract that).

When he barks because his toy is under the couch, I go out of my way to get it, so that he knows I understand his communication.

My family only wants to give him leftovers...but, I give him a token amount even before the meal is done.

In none of these ways do I think I am misunderstanding his identity as a dog.

I am letting him know that me and him are equal friends.

This does not damage my role as his leader....and there is no service I am providing which is outside of his doggy identity.
He has a doggy need to run wild (the beach, the woods, the dog park)...to get dirty...to play with other dogs.
Therefore, I respect THOSE doggy needs.

I think that when some people say "treat a dog like a dog", they mean that the dog must be treated as a second-class citizen.

I think that if you do that, all you will have is a dog.

Dogs respond to respect.
If you treat them as an equal...
(the same way a child can feel that he is of equal importance to everyone else in the house..even though the child knows he has less authority)... then you will have a special dog.

I take the meaning to be - treat the dog as an animal, not a child-substitute.