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Joseph P. Farrell posted an update 7 years, 7 months ago
Well, it’s three months now since little Shiloh adopted me, and she says I’m doing much better about interpreting her whines, so she has moved on to barking and teaching me what each one means. This is a good sign that I’m settling in, she says, because she hadn’t barked for the first month and a half in order not to confuse me. She also reports that the strange scents in the front yard have required her to mark her territory appropriately, however, the bugs around here do NOT taste good at all. She also reports she’s getting a LITTLE more comfortable with the neighbor lady, but that she still absolutely HATES riding in my car, and wishes I would quit throwing socks and squeaky toys in the living room, because she has no idea what she’s supposed to do with them. FOr my own part, I can report that this is one TALKATIVE little dog! And there are times when I ask her a question that I swear she’s literally trying to talk! On more than one occasion, it seems like she’s tried to whine the words “yes” and “no” and “mmhmm.” I wondering if anyone else has noticed this about their dog? She still has the occasional booboo in the house, but that’s rare, and is still very afraid of strangers but we’re making slow progress with the neighbor lady.
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As a person with WAY too many dogs, and a pack of 5 that live in my house (3 are Great Pyrenees), I will vouch for some dogs trying their very best to “talk”. One of the breeds I have is Schipperke, a little Belgian breed used on barges for alarm purposes and rat patrol, is characteristically known for their over the top brains and two of mine have attempted vocalizations they hoped I would be bright enough to understand. One (over Rainbow Bridge) used to smile when I got it right.
I’ve had Beauregard a year now. He was a 5 month old rescue when I got him. If I’m reading he settles down nicely for half an hr. He gives me a short mmn ending on a higher note. That means ‘are you done?’ I can say, give me 5 min and he’ll ‘sigh’ his ok. Then in about 10, he’ll say mmmm in an up and down sing song tone. That means, ‘are you still reading?’ He’s very patient so I set aside my reading and play fetch with him. Altough he’s a toy poodle/maltese mix he thinks he’s a retriever. I can say fetch pinkie and he’ll bring me the pink toy. If I say, fetch the ball he brings me his ball. We’re working on table ball. He invented it; he pushes the ball across the surface of the table to me, I push it back. We can do this 2-3 times before he changes the game and runs off with it.
If she’s starting barking now that’s a good sign. She’s started trusting you and knows that it’s safe for her to be herself 🙂 How lovely 🙂