Dogs Teaching Each Other

Or at least, a couple things I think Uša and B have taught each other

Uša, a mutt born in South Dakota in mid-June 2024, five weeks ago welcomed into our home another mutt born in South Dakota named Beatrix (“B”), who is either over 1 or over 2 years old. A bumpy ride at first, they seemed to have worked out how not to “fight” fight.

“Kerfuffle” is the euphemism I’m using for a real fight; they play fight all the time but we haven’t had any real fights for two weeks. Every morning I change the number.

Instead, they are teaching each other.

Carrots

When first offered a baby carrot, the yummiest of carrots, B sniffed it and walked away. She didn’t walk far away and she did watch Uša enthusiastically accept and crunch that weird orange thing she just rejected. She came back. She accepted the next carrot and took it to her favorite dog bed, the one by the window where she can watch the squirrels in the backyard tree. She had learned from Uša that carrots are a yummy snack and “carrot” has been crystalized into their vocabulary.

“One thing Uša taught Beatrix is that not only are carrots edible, they’re a delicious snack.”

The Stairs

Uša, as a little puppy, saw no need to go down the big, scary stairs to the basement, through which he could have gone to the backyard or the garage. He would go up the stairs if we came in from the backyard or after we came home from a ride in the car. But the promise of a ride in the car would not tempt him down. Himself and his desire to remain upstair would be accommodated. I would drive the car to the front of the house when a ride was in store for him. And he could get to the backyard from the front yard, so no need, right? I was happy to live with a dog who saw no need to go down big, scary stairs. If you look at the stairs from a puppy’s perspective, we are basically asking them to go down a cliff. Head first.

Enter B a few months into this situation. B had no trouble with the stairs, which is impressive given her background as a stray. And Uša was content to wait at the top of the stairs as B followed me room to room downstairs.

Until the day I put a harness on B, but not on Uša, to take her to the vet for the first time. That gave him the motivation he needed to conquer the stairs. Now there are eight little paws helping me do laundry in the basement.

Evidently the stairs are now a place to hang out and no longer scary. B even gives herself a little scratch.

Pledges to A Good Spot

Please, consider pledging to this substack, A Good Spot, as it would be greatly encouraging and well, simply, AWESOME. Click here to learn more about A Good Spot and its long-term goals.