WHAT DO DOGS THINK?

Over the years I have often wondered what dogs really think about, apart from the obvious - FOOD.

They are all  individuals although sharing a basic common gene and they seem to come into this world with so much inherent knowledge that has been passed down through the generations of dogs way back to primitive times of the wolf...  Different breeds have different knowledge but all seem to have the instinctive know how and  ability to hunt.  Even the most domesticated dog knows how to hunt if necessity demands it.

It is this trait that can make dogs such a problem around livestock.  They have the instinct to chase down other animals.  That's a very handy instinct to have in your working breeds that are used for mustering stock but not so great when someone's escaped pet Rotty or foxy or whatever decides to start rounding up the neighbours chooks and creating havoc.

Farmers have to put up with this problem a lot when uncaring 'people' dump unwanted animals out in country areas.  These previously domestic dogs soon have no choice but to start killing off the farmers stock and local wildlife to feed themselves.  The end result is usually not good.  Nothing more certain than that stock losses will bring out the big guns and farmers are usually pretty handy with them.  Most stock kills these days are by feral dogs, not dingoes, although the dogs may well have cross bred with the dingoes at some stage.

Dogs must think that humans are the best hunter gatherers ever - they bring home the most amazing range of food...consistently.  They also like digging holes - so do dogs - but humans don't seem to put bones in them which is a bit strange, they put plants in them instead, which of course curious dogs will rip out and fling aside because surely there must be a juicy stinky bone hidden beneath.  Why else would you dig a hole?

And humans for some reason get upset when a dog rolls in something smelly but how else are you supposed to disguise your scent from predators or prey?  All very strange to a dogs mind, especially when humans use those squirty bottles to spray stuff on themselves that makes them smell...different.

Do we ever really know what dogs think?

MY MATE ELLY

My Elly has a zebra,

well and truly stuffed and stripey.

She grabs it and she shakes it fit to kill,

then God almighty

 she throws and tosses it around the room,

pounces and fleas him,

then tucks him safely in her basket,

underneath her chin.

Jack Russell’s are great ratters.

My girl's crossed with Staffy too.

She’s six foot high and bullet proof –

a terrier through and through.

A rough and tough and tumble bitch,

typical of the breed

but she’s also cute and pretty

and a much loved dog indeed.

She’s won the hearts of family

and won the hearts of friends

and obviously she owns mine

and will unto the end.

She’s the best small companion

who is fearless, game and smart.

Elly is everybody’s friend -

but I hold her in my heart.

Maureen Clifford ©