Today’s guest post comes from Joanne in Big Lake
I am not an animal person. We had some dogs growing up and I enjoyed them, but once on my own, I learned that apartments don’t like pets and I was allergic anyway. That was my excuse when we did have a house and the kids really wanted a dog.
Even so, I always enjoy interacting with other people’s pets.
I was astounded to learn that animals have very distinctive personalities, quirky behaviors and dysfunctions just like their human owners. My first realization came while I was working in the home of someone who had 2-3 dogs. One was a giant, dumb and friendly labrador named Bruno who would force his 50 lb blockhead onto my lap or under my hand, begging for love and attention. Another dog was a jumpy and smart little miniature doberman named Taz who would run around underfoot.
One day when owners were out, the UPS man dropped a package outside the door. Our menagerie of dogs and human went to retrieve package, the dogs barking a chorus of “let’s get the mailman.” Unfortunately, the package was just out of reach. When I inched the door open just a little more to reach the mail, the dogs exploded out of the house like corks, racing madly after the UPS truck. I was horrified as I watched them streak down the long driveway tailing the UPS truck, wondering if they might get hurt or run away. Luckily, I was finally able to corral them back into the house. I tried to pick up Taz, but he evaded me and went up steps alone with a distinct limp. Then Taz sneaked away to his little doggie retreat out of sight.
When the owner returned, I felt very chagrined to inform her of Taz’s injury. Her very nonchalant response was, “Oh he does that all the time – he’s just faking it.” I was stunned. I had never heard of a pet faking an injury to avoid punishment or garner attention. She continued to say that they had brought Taz to the vet on a couple occasions for his “injury” before they caught on, and noticed he was inconsistent with his act as well. I found this absolutely hysterical as it never occurred to me a pet would employ such a clever trick.
Another woman I know has 4 indoor cats and supports a welfare state for an outside herd of feral cats on her large, pastoral property. Helios, an old tom in the house, is a grumpy old man in every sense of the word. I get a snarly meow just walking past him. Additionally, he will only, and I mean ONLY drink running water from the well water tap. Calpurnia sticks to herself and actually snores while she sleeps. Siete always finds a place to snuggle on my friend’s lap and sleeps there for hours. Pita (short for Pain in the Ass) always gets into things – one reason why the toilet paper is not on a holder but hidden after she had TP’d the entire house. One or two of them will only eat from a certain bowl with a Christmas holly design on it. If there isn’t food in it, they won’t eat.
I guess it’s true – animals are people, too!
Describe an unusual pet personality trait.
Trail Baboon