[Dailydrool] No Alphas

[tcm541 at gmail.com]

I currently have two very sweet boys, neither of which cares about being an
alpha dog. 

 

Dexter is timid, shy, reserved, dislikes most men (except family, of course,
and a couple of friends who spend a lot of time with their dogs - it rubs
off on them you know). He's laid back, slow to eat sometimes, keeps his
distance a lot of the time.  On the other hand, he protects his yard from
the cable guys, the neighbors, stray cats, etc. like it's his calling in
life. 

 

Reggie is exuberant, loud, and bouncy. He'll go out in the yard and bark at
the grass. Or the pea gravel. Or the wind. Doesn't matter what he barks at -
he just loves to make noise. (And it's a bark - there's none of the typical
basset "aroohs" with this guy. Oh well.) He's just the opposite with
visitors - friendly, wants to play, get belly rubs, all that. And when I'm
in the kitchen he'll lay where he can see me. Or when I'm in the TV room,
he'll lay right next to my chair, or at the very least where he can see me.
In fact, he always stays where he can see me. Right now he's four feet away,
staring adoringly at me, wagging his whole body. Sometimes I call him my
stalker.

 

So the two dogs are complete opposites. Yet they are wonderful together.
When they were young they chased each other and played like the world would
end if they stopped. Sometimes they still get wound up and chase each other
and play, but only for brief, exhilarating moments. The sleep and rest
close, but not on top of each other.

 

As Donna mentioned though, when I had females in the mix, they were clearly
dominant. (Donna - I had a Maggie too, and she sounds a lot like yours.) And
the boys in the house just knew that the women were in charge, no question.
I had to feed them first. They pushed the guys out of the way to be greeted
first when I got home. They snapped at the guys when they invaded their
space. But when it was time to rest, Maggie especially would climb right on
top of the guys and turn them into warm snuggly pillows. So cute. And no one
complained. They know it wouldn't change. Although there were a few times
that my sheltie asserted himself - and they'd get into it, but the girls
ALWAYS won those scuffles. 

 

Me, I'm single now. Have been for decades. I'm just not cut out for an
alpha-female in my life (just kidding, ladies!)

 

Tim 'n Puppies

 

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