I am noticing some changes in the relationship between Cooper and Tooey. Don’t know if they’re permanent or temporary:
- Last weekend at the beach, Tooey began to get to the retrieve object before Cooper. Prior to this, Cooper always, and I mean always, got to the stick, bumper, or ball first.
- Tooey has been standing back and letting Cooper lick out the mixing bowl or pan, instead of crowding him out like she’s usually done in the past.
- Since Tooey came back from her being-in-season at Colleen’s, she and Cooper have not been playing as much — no box turns off the couch and a lot less chasing each other around.
Not sure what’s going on.
- Is it age? Cooper is 4.75 years, and Tooey is 2.75 years.
- Did something happen with Tooey while she was away?
- Is Cooper feeling unwell? I do think he’s having a skin reaction to the new food, so we’ll be switching back to the previous food.
- Is Tooey feeling more self-confident and less need to be pushy?
We’ll just have to see how it goes.
I know nothing of the intricacies of pooch behavior, but can changes in the seasons have an effect on it as with humans?
I wonder… and that’s funny you should mention this. I just was reading about seasonal affective disorder manifesting itself as hair loss in affected dogs. And Cooper is also having skin and coat issues, so who knows?
Patrice,
It may not be so much of a change between the dogs as a change in your interaction with them now that you are the primary trainer for Cooper working on his obedience title. It used to be Russ doing the majority of the work with Cooper and Tooey was on the road with you. Just another piece to factor in and ponder…
Lizzie made these comments in an email:
Hi Patrice,
That’s an interesting observation about Tooey. I have the same bossy issues with Claire. She is not as bossy with Niall anymore and I don’t know if it is because Arthur is here to boss around. I did notice that once Niall knew all of her rules of “firsts” it seemed that she stared to ease off of the stare downs, etc. I think she is comfortable knowing that he knows she is in control and can exercise her demands without notice.
Arthur will not comply because he doesn’t care. He wants his food, his tennis ball and his bunny, and me, of course.
Love your blog,
Lizzie
That’s a fascinating comment above about your changes as the primary trainer. Another possibility that occurs to me is, in my intact bitches, their response to their cycle changes as they age. At first it doesn’t affect them much, but as they get older, the mood and personality changes can be significant. You could be seeing ways that Tooey’s diestrus will affect her.