Thanks for your very interesting and amusing article. I think you have to be careful interpreting the behavior of dogs (or actually any animal) in human terms because they are not human and there may be other, more doggy, explanations for what they do. There may even be other human interpretations of Bo's behavior when she let the big male dog catch up and get the ball. Maybe she wanted him to get the ball because that way it was more fun. She was playing. We see something like that in our two dogs. Both quite young and they like to play. I'm not saying that's right but I don't think you should jump to the conclusion that it was about male privilege. There are other explanations.
My wife and I run a smallholding in England and we have livestock and poultry and I'm sure we are often guilty of placing animal behaviour in human terms. But we try not to. In fact we have a hen who thinks she's human. We live out in the sticks and in the summer all the doors are open. The hen often comes in through one door, walks through the house and out the other door and sits down next to us on the patio chucking away like she's talking to us.
Another “ spy on the house of dog”. Loved cats for all the reasons you mentioned but wretched child is allergic so we got Rosie the over priced golden doodle. People stop me on the street and ask questions only a dog lover would ask. Like who gets to sleep with her 😳. Apparently people sleep with their dogs. This used to phase me, now I have stock answers worked out. And I have to admit, they do grow on you, and the next thing you know, you’re buying them two stuffed chickens in anticipation of the inevitable disemboweling.
Anyway, I have gone over to the dog side which is why I enjoy the Tales of Max so. I still like cats and I miss them now and then, but I’m a world of neurotic introverts, there’s something very straightforward about dogs.
Um, yeah, Max got into our bed after about two years of us resisting his cuteness. But one cold winter's night when Brian was away, I could no longer deny his snuggly body heat. And when Brian came back, he was all like 'how could you do this, no to dogs in the bed' until Max jumped up on the bed and licked his ears and then lay back next and looked up at him like 'i love you man' and here we are. I'm not proud of it but here we are.
We simultaneously had an Australian Shepherd and a Corgy, the Corgi being senior by about ten years but junior by about twenty pounds and twenty inches. The female Corgy was totally dominant. The male Aussie would sit there, with this helpless look when we fed them (ten feet apart), waiting for permission from the Corgy to start eating. The Corgy would wonder over to the Aussie's bowl, sniff at it dismissively, maybe take a bite or two just to show she could, then amble back to her own bowl and start eating first. It was so funny.
Not all. Our first Aussie was very different. The corgy looked up to and deferred to the first one. And the second one couldn't care less about food - you couldn't train him using treats unless it was sirloin steak. With him you could set a sandwich down on a plate on a coffee table and leave the room for half an hour and it would still be there when you got back. But the first one would steal food right out from under your nose. He'd bide his time in one corner of the kitchen until my wife's back was turned, then quietly get up and steal a cube of butter from the back of the counter. Repeatedly. He stole a large round plastic container full of fresh baked muffins, took it under the dining table, got the lid off and ate them all without anyone noticing at first. Didn't even damage it. Then there was the time he pulled the Thanksgiving turkey down off the stove top at my mother-in-law's house - hot from the oven - and was trying to carry it off but kept dropping it from the heat and weight. We bought one of those shock-strips and set a trap for him to try to break this behavior. Worked once. Second time he just stood with his front paws on the shock strip eating the bait while his shoulders jerked from the shocks. High pain threshold. The second one all you had to do was glare at him and he'd withdraw.
Saddened by the untimely passing of your former husband. I enjoy your writing and thank you for reposting on Max. Wishing you peace and comfort. Your emotions are normative as well. Your son and your friends and family are fortunate to have you in their lives. Never forget what a blessing your life can be to others
Jenny, I'm so sorry that you have been going through all of this. I have been praying for you and Danny.
Thank you Susan -- I really appreciate your support!
Thanks for your very interesting and amusing article. I think you have to be careful interpreting the behavior of dogs (or actually any animal) in human terms because they are not human and there may be other, more doggy, explanations for what they do. There may even be other human interpretations of Bo's behavior when she let the big male dog catch up and get the ball. Maybe she wanted him to get the ball because that way it was more fun. She was playing. We see something like that in our two dogs. Both quite young and they like to play. I'm not saying that's right but I don't think you should jump to the conclusion that it was about male privilege. There are other explanations.
My wife and I run a smallholding in England and we have livestock and poultry and I'm sure we are often guilty of placing animal behaviour in human terms. But we try not to. In fact we have a hen who thinks she's human. We live out in the sticks and in the summer all the doors are open. The hen often comes in through one door, walks through the house and out the other door and sits down next to us on the patio chucking away like she's talking to us.
Another “ spy on the house of dog”. Loved cats for all the reasons you mentioned but wretched child is allergic so we got Rosie the over priced golden doodle. People stop me on the street and ask questions only a dog lover would ask. Like who gets to sleep with her 😳. Apparently people sleep with their dogs. This used to phase me, now I have stock answers worked out. And I have to admit, they do grow on you, and the next thing you know, you’re buying them two stuffed chickens in anticipation of the inevitable disemboweling.
Anyway, I have gone over to the dog side which is why I enjoy the Tales of Max so. I still like cats and I miss them now and then, but I’m a world of neurotic introverts, there’s something very straightforward about dogs.
Um, yeah, Max got into our bed after about two years of us resisting his cuteness. But one cold winter's night when Brian was away, I could no longer deny his snuggly body heat. And when Brian came back, he was all like 'how could you do this, no to dogs in the bed' until Max jumped up on the bed and licked his ears and then lay back next and looked up at him like 'i love you man' and here we are. I'm not proud of it but here we are.
Right there with you friend! Two Italian greyhounds sleep in full stretch under the covers of our bed, to my shame.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 yeah two greyhounds is way worse than one little sausage dog!
We simultaneously had an Australian Shepherd and a Corgy, the Corgi being senior by about ten years but junior by about twenty pounds and twenty inches. The female Corgy was totally dominant. The male Aussie would sit there, with this helpless look when we fed them (ten feet apart), waiting for permission from the Corgy to start eating. The Corgy would wonder over to the Aussie's bowl, sniff at it dismissively, maybe take a bite or two just to show she could, then amble back to her own bowl and start eating first. It was so funny.
I follow an Instagram account entirely devoted to a very anxious and submissive Australian Shepard. Are they all like that??🤣🤣🤣
Not all. Our first Aussie was very different. The corgy looked up to and deferred to the first one. And the second one couldn't care less about food - you couldn't train him using treats unless it was sirloin steak. With him you could set a sandwich down on a plate on a coffee table and leave the room for half an hour and it would still be there when you got back. But the first one would steal food right out from under your nose. He'd bide his time in one corner of the kitchen until my wife's back was turned, then quietly get up and steal a cube of butter from the back of the counter. Repeatedly. He stole a large round plastic container full of fresh baked muffins, took it under the dining table, got the lid off and ate them all without anyone noticing at first. Didn't even damage it. Then there was the time he pulled the Thanksgiving turkey down off the stove top at my mother-in-law's house - hot from the oven - and was trying to carry it off but kept dropping it from the heat and weight. We bought one of those shock-strips and set a trap for him to try to break this behavior. Worked once. Second time he just stood with his front paws on the shock strip eating the bait while his shoulders jerked from the shocks. High pain threshold. The second one all you had to do was glare at him and he'd withdraw.
Saddened by the untimely passing of your former husband. I enjoy your writing and thank you for reposting on Max. Wishing you peace and comfort. Your emotions are normative as well. Your son and your friends and family are fortunate to have you in their lives. Never forget what a blessing your life can be to others
I really, really appreciate this comment. Thank you.