[PyrNet-L] Chat: Ciaran (IW)& Anais (Pyr)

[Stephanie W <srwhitney@earthlink.net>]

It has been interesting to watch Ciaran & Anais develop their
relationship.  In fact, I think they ought to have their own sitcom <G>.

When we first lost our Australian Shepherd to kidney disease and Anais
joined our family within the same couple of weeks, the upheaval resulted
in a fight between Ciaran and one of the little 14 year old, 25 pound
males.  We had a behavioral consultant over to observe his behaviour
with Anais which I was worried about.  He said that Ciaran was somewhat
dominant agressive but that the interaction between him and the puppy
was play and that they were establishing their dominant/subordinate
status and we should let them do that.  He predicted that Ciaran, who
would always be bigger and stronger, would be dominant.  In retrospect,
I think that he didn't know Wolfhounds & Pyrs.

Anais has from her arrival at 10 weeks old, starting with her first
redecorating effort of taking down the Irish Wolfhound wallhanging,
quietly and confidently established herself as the new dog-in-charge,
and Ciaran has pretty much let her.

While these breeds are very different, they also have a lot in common,
not the least of which is thousands of years of thinking for themselves
and problem-solving.

If he is chewing on a bone, she will walk in front of him, stand across
his paws for a minute, then casually look down, "notice" the bone, pick
it up and walk away with it to chew, leaving Ciaran wondering how she
got his bone again.

Tonight, he figured out a plan to get it back.  He sat there for a
minute, then got up, walked to the side door, let out a bark and then a
low growl.  Anais immediately jumped up and ran to the door.  Ciaran
quickly turned, went back, picked up the bone, and went back to chewing
it.

They are just too much!

Stephanie, Ciaran (IW), Anais (Pyr) & Midnight & Smedley (the 14 year
old Poodle/Sheltie twins)