FACE TO FACE - puppies touch, another tries a special approach to a cat (I'm lost & scared - can you be my friend & comfort me?), KISS KISS! (hmm what do you taste like -!) OR as they get older ... SNIFF SNIFF (are you my friend? OR WHAT DID YOU EAT -yummy? or ?
LITTLE GIRLS are more spontaneous,innocent and brave !!
BONE TO CHEW ON DOGS have lived with man for centuries. However we cannot interpret their response to us as if they were human. They are far more tactile in communication than man.Their priorities are different, as the Anthropologists tell us. For example - what we deem as a hug of friendship, they see it as you establishing your dominance towards them, and will allow it if they feel that you are of a lower rung than their master/leader of the pack. But will resent it and show their resentment by body language or growling to prevent you hugging them.You , however will interpret it as unfriendliness, which is not the case. Their senses of smell,taste and body language are their primary means to engage with one another. They do know our human age and do respect it . In one of my previous blogs, you can see dogs responding to babies differently as to adults. As puppies, they have more innocent ways of communicating amongst each other, much like us humans when we were young. .But like us, they are social creatures always trying to establish their social rung in their family.
Winnie - our first mixed breed dog (who has since crossed the 'rainbow bridge'). That was how I got to know her. ..on bended knee, non-threateningly.
She seemed rather reserved, apprehensive at first,looking away. Then I shifted my gaze sideways as dogs perceive eye to eye looks as challenging them. But I had already held her paws and had lifted her in sitting position. So she bowed her head and looked down as a form of submission. Then she looked up,sideways, eyes closed, paws down as her way of agreeing to be my 'friend'. In dog language it meant she submitted to me in their social ladder. In human language, we're friends !!
CLUE:- IT IS STATED IN THE BIBLE, EXODUS chapter 11:7 "But against any of the sons of Israel a dog shall not even bark, whether against man or beast, that you may understand how the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel" (American Standard Version)
A DOG'S BONE ............... The dog had been commanded not to bark at Israelites nor even the Israelite beasts ( cattle, animals) . It obeyed its MAKER ! It recognised man as God's creature high in it's social ladder. And remained submissive and loyal and formed --------a bond with man....
DOGS ALSO BOND WITH OTHER ANIMALS--------------------!!!
A GERMAN SHEPHERD BONDING WITH TIGER PUPS .. -------A SURROGATE MUM A BONE ON BONDING
Social ladder. They, like humans..? have a social ladder too! Oldest gets priority - unless it gets too weak to defend it's status...and so on. The youngest tend to fight up the ladder now and then. .and the dogs on that ladder then defends their status. They do that by 'humping' which means they jump on each other. However , social ladder rungs also depend on strength of character. Obviously the more aggressive will want to climb on the other more seemingly submissive dog. And they do this often , alternating with each other. Most humans misjudge this as a sexual act. . and worse if done between the same sex !
Alpha dog or top dog. Among the three,the alpha dog assumes pack leadership . Along with it comes responsibility. There will be a herd/ pack mentality that harkens back to their 'wolf' origins. Authoritative books on the origin of dogs point to their wolf beginnings. How they evolved into dogs is very interesting. Theory has it that it was man who subdued and domesticized them as hunters of food, and eventually as pets. However, wolves still exist side by side with man today. And side by side with their cousin, the dog as well. Unlike the horse, semblance with the wolf is only seen in certain breeds such as the German Shepherd dog. If you look for any resemblance with our three dogs , with wolves...well, you would indeed be hard put! What more with the picture above left! But, the pack or herd instinct is very much the same as with animals and by and large.. with humans too ?
TOOTSIE-oldest, TWEDDY-youngest & TUFFY,in the middle
Eating together: Notice in the photo above, that they are standing side by side having their meal. This is a sure sign that they have bonded with each other. Or else they would'nt be that close! As a matter of fact, they also switch bowls...wonder why - maybe to make sure that they all have the same feed! AND ! they wait for each other before starting! and - usually they wait for the oldest to start first! Rather good manners, like humans..?
Posing together for a picture..... like humans..? TWEDDY TOOTSIE TUFFY Don't they look rather peaceful together? Well, they , like humans also demand their own space. They do this by gently growling when they want their own privacy and the offending dog will just walk away quietly.
They also look after each other's interest ! like meal times - where they alert each other by nudging, barking ...or when they are supposed to go for walks, they do round each other up and ready themselves..
And defend each other too. ..
A BONE TO CHEW ON - the Alpha Dog Tootsie Once, a neighbouring dog was threatening Tuffy. And guess who came to the rescue? The Alpha oldest dog, little Tootsie! And mind you she was also... b-l-i-n-d!! Her sense of smell brought her right straight on target and she barked her head off as she charged full speed ahead, never fearful if the offending dog was larger than her! wow ! what courage ! We admired her for that ! And like lightning she seemed to know where and run without hesitating. How? there was no alert from the other dog....OR was there some silent communication ? well - she had sharp ears as you can see....Doggy intuition? like human intuition - ?
Caring Tootsie, the alpha dog once saved us all from a minor disaster. While the other dogs were somewhere in the apartment, she alerted us all by barking sharply and in an uncharacteristic high pitch constantly, till we ran to see what happened. Well, what would a dog know about chemicals? This one knew. The large 'Clorox' bleach bottle had toppled, spilling its contents onto the floor! SHE knew AND sensed that it was dangerous! and cared to warn all of us! The smell was pungent . But how could a dog rate this as bad ? How do dogs know ?
comfort 
me?),
