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Blonde Boy is the Golden Retriever’s answer to a young Robert Redford. When we take him out people can’t keep their eyes off him. The beautiful boy knows it. He sits. He gives a canine happy face and wags his tail as people approach. He gives a “Waah” look of surprise when someone walks past without a hello or a pet.
Too cute to ignore sweetly demanding attention from all, he is well reinforced for this behavior.
The little darling grew up going almost everywhere with us. He is welcome at alfresco dining establishments. His manners are impeccable.
I’ve worked with a wide variety of breeds, but this is the first golden to live with me. He has a much softer temperament than the rotts and bullies. Soft and compliant, but I won’t say he lived to please.
He grew up in day care. His canine language skills were a sight to behold. He could bring out even the shyest of dogs. If ever a dog had a good life, this guy was in competition.
And then he was attacked. The wounds have healed, but he is not the same dog. His name is Shaker. I am going to tell you the story of this golden’s road to recovery.
Notice how her head position minimizes neck exposure.
Cheryl said: No. From the camera angle, it's hard to tell, but her neck is not held high or low. The front of her body is all about how she feels about Snow White. Could you explain more fully? I find it interesting how close her front paws are together. I've seen that in horses when they're not quite sure; may have been corrected about something, etc. It's not a balanced position.
Good observation. What you say about the narrow stance makes perfect sense. I wasn't sure what to make about it. Thanks.
Other photos I have of Bonita in stalk mode she has a wide front stance, so that probably is about Blondie. The head position shows intent. A post I'm working on has Bonita and Stormy warning off Toby with a similiar head position. They look like football players lining up to kick butt. God, I miss these guys.
Remember that Blondie had Bonita so terrorized that she wouldn’t move towards food when she was starving.
I'm assuming that Blondie might not have had a nurturing mother or is her relationship with her daughter based more on "the strong will survive?" The female will survive and raise more puppies insuring that the animals will not die out.
My Jan/Feb posts talk about Blondie's mothering style. I think breeding and nurturing style of parent are the key players in how a mom treats her kids. For a while I thought scarcity of resources was the key, then I met a couple of moms who could rival any pampered pet as far as being sweet and concerned. So I don't know is my best answer. I do agree that Blondie and Stormy were not allowing Bonita to eat to insure their own survival.
By the way, when Blondie looked at me before she invited Snow to eat; I said, "Good girl". It was an extraordinary moment for us. I didn't think I needed to share that.
I differ. I realize animal body language is a whole new subject for some as well as your reporting the interactions, the life they live, etc. The photos are a moment in time. The body is, let's say, the last word on the subject or situation. It's the end result of a thought process, EMOTION (feelings), whatever that comes through the neurological system. Previous to what we're seeing, change could have been a little as a whisker twitch-- tighter lips. What we couldn't see, hear or visualize(?) is the nonverbal aspect at the beginning.
Now getting back to your sentence, you experienced or felt that non-verbal conversation. You were one with the dog - LOL. Now maybe this isn't what your blog is about, but as an animal owner it's a cool feeling to experience. One one hand it's like saying "let's go for some ice cream" and Kurt, say "you took the words right out of my mouth." Blondie made a decision and looked for guidance from the leader of the dance.
There are people who can't read or see human body language; there are people who only hear words in black and white; they don't pick up on intonation, etc. all parts of a spoken language. The other part that I've heard is, the telepathy part - words, emotions, pictures are sent before the words get out of our mouths. That's the deeper part we'd like to have to become a better partner with our pets.
At the first clinic I did with Steve, he had us start out with a partner, hands on the hips sort of thing with the person behind guiding the other. It was mass confusion. Besides trying to to not run into or bump into someone, you had a herky-jerky issue between partners. We did little floor stuff and who knows what. At the end, we did the same thing. Everyone was in sync - partners and the group as large. Neurologically, partners were connected and so was the group. You and I had the same thing with Sarge.
I remember my first Feldenkrais workshop with Steve, what brilliant work. I always wanted to study Feldenkrais movement more, but had all I could handle with the modalities of soft tissue I was studying.
