Sometimes…well, okay, often, I despair of my two-legs, I really do.
She is so proud of how well we communicate, but what she really means is that while I understand loads of her language, not just smells and body language, but words too… she can pretty much only understand a little bit of mine.
Granted, she has got used to telling the difference between the special blinks that just show I’m paying attention and the ones that show that, in spite of everything, I love her. And she’s got a pretty good vocabulary for barks, ear-angles and tails. She knows when I’m not feeling too good and can ‘read’ when I am inviting her to play… and even tell the difference between when I’m telling the pigeons to go away or when there is a real intruder out there.
But, she just doesn’t get my singing.
I think the problem is my parentage. She’s used to setters… she knows I am intelligent, even though some dog sites use words like ‘a little willful’ and say we have ‘a tendency toward independent decision making’… But she’s never lived with a Toller before… and my dad was a Toller. Now, the site does mention my intelligence and inventiveness, even if it does say I am ‘strong willed’ and ‘can take control of a household’. It also says, “screams, sheds, likes to roll in dead fish and other stinky things, and is generally smarter than the average person.”
Well, I don’t scream… but I do sing. And my two-legs has no musical appreciation…or understanding.
Take the other night. I am curled up on the sofa. Outside it is dark and damp, but she still has the door open for me. And then, I see it… an intruder… so I start singing to her to let her know. It was fairly obvious… but all I get is,
“What’s the matter, girlie?”
“Don’t you feel well, my girl?”
Then she gets up to come and cuddle me.
That’s all very well, and normally, I’d be fine with that, but six inches of fat, brown slug is now slithering down the side of the rug towards my ball. I’d have dealt with it myself, but I’m not allowed to touch slugs. So I kept singing. And it took me ages to get her to look in the right direction!
And they call me a ‘dumb animal’…
I mean, she did get it eventually and unstuck the thing from the floor. They weld themselves onto it, you know. She said it would be happier in the garden. I thought she would be happier not finding it barefoot in the dark…
It is hard work being the intelligent one in this household 😉
So, anyway, I’m going to have a bit of a rest, ’cause she’s off adventuring again for the first time in ages, and I’m going to stay somewhere I don’t need to guard quite as much. I’ll tell you about it when I get back.
Much love,
Ani xxx
Ani you are so patient, my two legs are fairly well trained but like you I have a devil of a job getting important information and instructions though their thick skulls. Enjoy your holiday 💜💜💜💜
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At least mine knew there was something wrong… just missed the point 😉 xx
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That’s a good point ☺️
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Ani, I would do more than scream if I saw a disgusting slug in my house! It wouldn’t end up in the garden either! Perhaps next time you should get up and point to it with your nose. Even your human would understand that.
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She won’t let me go near slugs… says they are not good for dogs 😦
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You are long-suffering, for sure, Ani. 😉 Glad you are so patient with her slowness, as we know, most two-legs are similarly handicapped.
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We just treat them like puppies and look out for them 😉
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I hope those are bifocals. Dogs can’t see up close like two legses. Maybe you can share the bifocals? By the way, that slug would scare me half to death!
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Reading glasses… some two-legses can no longer see too well up close either 😉
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Ani, you did good to just sing, upon seeing that 6 inch slug!
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Well, I wasn’t getting up to deal with it 😉
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I don’t blame you!
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😉
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Ani, tell your two legs to put a strip of copper across the doorway, slugs hate it and won’t cross it!
Have a lovely holiday!
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My two-legs says that’s a new one on her…and she’ll try that 😉
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I heard that one, too, Ani. Something about the copper producing an electric current when in contact with the slug’s slime.
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As long as it doesn’t get me too 😉
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Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie ~ Authors.
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You did quite right – slugs are not good for dogs. I wish you were coming with her on her adventure – would be wonderful to meet you 🙂
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I wish I was too… but she says I can’t when it is a workshop 😦
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hahaha Ani you make me laugh! You need a sign that says “Humans Trained Here”. My cats trained me well.
