We all pretty much accept that dog is man's best friend. But who is dog's best friend? Generally it is man or woman or just any plain human. Children score high on the list. After all, we are really good providers of food, shelter, and affection.
I thought I fell into that best friend group but I may have miss judged. I may have slipped into the "chopped liver" category,
Callie likes me OK but there is something lacking in me for her. Whenever she sees any person, new to her or an old friend, she goes into a frenzy trying to let them know she is available. She dances, talks, jumps and just about mauls them with affection. A burgler would have free rein to help himself. Callie would not only refuse to chase him off, she would cheerfully lead him to the good stuff if she thought he would take her also.
I can almost hear her thinking as she does her dance,"Oh boy, you have come for me--take me with you--I will make you happy and adore you. Please huh, huh please."
Now I realize she does care for me, just not as much as for almost anyone else. Who knows, I may even make the top 5. It would be as if your child said, "You are OK Mom but I really would rather live with Sally's parents."
With no distractions, I will do. Just don't offer her a choice. When I was younger and more active, she was not quite the hussy she has now become. We use to walk together and if I shuffled my feet, she would take off like she was on fire. Now I am content to let her roam on her own around the yard. She is looking for someone to play with.
Still, when it is just us, she is a great cuddler and will let me stroke her till I call it quits. We now have a signal that lets her know the petting is over. I tap her gently 5 times on her rib cage with two fingers. She instantly knows then it is useless to beg for more and will move off to a position where she can stretch out and snooze.
Did you ever find you were not your pet's favorite and that you did not quite fall into the adored category? Were you OK with that?
Our Isaiah bites if we don't pay attention to him. In fact sometimes it's an ambush. Vet says that's normal. Huh? Normal? I've never had a biter.
ReplyDeleteI think you and Callie have a great relationship.
Anni,
DeleteI have had cats give the so called "love bites". Was never very fond of that. Hurts just like when they mean it:)
I think a lot of dogs are like Callie. We are like the meat and the potatoes and everyone else is like the candy and ice cream treats.
ReplyDeleteJean,
DeleteI like that comparison and it makes sense. Guess I can tolerate being substance rather than fluff.
Patti--you had me chuckling from start to finish, please submit this to Readers Digest! Other than 3 family dogs we had on my family's farm in the 1960s-70s, never had one of my own. But I have a couple friends with dogs that always jump on me with lots of excitement & slobber, so you're not alone! Gee I don't even know Callie and I love her :^)
ReplyDeleteDoug,
DeleteSo glad you enjoyed. Like I said, it amuses me also. I have a feeling if Callie met you, she would be all over you. Still think you ought to get a cat. They are low maintenance.
I think Callie is just a bit of a flirt. She knows you are her one and only true love, but she's got a flirty personality that just has to wiggle around, wag her tail and jump for joy to attract attention. It's her furry way of letting you know how lucky you are that she chose you for her one true love.
ReplyDeleterobin,
DeleteI like that take also especially since I use to be a bit of a flirt myself but I always left with the one who brought me. It is fun seeing how well liked she is by my visitors.
My old dog Mocha spent the last few years of her life with my parents and she loved my mom. My mom doted on her. The last day or so of my mom's life she pointed to the ceiling. We asked her what she saw. She said my dad was coming down a mountain to get her. We asked who was with him and she said Mocha.
ReplyDeleteSue,
DeleteWow, that story gave me goose bumps. What a bond they had and I hope they are all together now.
No I am not okay with that. Izzy only loves me to pieces if my husband isn't home. Then I am ignored. If she can see him then only he can walk her. When we got her I drove us home. He held her. I think she then bonded with him. Also later that day when she thought she could walk off the dog and went down 12 ft of water and popped up it was Rick there that got her and she literally hugged him and he could feel her heart beating. So now he saved her life. I didn't stand a chance!:-(
ReplyDeletePeg,
DeleteAt least she loves you when he is not around. It has to be hard to compete with the hero that saved her life. I guess there is a thing about imprinting and Rick got first dibs on that when you got her.
I've never owned a dog (or perhaps no dog has ever owned me), but I have lots of experience with cats. My oldest cat Sasha, is my son's cat - no question though he tolerates me and insists on sleeping right beside me every night.
ReplyDeleteSaku, the youngest is now my cat. When he first came, he was the last of six and the third Sami was my cat and no one else's. She would sit on someone's lap and I'd have to take her off because she'd hiss and scratch if they tried to move her. Since she passed in 2015, Saku has become a lap cap and I call him the loveable pest because he constantly wants to be close to me. Though he respects Sasha's spot on the bed.
Eileen,
DeleteCats can get possessive. The spot on the bed reminds me of Callie and Minnie. They do fight over me on the bed when I nap. That is the only time Callie actually claims me.
My bully stands in the road when a car comes. She is just that sociable. A dog’s quirks makes them lovable. Eh, Callie.
ReplyDeleteAnn,
DeleteWell I bet the bull dog commands respect from the visitors. I think Callie might just learn how to raise here paw in the air requesting a ride if she had the chance:))
The last few cats adored G but tolerated me.
