Doggone Etiquette —

The “Dual” Dog

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:           

What are you dreaming about when you are sound asleep with your legs moving (almost running) and a few sounds coming from your throat? Those sounds are not always the same. Sometimes they are just murmurs, sometimes a small bark, and occasionally even growls or grunts. Could it be that you are dreaming about all the things you’d really like to be doing – like chasing the neighbor’s cat? Or off in a field after rabbits or turkeys, or into the woods after the deer? Or maybe you have cornered the dangerous intruder of your dream. Dream on, Rufus!

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:

While we can only fantasize about the contents of their dreams, the dogs certainly must be transported into a dream-like state when those subdued activities take place while they are asleep. I have not checked it out, but it’s quite possible that studies have been made on the subject of whether or not dogs actually do dream. It’s the content of any such reveries that eludes us.          

However, the point here is to connect our interpretation of those sleepy activities to what our own dog might like to be doing, given the chance. Is every dog’s life complete when kept only as a pet? Thousands of retrievers are born every month in this country. That’s a fact, but how many of those talented dogs are ever encouraged, taught – or even allowed – to fetch anything other than a ball and return the item intact to its owner? Consider how many herding dogs, kept as pets, are corrected or even punished for trying to huddle the kids into a corner. The Toy breeds have it made! They are primarily lap dogs (and know it) and to guard their turf, thus they are often alert barkers to any intrusion.                 

Dogs bred to work should not be contributing to our problems of unemployment! Find out what specific jobs your dog was originally bred to do, and adapt it as best you can to what you can do now to fulfill his dreams. It may take nothing more than extending basic obedience to coincide with the dog’s natural instincts. Of course, you may discover what a clever dog you have, and find yourself hooked into whatever form of hunting, working or other canine sports Rufus excels in. None of these have to be on a competitive level, but merely for fun, exercise and best of all, for the extraordinary bond that forms through this kind of interaction with your dog. 

It’s interesting to note that in Sweden almost all dogs that hold down jobs – police dogs, hunting dogs, working dogs of all varieties – are at the same time kept as family pets. And perhaps the most amazing fact is that there are no stray dogs at all in Sweden! Oh, that we might one day come somewhat close to that! It could possibly be that dogs are considered first and foremost to be members of the family. In the crowded cities the dogs are primarily companions – and are taken everywhere, by the way. But in the suburbs and the extensive forests, dogs may hold two jobs – first and foremost as family members, and secondly as dogs with jobs.

Give it some thought and, maybe some breed research, and no doubt you’ll come up with some form of employment for Rufus. I’ve heard of lots of dogs that have learned to put their toys back in a toy box on command, with added praise, of course, for a job well done. 

If you can’t come up with a good breed-related job, keep your eye on those dream sequences. Something there might give you a bright idea for you to explore. Just be sure not to startle the poor dog in the midst of his fantasy. That he would not appreciate!                  

Until next time – BE GOOD!

- Bardi