Those moments of “being one with the dog” are so amazing. Being in communication with the satos is addicting for me because they are not trained or conditioned the way our dogs are. When we raise a dog it is with the dog fitting into our house, our lives. These dogs have independent lives. Their primary relationships are with each other. I’m fitting into their lives.
It's studying the essential dog. Our dogs soak up our energy, they become so similiar to their people in the same way people who have been married a long time become similiar. Knowing a dog tells you so much about their human.
A dog without a human tells his own story. I hope that's not too far out.
Melissa said...
I am thinking Bonita is going to make a move towards Snow. Probably while keeping her eyes on her mother. I am also thinking Blonde is not going to allow it.
jen said...
I think that Bonita is going to try and maybe push her luck with getting some kibble. To me she's thinking that "if Snow can have some, then I should too."
The little red girl is in stalk position. Her ears are forward in concentration. Notice how her head position minimizes neck exposure. The front of her body is all about how she feels about Snow White. Wouldn’t she just like to like to kick Snow’s butt. Snow White has not only been invited to eat, but has received kindness from Blondie that Bonita has not. Don’t tell me that dogs don’t notice unfair treatment.
Her tail position tells us that Bonita will not risk the wrath of mommy. She is a picture of conflict. That tail tells us quite a bit. If she were solidly into retaliation or taking kibble, the tail would be straight or up. Her tail or good sense holds her back from what she would clearly like to do. Remember that Blondie had Bonita so terrorized that she wouldn’t move towards food when she was starving. Blondie’s authority is almost absolute. I’ve had to work hard to install the almost in the absolute.
Your reading of Bonita’s posture is great. We will get into reading conflicting signals. Good work, Melissa and Jen!
Snow White has been invited to dinner; what else matters?
Blondie is watching Snow’s latest leading man amble up the driveway.
Now that you know what Blondie is looking at, does Blondie’s body language give a clue what she’s thinking about Toby, the big rugged looking male heading her way?
Snow White may have won over Blondie with her sweet ways, but what does Bonita’s body language say to you?
Bonita has just finished the scattered kibble away from Blondie’s kibble pile behind her. Faithful, obedient Bonita has never been invited to dine like this interloping bitch. Do you see a not happy camper here?
What do you make of Blondie’s tail position relative to the way she holds it in other photos?
Doesn’t sweet Snow White look like she is enjoying her meal?
Let’s have some fun; anybody care to guess what happens next?
Amazing, Blondie is watching Snow White eat HER food. The I, me, mine girl is sharing, yahoo.
Even in humans sharing is exceptional. This dog grew up with hunger and scarcity of resources and she invites another female to share her food. This hasn’t been easy for Blondie. Can you imagine a bully getting tired of kicking someone’s butt?
With a high pitched squeaky sound from Blondie, Snow White takes the two steps to the food and begins to eat.
I don’t think Blondie can believe she is sharing her food. You can see how Blondie is ready to stop the young female.
The gentle spirit of Snow White wins over the selfish brute Blondie. The only thing I did to intervene is to place the food so that it was difficult to run around defending. Snow didn’t sneak in to snatch a few mouthfuls like Lance or some of the other boys roaming the neighborhood.
Dogs in day care develop a give and take that isn’t always based on dominance. Good day care attendants redirecting dogs before conflict teaches them that other behavior options are available.
Multi dog homes are often lovely behavior models of give and take; sometimes not.
I am sure that if Snow were to hurry gobbling Blondie would end her meal.
Blondie turns to warn her daughter Bonita away from the next pile of kibble, as Snow munches contentedly. Mom’s generosity does not extend to far in Bonita’s direction. Bonita makes do with the scattered pieces a little further away. Blondie looks as if she were looking for an excuse to go ballistic.
In general some pet dogs share easily, some do not. Frequently we see the larger or tougher dog stand over a dog until food is relinquished. Most dogs wait for an opportunity to grab what they can.
Snow White staged a successful sit-in. She got her butt beat repeatedly, but came back. Her demeanor was always sweet and hopeful. That's pretty unusual no matter what group.