ReplyDeleteMage,
DeleteI'll bet he is the one who feeds them but I remember the cats when growing up always adored my Dad. Wonder if it is a male thing.
This was a fun read, and the comments are wonderful, too. I loved what Islandwonder said about Mocha. Also loved hearing about what a flirt Callie is! :-)
ReplyDeleteDjan,
DeleteSo glad you enjoyed. I love the comments also and the one about Mocha gave me goose bumps. Callie really is a classic flirt:)
Patti, we have had both dogs and cats over the years, but mostly cats. Animals do have their preferences. Rose loved DH and tolerated me, perhaps because he found her in our rose garden and eventually took her in. Whereas Tux bonded with me even though we took him and his 4 siblings in when they were only about 4 weeks old. He would follow me around the house and if another cat was in my lap, he would jump up and they would leave. Now his brother, Jack, 'loved everybody'. He would follow the service people around and watch everything they did. And if a visitor came by, he would jump in their lap even if they didn't like cats... (especially if they didn't like cats).
ReplyDeleteI think Callie just likes the attention... after all, she has you all the time. Someone new is exciting.
Rian,
DeleteIsn't it funny about cats particular, they know who doesn't like them and will be all over them.
Probably right, the new has worn off on me with Callie.
Don't you just love the variety in animal personalities! Sounds like Callie is naturally friendly and well socialized as a pup. It's important to make people feel welcome so she's performing a public service. Unfortunately, my rescue cat, Ellie Mae, though relaxed and smarmy with me, fears all other humans. Most visitors never even get a glimpse of her. (sigh)
ReplyDeleteFlorence,
DeleteHa ha, she really put her heart into her job. I should give her a raise:) My cat is like that. Unless the company is here for a couple of days they don't even know I have a cat.
I've only had cats, and they can be very loving, and then very "leave me alone".
ReplyDeleteLinda,
DeleteYou are right. Most cats like to set the boundaries.
I'm pretty sire Lola doesn't adore me, but we have got used to each other and now she even comes to me for cuddles, but only when she is ready. We have a signal too, I'll clap my hands lightly twice and that's her signal to get down and find her own space.
ReplyDeleteRiver,
DeleteDon't you like that signal? With dogs, they will never leave as long as you are petting them. I need to work on a signal for my cat that seems convinced my chair is her chair.
For ten years I was the feeder of Larisa, the Designer Cat. I was her favorite. Then my hip got bad and I couldn't easily reach the floor to pick up her bowl, so I asked my husband Art to feed her. Now HE is her favorite. I would never have thought that would happen!
ReplyDeleteLinda,
DeleteMy goodness, you were downgraded over a little food. I have seen it happen though.
She is just bored, much like many relationships looking for something new, but she would never leave the comfort of your love.
ReplyDeletejoeh,
DeleteNot too sure about that but so far she hasn't left. Might be she has never had a serious offer:)
Perhaps you two have too much togetherness but I don't know what you do about that. Usually whoever does the feeding is #1. The cat we had from birth to death didn't seem to have a favorite in the family. I only had one dog for whom I was his top choice but had to give him up when I was young. Then the last dog we got at the pound, about a year old, had already been emotionally damaged for life I think. She was neurotic, jealous and possessive for all the wrong reasons.
ReplyDeleteJoared,
DeleteYep, pretty sure she is bored with me. Before Covid I did have a bit of a life and was gone more so she appreciated me when I was around.
My dog Gabe actually DOES love me best, but he does do his best to get visitors to pet him. Seems like the ones he pesters most are those who don't care much for him, though.
ReplyDeleteDonna,
DeleteI have seen dogs and cats attach to people who really weren't fond of pets. Perhaps they see them as a challenge or they get a kick out of pestering them:)
I've only had cats lately and they are quite disloyal. Whoever has what they want at that moment is their favorite. My current cat loves me best--but when my late husband was alive, he was the favorite. It's hard to know why because it often doesn't have to do with attention or treatment. My husband mostly ignored her.
ReplyDeleteMargaret,
DeleteThink it is a man thing. Growing up our cats adored my Dad who could have cared less. Maybe they like those who are hard to get.
I'm sure that you are at the very top of her list & that she loves you the most. Most animals have great instincts and I think she is treating you gently because she knows you have had some medical stuff this year and doesn't want you to overdo it.
ReplyDeleteBut she still loves the silly stuff and gladly takes it when it crops up.
Ginnie,
DeleteLove your version but she has always been like this. Pretty sure I am still some where on her top 5 but not quite the top:)
Hahaha. You are too funny. I love your dog, and I love you, too. You are both great beings.
ReplyDeletegigi,
DeleteThank you, so glad you enjoyed. I know she makes me laugh.
I know Callie loves you best, Patti. She just figures you’re always going to be there for her, but she’s got to perform for others because she knows she has to work harder to get their admiration.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm…. I’ve had a rabbit but he wasn’t affectionate at all. There was a cat that used to come to our apartment, but he was just looking for a handout. OK… let’s see… I’ve had fish but they didn’t care at all. Sigh… Other than that, nope. No other pets.