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She’s pretty well trained…usually… especially about hte things that really matter, like balls and treats 😉
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Hi Ani, While I happen to think your two-legs is brighter than some humans I know…you must remember she’s still only a human being, and us humans can be a tad complicated. Perhaps her holiday will do her good and set her thinking straight..Do hope so! Love Another confused human. x
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‘A tad complicated’ might be an understatement where mine is concerned. ‘Weird’ seems to cover it though 😉 xxx
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Dear Ani, you made me laugh so much! You see, this is why you are 100% my second favourite dog. -huge hugs-
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Slobbery hugs back 😀
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Um…thanks, Ani…-rolls eyes and reaches for a tissue-
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Heh 🙂
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In my house, cat love equates to being used as a nice warm pin cushion. You get used to it. 🙂
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I’ve had cats, I know the score 😉
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Currently have 2 cats and one very small dog. They kind of balance each other out.
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I just have Ani and the fish… and the neighbours’ cats, who just tire Ani out 😉
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lmao – do they tease her? We had foxes visiting for a while and Mogi just about had conniptions ‘guarding’ us from the enemy. :d
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They sit just in view but out of reach on the shed 😉
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Ah. Of course. Poor Ani.
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You are REALLY smart, Ani – never doubt that! I can’t imagine stepping on a garden slug in the dark. Then you would hear your two-legged sing! I can’t sing but I can make a lot of noise jumping around and hissing – I found a black snake in the hallway the other night, and had to work hard to get my two leggeds to wake up!
Your friend, Garfield
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Thankfully, we don’t have many snakes here…and I’ve never had to deal with one, Garfield. She did nearly step on an adder once… that woudn’t have been good…
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You are one smart cookie, Ani. I´m sure your singing is great. I don´t sing but I whimper in my sleep. At least that´s what they tell me. Licks, Dot. xo
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I dothat too…and snore… if you believe what they tell us… 😉
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I know what you mean, Ani. Humans are lucky we love them so much. They think they’re so smart, but for such supposedly clever creatures humans are really not so smart a lot of the time. Anyway, I’m glad you managed to get her to pay attention properly and figure out what you were trying to tell her – eventually. Lots of licks, Lilie
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You just have to be patient with them, Lilie 😉
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I try, but that’s one thing I’m not so good at. I’m good at loads of things, but being patient isn’t one of them. Lots of licks, Lilie
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😉 xx
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Urgh, slugs and snails. Yuk, yuk and yukkety yuk.
Glad she got rid of it before it ate your ball Ani.
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It wouldn’t!!! Would it???
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Of course not now that your two legs has got rid of it.
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Phew!
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😀
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I am sure you are very glad you didn’t end up standing on a slug in the dark, Sue. I stood on a rain spider once and it was most unpleasant. It went crunch, crunch under my bare feet and, of course, the spider didn’t live to see another morning.
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I have ‘found’ slugs in the past barefoot…not an experience I wish to repeat 😉
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It also says, “screams, sheds, likes to roll in dead fish and other stinky things, and is generally smarter than the average person.”
LOL.
Certainly true, Ani. You saved your two-legs from a rather icky visitor. I would have screamed myself if I’d stepped on that thing in the dark!
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Definitely true… and I bet she whould have turned the air blue had she stepped on it 😉
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Ani, I’m cracking up. And those glasses just added to the laughter. LOL hilarious. And I have to add that if your two legses cannot distinguish between your call to attention bark, to your singing, maybe you should change your tune? Lol Hugs 🙂 xxx
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I think she is just not listening properly 😉
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Lollllllllllllllllllllll 🙂 xox
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xxx
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Oh Ani, what a sad situation you have. But dont regret. Now its coming winter, and during the time in the house you can teach her your language, and also your meanings. Best wishes, Michael
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That would be nice 😉
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Take place in the midst of the kitchen every day. So she has to wait on your lessons.
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I always do 😉
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Yes. Ani!Keep on!
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😀
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:-))
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