Page 22 - Online Spring 2022 Newsletter

Considerate Dogs

By Sally Newman

With several dogs living in the house
they can get a bit on top of each other
at times. Mostly they do not like to
snuggle up together at all, preferring
their own space, but often lie in front
of one of their chairs when there is
another one asleep in it above them.
It is amazing how they show respect
for each other in these situations. I
once watched Bolt, who was in a
chair, thinking about how he could
get off because May was stretched
out in front of it. After looking at her Flo licking Cassie
he very carefully got down over the
arm of the chair to avoid jumping The most amazing thing, which
over her. Cassie, (now deceased), happened in 2012, was when I had
was also considerate. Again she both Maddy and Cassie mated within
paused and thought about how to get a few days of each other. Cassie had
down whilst avoiding the sleeping one puppies but Maddy didn’t. After
in front of her. She would choose to Cassie’s pups were born Maddy was
take a very big jump over the top or, obviously broody because she wanted
if there was room, would very to get into the whelping box with
carefully get past at one side or the Cassie who did not mind at all.
other. However, the pups tried to suckle
from Maddy so I had to keep her out
Great Grandma, Maddy, aged 13,
(deceased), had two chairs she liked while they were feeding and then she
to sleep in and would often decide to would go in and help Cassie clean
them. It really was something very
get down from one and get up into
the other one. No such respect for special to see and showed the close
the ones sleeping by her chairs bond and trust they had as mother
however. She just got up or down and daughter.
and the others were the ones who
had to move for her! They became
aware of what she was trying to do
and just moved out of her way
showing such respect for the elderly.
Cassie and daughter Flo were the two
who would often lie side by side, with
Flo more often than not being the one
to seek out her mum. Then she
would begin to wash Cassie’s face or
ears and Cassie responded by doing
the same to Flo. They very obviously
adored each other.
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