Wee Paws Small Breed Behaviour

This. Everything this.

Dogs are not aliens. We all crawled out of the same swamp. The biggest difference between us is that dogs take the time to learn our ways and language and most humans, for thousands of years, have never bothered to learn theirs.

Dogs don’t speak in a verbal language. They communicate through body language.

It would go a long way for their well being if we started to pay attention.

😂 Dogs arent stupid, or stubborn. They are sentient, intelligent, and feel empathy. When we assume they’re stupid or stubborn, its because they speak a different language, and still experience emotions just like us.

If someone started repeating STRAWBERRY to us in ever increasing anger and loudness, we too would remain motionless whilst our brains raced to find an answer through all the brain fog of confusion, it’s nothing to do with stubbornness… or stupidity.

WE are simply too stubborn to learn their language. We’ve had them since puppies and insist we know them well, having spent no time trying to find out if it’s actually the case.

Putting human labels on what we see isnt understanding whats going on inside them or of what canines (a different species!) are trying to communicate. Its like referring to a nature program where the cheetah is chasing down an antelope and because we didnt see the end, we insist they were playing or having fun with each other, theres nothing like a game of chase! 🙈

Our dogs do their best to learn our language, we can at least meet them in the middle. All successful relationships are based on communication. Its just that simple.

Just don’t do it.

Recently, at Tsawwassen Mills, security reported a dog left inside a parked vehicle during hot weather. Delta Police attended and located it leashed inside a fully enclosed vehicle showing signs of distress.

DPD members were unable to make contact with the owner and had to break the window to gain access. The Delta Firefighters IAFF Local 1763 attended and recorded an interior temperature of approximately 50°C.

The dog was dehydrated and required veterinary care before making a recovery. The BC SPCA was contacted to file an animal cruelty report.

With the hot weather, we are strongly cautioning pet owners not to leave animals unattended in vehicles. Temperatures inside a parked vehicle can quickly reach dangerous levels, even during a short stop.

If you see an animal in distress inside a vehicle, call police immediately.

Today I did something completely out of character. I was seemly rude to someone. If you know me, I’m the friendliest person you will meet. I smile at everyone I walk past. I usually say hello to strangers. I’m very pleasant to everyone unless I’m matching someone’s energy.

Tonight, on my dog walk, I did none of those things. A gentleman past me on the street and smiled. I didn’t return it. He commented on the evening and I stared him in the eye and didn’t say a word. When he passed by me when he thought I couldn’t hear him he said sarcastically under his breath “friendly”.

This interaction is so against every fibre of my being, but what this gentleman was unaware of is I was watching his behaviour with his wee little poodle mix dog. As he walked towards me I saw him continuously leash pop this dog, say his name aggressively and scowl anytime his dog went to sniff or explore something.

I am always heartbroken when I see anyone popping the leash on a dog. Dogs are so curious about the world. They use their nose to learn. They want to know who has been there previously. They want to leave their scent. So when a dog goes to explore a scent and they get a violent leash pop it enrages me and then makes me very sad.

So as I was watching this gentleman continue to leash pop his dog, I thought to myself… ‘is he going to be a hypocrite and try and engage with his environment by saying hello to me all the while stripping his dog of that very thing?’ And sure enough he did. It took every ounce of my people pleasing nature to ignore him.

My response to his “friendly” comment was “I’m as friendly as you are to your dog”

So my question is… should people be offended when they are treated the same way as they treat their dog?

(Image is AI because I wouldn’t want to support leash popping in real life)

Anyone around to help look for this sweet muffin?