CAN DOGS THROW TANTRUMS?

What an odd question. “can dogs throw tantrums?” I’m compelled to say “yes”, cause that’s what it looks like at our house.

DD (doodle daughter) had a memorable tantrum when we lived in Fort Bragg, North Carolina..

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Doodle Daughter at such a precious age

I left her there, in the aisle of the Military Commissary like she was an orphan!

She wasn’t aggressive, just loud.

I believe she was under the assumption, the more she screamed and flailed her arms around like a propeller plane the greater her chance of getting whatever it was she wanted. She bet everything she had that I would rather “give in” than have her embarrass me in front of all those other military spouses. Didn’t work, I left her there on the floor. I kept it moving!

Harley and Leo, sometimes mirror Tiffany’s out breaks. They’re not aggressive, just loud and obnoxious. And, it’s only over certain things.

HARLEY: if I’m the only human going somewhere, he refuses to get in the back of the car. He will roll around on the grass, and run circles around the car until I open the door on the passengers side for him.

LEO: what else? “Wilson”

And just like Tiffany, when they start their antics – I leave them too!

Just for kicks, I decided to do a little research, find out if others out there had witnessed this same behavior. I was surprised to find one answer that said:

“Dogs are very intelligent, buuuut, not intelligent enough to reason.” 

There were other comments from professionals that seemed to favor the fact:

“dogs just do not have the mindset.” 

My first thought was: “I beg to differ, you haven’t met Harley & Leo.” 

I did however, find dozens of “pet parents” who wrote about similar antics their four legged furrends demonstrated that sounded a lot like mine. Whew, I’m not alone, no matter what it is!

Whenever Leo gets wound up, it’s triggered over “Wilson.” I’d say 25% of the time it’s either because:

  • I won’t throw it to him,
  • I won’t bring it with us,
  • We can’t find it.

75% of the time –

  • Harley’s involved!

It’s as if he’s teasing Leo.

Check this out –

The other day, we were all outside. I noticed Harley wasn’t engaged or participating. He reminded me of a child who was bored to death and looking for something “wrong” to do. You know that  “look”

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Doesn’t he look like he’s scheming?

When I caught him watching Leo intently I should have known something was brewing..

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Somethings about to “go down!”

Then the innocent playful wrestling began. That’s how it always starts…

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To compensate for his shortness Harley will grab Leo’s back legs…

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And once Leo’s down, he’ll try to jump on his back…

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Like clockwork, by the time the wrestling was over, Harley will have finagled a way to confiscate “Wilson” OMD

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Leo pawformed to pawfection!  So much so, someone “appeared” and saved the day. Wasn’t me – I would have walked away!

WARNING: if your at work, turn the sound down on your computer so your boss won’t know you’re not working…

I imagine if DH had been in the Commissary with me years ago, Tiffany would  have gotten whatever it was she so desperately wanted. What do you think?

See why I have to keep several “Wilson’s” around?

Leo’s happy again…

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These two are inseparable.

Tell me, does your dog throw tantrums?

Thanks fur reading, I’ll keep on writing…

 

4 Comments
  • Kimberly Gauthier
    September 21, 2013

    OMG, this is so Rodrigo. He does this all the time. He’ll have 5 toys, but one of his siblings has the one HE wants RIGHT NOW.

    • Cathy Bennett
      September 23, 2013

      There is so much more going on between those two floppy ears that we can’t even imagine. Thanks Kim aka Fur Mom

  • allpropet
    September 23, 2013

    dogs can also smile. treat them as our human friends, never anger them ..lol

    • Cathy Bennett
      September 23, 2013

      Yes they certainly do, in fact Harley smiles all the time 🙂 Thanks so much for reading.