Some doggy talk

A new post about my dogs seems appropriate today. The longer time they spend together (almost 10 months now), the harder it is to see a clear pattern of who is more dominant than the other. This contradicts the theory about a strict pack hierarchy and instead suggests that the packs really are family units in where roles are not changed through struggles for dominance.

Barak shows dominance by claiming space. He is very pushy and often lays down very close to Goshen, or partly on top of her, and then she moves away. He is also the alert one when we are inside of the house. Goshen is instead often the instigator when we are outside. She is the one that takes the decision to run after something, and she will intervene very diplomatically if another dog is being annoying to Barak. In the house she is telling him off if he is not listening to us, if he will not back off, or if he is begging. She goes in between and very verbally explains to him that he is acting inappropriate. When they are wrestling she is also humping him, which is something he never did to her. I like the thought that they are equal members with different roles and mentalities, instead of the dominant one and the submissive. It seems modern in some way. ;)

I am happy that they are so harmonised today. Barak is becoming calmer each day. Up until a month ago, he would frantically check all bowls until there was no food left, so if Goshen did not finish all her food, we needed to take it away. Now he eats his own food, and if she chooses to leave some, he will not go and steal it. They also never really fight anymore. That only happened a few times during the first months together before they knew each other well and trust was built.

Today we discovered a new activity to get some steam out. Not really a new activity, but a very good place to exercise it. Down in Beit She'arim there is a long grass lawn, somewhat sloping down under a huge tree. We were standing in the upper end when I saw that there were a hole group of crows on the ground in the farther end. I had both dogs sitting down facing the crows. Then I just had to give them a "sssssssssssaaahhh" and they sprinted with everything they had those 75 m down to the crows, who of course lifted. I called the dogs back and before they were sitting down the crows were back on the ground. This went on for 10 times or so and neither the crows, nor the dogs, gave up. I will try to bring the video camera next time.