Screw the Experts

Animal behaviorists and other scientific types frequently tell us not to anthropomorphize our animals; they assure us that our pets do not feel human-type emotions. For the most part I agree, but from time to time my dogs exhibit behaviors that I cannot explain any other way. For instance when, in the heat of a southern Virginia summer, I would bring a bucket of ice water outside for the dogs and in the midst of lapping enthusiastically, Maggie would pause, raise her head and gently lick my hand for a few moments before returning to the water bowl, how can one interpret that other than, "Thanks, Mom, this is great!"?

Today was a particularly poignant example, however. Our dogs are crate-trained. If you have or know any dogs who are, you know that they can get quite territorial about their crates. I always compare it to a teen-ager and his or her bedroom. It is THEIR space, inviolate, and they resent any intrusion by anyone. If I should dare to vacuum up the extreme amount of hair that either of our mutts has shed in their little patch of heaven, they insist upon rushing in the moment I am finished, sniffing intently, as if I might have left something behind that might not meet with their approval.

So it was intriguing when, last week, TJ proceeded to lay down in Maggie's crate. Amazing enough not just that he would do it, but that she did not object. I studied this tableau for some time before I realized that her crate was directly in the line of a warm and friendly sunbeam pouring in the sliding doors on a bitterly cold winter day. How sweet of her to give him this little privilege! But the best was yet to come. Today she was comfortably curled up in her crate, enjoying said sunbeam on an even colder day. Poor TJ just couldn't find a place to be comfortable, pacing back and forth across the family room, searching for the perfect place to lie down, until finally Maggie got up, walked out of her crate and over to TJ, nudged his ear gently with her nose and came to lie by the sofa near me, while TJ once again proceeded into her crate to curl up in the sun.

She is far from a perfect dog, but today I feel completely humbled in her presence.