Communication Between Animals - the sniffing of the butt and other rituals
Now that Charlie has settled into a comfortable routine, it's interesting to watch him interact with his dog buddies. Those whom he has befriended call to him, and vice versa, from across the complex. You can hear whining, yips and little grunts as they call to each other. Then, straining at the leash, off we scurry for a short visit.
Dog communication is, indeed is made up of a vocal component with a lot of body language. It's how wild dogs communicate, too. The grunt, the yip, the howl, the whine are all different modes of "speech." When you combine this with the "sniffing of the butt" (oh how we pet owners love that one!) and rearing on the leash, or skulking about each other, sneaking in a peek and sniff every now and then, you have the basis of how dogs recognize and greet each other.
Charlie has few antagonists. One dog, Buster, does consider himself as alpha dog. He's been here the longest time, is a very regal Sheltie, and knows his place in the order of things. He and Charlie sniff each other and touch noses now, but there is always barking at the end of the meeting. Sometimes I would love to be able to understand exactly what they are saying to each other! Chewy is his buddy - they whine and pant whenever they see each other. They sniff each other, circle each other, and yip and grunt as they tell each other what's going on in their worlds. Charlie is still young enough to rear at any dog larger than him; thank goodness they tolerate it. Sometimes you could swear they are smiling at each other! With smaller dogs, he seems a little gentler. Kisses (the Shih Tzu) is now getting used to him, as are the other little dogs in the complex.
There are a few dogs that want nothing to do with other humans or animals, and we steer clear of them. Charlie sometimes lets out a sharp bark when he sees them, and they "woof" in return, but it seems wise to leave it at that.
What I appreciate most is the comments of the other dog "parents," when they tell me how much calmer Charlie is now, and what a good boy he is. It's good to hear that from other folks too!
We found that Charlie doesn't like getting his belly wet. When it rained, or the sprinklers come on, he tries to avoid the grass. When he has to go on it to "go," he does so gingerly. His belly is too low to the ground and he doesn't like the wet tickle of the long grass at all! The first time we took him out when the grass was wet he almost knocked himself out flying around the house, scooting on his side, rubbing his face and sides against the carpet, and then flinging himself around again. It was hard not to laugh at him, tongue lolling and eyes wild, running around like that. He's so young that he still careens into everything. Last night, I thought he was literally going to crack his head against the legs of the coffee table! Then, done, he collapses into a deep sleep.
He loves his toys, too. He selects one very carefully from his box and throws it around, catching it in his mouth or paws, gently nibbling on it, or sucking on it, before getting another one out. He really likes running around the house with one clasped firmly in his mouth, flinging it when he stops. He has favorites: his elephant, his dachshund, his rope toys and his wee monkey. Don't even ask - we have named them all and he's starting to respond by getting them! Now that he is used to me putting them all back in the box at bedtime, I sometimes find him placing them gently in his box or his bed, too. It's fun to watch him select just the right one. And even more fun when he has hidden one of his treat treasures (or my shoe, his favorite toy) under all the toys in the box. It's an "oh boy!" moment when he rediscovers them. Not so much fun when they are hidden in the folds of the couch and you sit on them, though!
So life with Charlie is settling down. He enjoys riding "Shotgun" with Mike in the car, loves to cuddle with him in the evening, still sucks and chews my fingers when he's ready to sleep and is one of the cuddliest, most affectionate pets we have had. We're glad every day that we rescued him and that he chose us as his "Forever friends."
(next time: The great hunt. The instinct to hide items)
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| Such an undignified position! |
Dog communication is, indeed is made up of a vocal component with a lot of body language. It's how wild dogs communicate, too. The grunt, the yip, the howl, the whine are all different modes of "speech." When you combine this with the "sniffing of the butt" (oh how we pet owners love that one!) and rearing on the leash, or skulking about each other, sneaking in a peek and sniff every now and then, you have the basis of how dogs recognize and greet each other.
Charlie has few antagonists. One dog, Buster, does consider himself as alpha dog. He's been here the longest time, is a very regal Sheltie, and knows his place in the order of things. He and Charlie sniff each other and touch noses now, but there is always barking at the end of the meeting. Sometimes I would love to be able to understand exactly what they are saying to each other! Chewy is his buddy - they whine and pant whenever they see each other. They sniff each other, circle each other, and yip and grunt as they tell each other what's going on in their worlds. Charlie is still young enough to rear at any dog larger than him; thank goodness they tolerate it. Sometimes you could swear they are smiling at each other! With smaller dogs, he seems a little gentler. Kisses (the Shih Tzu) is now getting used to him, as are the other little dogs in the complex.
There are a few dogs that want nothing to do with other humans or animals, and we steer clear of them. Charlie sometimes lets out a sharp bark when he sees them, and they "woof" in return, but it seems wise to leave it at that.
What I appreciate most is the comments of the other dog "parents," when they tell me how much calmer Charlie is now, and what a good boy he is. It's good to hear that from other folks too!
We found that Charlie doesn't like getting his belly wet. When it rained, or the sprinklers come on, he tries to avoid the grass. When he has to go on it to "go," he does so gingerly. His belly is too low to the ground and he doesn't like the wet tickle of the long grass at all! The first time we took him out when the grass was wet he almost knocked himself out flying around the house, scooting on his side, rubbing his face and sides against the carpet, and then flinging himself around again. It was hard not to laugh at him, tongue lolling and eyes wild, running around like that. He's so young that he still careens into everything. Last night, I thought he was literally going to crack his head against the legs of the coffee table! Then, done, he collapses into a deep sleep.
He loves his toys, too. He selects one very carefully from his box and throws it around, catching it in his mouth or paws, gently nibbling on it, or sucking on it, before getting another one out. He really likes running around the house with one clasped firmly in his mouth, flinging it when he stops. He has favorites: his elephant, his dachshund, his rope toys and his wee monkey. Don't even ask - we have named them all and he's starting to respond by getting them! Now that he is used to me putting them all back in the box at bedtime, I sometimes find him placing them gently in his box or his bed, too. It's fun to watch him select just the right one. And even more fun when he has hidden one of his treat treasures (or my shoe, his favorite toy) under all the toys in the box. It's an "oh boy!" moment when he rediscovers them. Not so much fun when they are hidden in the folds of the couch and you sit on them, though!
So life with Charlie is settling down. He enjoys riding "Shotgun" with Mike in the car, loves to cuddle with him in the evening, still sucks and chews my fingers when he's ready to sleep and is one of the cuddliest, most affectionate pets we have had. We're glad every day that we rescued him and that he chose us as his "Forever friends."
(next time: The great hunt. The instinct to hide items)
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