Comments on: Honesty and Jealousy: A Canine Soap Opera

By: Christy Summerfield

Christy Summerfield — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:48:29 +0000

No doubt in my mind that animals have ethics. I’ve always had at least two pets at a time and they simply take care of each other. I currently have a cat who is 19–I’ve had her since she was a kitten and she’s outlived many rescued mini doxies and cats. Bill has always ruled, even though she’s a tiny feather of a cat, and all my dogs and cats have just recognized that fact. One of her favorite things has always been to hide under the stairs or a piece of furniture and swipe at her brothers and sisters–no claws. I currently have three female mini doxies now–all older rescues. So for the first time ever, we’re a houseful of females. My little girls are more nuturing than my little guys were, although both males and females formed tight packs and have been equally devoted to me and to each other. My little doxies groom each other and even groom Bill–and she lets them. I’ve seen over the years that when one is gone for any length of time, say at the vet for surgery or teeth cleaning, the others are clearly distressed. If I leave with one and come home alone, they’re disturbed. When one is sick, the others are concerned, careful, caring, sweet and tender. When we lose one, we all mourn. And they always end up curling up together. Bill is very happy to be an indoor cat, although she loves to sleep on a cushioned chair on the deck in the summer. She got used to the doggie door going out onto our enclosed deck in no time. The only time she ventures away from the house is occasionally in warm weather when I walk the dogs. She walks with us to the end of our short block where there’s a park, keeping to lawns while we use the sidewalk. While we continue into the park, she sits peacefully waiting for us to come back, then walks home with us. My neighbors have all said they’ve never seen a cat do anything like that. Empathy–they all have it in spades. When I’m feeling down, they all quietly curl up around me and in my lap, trying to comfort me. Like kids, they’ll vie for the same toy, even though the house is full of them. And sometimes they’ll try to sneak a bit of food from someone else’s bowl. But none of my dogs or cats has ever even tried to hurt another or me. One of my doxies insists on going with me whenever I go anywhere in the car so I take her wherever I can. She has her own cushion for the child seat of shopping carts and a little sling so I can carry her into places like the bank. She enchants people wherever we go and they just can’t help stopping to pet her and talk about their own pets. This means running errands takes way longer but I meet the nicest people and it’s so much better than the way we usually walk through our lives these days, never smiling at or greeting the people we pass on the streets or in stores and shops. We’re on a first-name basis with the clerks in our favorite stores and they look forward to seeing us and often have treats for Olive. She loves all the attention, is very gentle with kids and my mundane tasks are so much more pleasant when she’s along. Now that all my kids are grown and gone with kids of their own, my little girls are my treasures. They make me laugh and sometimes, when they look at me with so much love, they make me cry. I only hope they know how much I love them back. I think they do.

By: Brenda Murrow

Brenda Murrow — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:15:45 +0000

Yes, definitely I agree! I have two Golden Retrievers, and had no idea how much personality the first one had until getting the second three years later. I have seen my older dog do the trick you mention with the toys.
But more surprisingly to me, my younger dog (now eight years old) will always engage the least talkative human in a gathering- for example, dinner guests. She walks up gently and tries to engage the person, it seems to me to be an act of kindness and inclusion (and surely any petting she receives is icing on the cake). I call her my ambassador!
Thanks for your article!

By: Christine Guerriero

Christine Guerriero — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:40:15 +0000

There was nothing more amazing than waching our 4 lb Yorkie taking our 130 lb Newfoundland’s toys and treats and putting them under the sofa. I knew darn well that that little varmint knew the Newfie couldn’t go under there! Our sweet Newfie just continued to be a loving pet with a bratty little sister!

By: Cynthia Gilabert

Cynthia Gilabert — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:59:08 +0000

I have three dogs and they are GREAT! I have 2 maltese(Sprite & Ellie) and a german shepherd mix(Gruffi). Usually the 2 maltese boss Gruffi around but last year when he needed to get surgery, they were very accomodating to him. They were worried about him and they pretty much let him do whatever he wanted. I love my dogs (who I call my kids) and I make sure to walk them everyday and we go on “adventures” around town–looking for places to hike. I can’t imagine life without them.

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:31:59 +0000

Excellent Bloggie…!
I have also experienced the behaviors you describe, and it makes play so much more fun when you know the “rules”.
Many people interrupt Critter play, particularly between Cats and Dogs, as they fear for injury, however I have found that if left alone even those two species play very well, if they already have a relationship of trust and live in the same home.
Thank You,
Gary