This is Norman. He belongs to my clients, Jill and Kevin. Sitting in this chair he looks like he could be a talk show host. Intelligent, engaging, articulate, a dry sense of humor, that’s Norman. Well, he’s not a talk show host. Still, he’s a pretty amazing dog. He is a Corgi; they are said to be loyal, protective, and in the top ten of most trainable dogs. I have read that they don’t like to do repetitive tasks but that they are very agile, and again, very trainable.
What comes to mind when you think of a nice, trainable dog? How about things like being able to teach your dog to not chew on things like furniture? Not biting, not growling, not crying or whining all make the list. Not barking at anything that moves, at the neighbors, at visitors, at the sun and the moon make a dog more pleasant for everyone. A well trained dog doesn’t jump up on you or anyone for that matter. A well trained dog responds well to commands, can be taken for a walk, and doesn’t pull on the leash. And certainly high on the list is that a well trained dog is house broken.
How about a “nice” dog or a “good” dog? Is there a difference between that and being well trained? Each animal has its own personality and temperament that can’t all be trained. Some dogs are better with kids. Some dogs like to play. Some dogs want you to entertain them. Some dogs make good service animals. Some dogs want you to pet them and to be the center of attention.
Why are some people easier to get along with than others? Most of us know someone who is difficult to get along with. And many of us know someone that we seem to connect with but who doesn’t get along well with others. Why don’t all of the people with whom we get along, get along with each other? Who teaches us how to get along with other people; how do we learn it?
Why are some animals easier to get along with than others? Why can we connect more easily with some animals than others? How do dogs learn to get along with each other? How do cats learn to get along with other cats? What about dogs and cats who live in the same home? How do they learn to get along with each other? So the people in the home teach them to get along? Do dogs teach each other? Do cats teach each other? Can a dog teach a cat? Can a cat teach a dog?
This is Dot. She is a cat. She is not a talk show host. Of course neither was Norman, but Dot doesn’t look like a talk show host. Dot just looks like a cat. Kind of a regular cat at that.
When Dot was alive she and Norman lived together in this home. The owners, Jill and Kevin had three Corgis and two cats at the time.
Jill also has two horses.
At certain times of year, Dot would get some skin irritations. Jill and Kevin are careful, responsible, pet owners who love their animals. When Dot’s skin would break out Jill would take her to the vet and get some cream that would provide Dot some relief.
Again, how do animals learn? How do they communicate to each other what they want and what they don’t want? Particularly animals of different species; how do they communicate with each other? Somewhere along the way Dot learned that if Norman licked her it gave her some respite from the rash. How on earth did either of them figure that out? When Norman was sitting on the floor, Dot would come and lay down right in front of him. Norman would try to push her out of the way and Dot would persist until Norman licked the rash.
On the list of top ten most trainable dogs, Corgis rank #10. That makes him more trainable than most dogs but not as trainable as the top 4 or 5. But that list is for people training dogs, not cats training dogs. How the heck did Dot teach Norman what she needed? How on earth did she keep getting him to do it? I’m thinking Norman is not a talk show host but he’s a pretty smart dog. And for that matter, Dot was a pretty smart cat. Smart? One or both of them may just be geniuses.
When Jill and Kevin told me this story I was just amazed. Generalizations can be made about different species and various breeds. Still, individual animals have their own personalities; Norman has his own distinct personality and Dot sure did also. What a great story for animal lovers.
The home where Norman lives is for sale; it is a beautiful, custom rambler on 5 acres. It is in a quiet, gated community. The property has over 3,000 feet of vinyl fence so it’s perfect for horse owners. Give me a call if you would like to see this great home and meet Norman. 425-327-8224.
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