Archive for the ‘Dog Psychology’ Category
Dog friendships
One of the things I like about having a lot of dogs is being able to see how they interact with their dog pack fellows. It helps me understand my pets better, and in the process, learn how to be a better pet owner and their “pack leader.”
I’ve long noticed that my dogs have community and a hierarchy of their own. They have a pack leader (old Spike) and a “queen” (Tootie). But one of my favorites in watching their behavior is how they forge friendships with one another.
Little Shantee and big black Coal
That’s Shantee and Coal in the picture. Coal is big Black Labrador Retriever, while Shantee is a Tiny Shih Tzu. Though Shantee is sometimes scared of Coal’s size (she’s just way too small), she considers him her “big brother.” (more…)
Does your dog say “sorry?”
Apologizing is one of the things some of us humans have a hard time doing, especially if you’ve got a lot of pride. Others find it very difficult to acknowledge their mistakes, but some also find it easy to say “I’m sorry” even if they don’t really mean it. Before the dogs in our pack increased to 10, I’ve wondered if dogs are like us when it comes to apologizing.
You know what? I think they do and can apologize. (more…)
The “Marshmallow Test”
Do you remember the TV commercial where a series of kids were asked to have the “Marshmallow Test,” which tested the kids’ response to delayed gratification? I think it was some kind of a milk commercial.
Ever tried doing something like that with your dog?
We did last year. Only Spike and Sheero passed (that’s Sheero waiting patiently for a piece of pizza on the picture).
Having a lot of dogs, there are canine behaviors that you can’t help but notice in a dog pack—it’s easier to compare their personalities when you know all of them. It’s so easy to see who the alpha dog is, but tests like this “Marshmallow Test” really helped us know more about our dogs. (more…)
Do dogs dream?
They do. Well, that’s what Shantee’s vet said at least. And I think I’ll have to agree. Shantee’s not the first dog Marc and I have seen “talking” in their sleep.
I have a lot of dogs, and some of them sleep near me at night when I’m working. It’s just hard not to notice that some of them do “talk” in their sleep. (more…)
