Between the extreme heat we’ve been having here in Washington state, and Cordelia being in heat (heh. Why did she do that this month? Was it for the puns? Because if so, I thoroughly approve) we haven’t been able to go to the dog park for a bit. I’m really finding myself missing it.
Dog parks are controversial, and not without reason. I did a post before analysing some of the considerations that are in order. But Delia and I have really had some enjoyable times there. I’ve gotten to witness some fascinating displays of both human and canine behaviour, and I would like to share a few of my favourites with you today.
Good Doggos Preventing Conflict At All Costs
One of the things that makes dogs such ideal companions for humans is how much they will bend over backwards to avoid conflict. That’s how serious dog bites continue to be absurdly rare, even though we live with them and so often ignore their signals of unease, discomfort, and fear (or even purposefully push through them in the thought that “he’ll just get over it.”) And as I noted in that previous post, never have I been so impressed by this canine quality than at my local dog park.
But more remarkable than dogs choosing avoidance rather than fighting when they have a problem with another dog is the fact that there are some dogs who seem actively invested in preventing conflicts.
One day, a pemb/cardi-corgi-mix was bullying a Boston terrier to the point where the Boston was starting to get annoyed and tension was building. I was watching this go down and trying to figure out which humans belonged to which dogs, and whether I should be that person and say something. And suddenly this big, impressive-looking Malamute simply stepped between them and looked down at them, turning his head slowly to look at one, then the other. I could almost hear him say, “Hey, you two. Everything cool here?” They scattered off in separate directions!
Delia has broken up a couple of small scraps herself. There is a terrier mix that frequents the park. She looks like she could be a Jack Russell/Bully mix or something unusual like that. White with brindle patches, and a kind of a wiry coat. Very cool and unique. She’s a sweetheart with people and she only wants to play fetch. She doesn’t get on very well with other dogs, but I feel for her owner because he’s an older gentleman, and she is a lot of dog. I understand why he brings her to the park. Most of the dogs seem to know to keep out of her way. But she really likes Delia. As soon as she arrives, Delia will come and lick her mouth and defer to her completely. So a couple of times when she’s gotten into altercations with other dogs, Delia will get in the middle and herd the JRT mix away, licking her mouth to calm her down. Because that dog likes her so much, it works. Then Delia will go check on the other dog and make sure everything is okay. It’s really cool to see. None of that is anything I could possibly teach her, it’s just who she is. The sweetest little busybody.
Once when Delia was about 8 months old, there was a male corgi named Cooper there with his owner. It isn’t too common we get to see other corgis or corgi mixes there, and in fact I think this was one of the first times. Cooper’s mum and I were both very excited to see our corgis interact with another corgi. But Delia and Cooper greeted each other as colleagues. That’s the only way I can describe it! Very polite, very professional, and then they moved on.
We stood near each other and chatted about our corgis a bit as they both kind of sniffed around and chased with different dogs. At some point, this big male pointer appeared, and he was just SO excited to be there. So excited that he was kind of becoming a nuisance to the other dogs. There was no malice to his behaviour, he was just clueless and inappropriate, body-slamming and jumping on dogs too forcefully (especially given his size) and even grabbing them by their harnesses. There were a couple of puppies there (younger than I would personally feel comfortable bringing to a dog park) and they were really being terrorized by him.
Cooper’s mum and I were trying to figure out who the pointer belonged to, because we were concerned about the puppies having a bad experience. We even started to wonder whether someone had just dropped him off and headed to a nearby store or something (which is not okay, by the way.) We would later notice that a guy who was sitting on a bench glued to his phone had a leash that matched the dog’s collar, so that was probably his owner.
I don’t know which of the corgis became concerned by his shenanigans first, or if it was kind of a mutual thing. I just saw Delia and Cooper go in and herd the pointer away from the little bully-mix pup he was harassing. The pointer was so out-to-lunch that he didn’t even seem to know what was happening and just took off in the direction they’d herded him in without looking back. Then they parted ways and went back to doing their own separate things.
A few minutes later, he was bothering another dog, and I watched Delia and Cooper scan the park until they locked eyes with each other and once again, in perfectly synchronized team work, they herded him away!
What was so funny to me is how they worked together so effortlessly, but had no interest in playing together. A strictly professional dog-park-police relationship!
That Time I Ruined a Cocker Spaniel’s Day
This one will always weigh heavily on my conscience.
So we were at the dog park and Delia pooped. I stood over it trying to get a bag open, and for some reason I’m having the most difficult time I’ve ever had. Those things are rarely a cinch for me to open, but this was just excessive. I was standing there crinkling the plastic like a fool, certain everyone was staring at me, wondering if it looked like I was stalling because I didn’t want to pick up after my dog. Any minute I was about to start laughing or crying—it was about 50/50.
And then I’m distracted by this absolutely STUNNING American Cocker Spaniel. I almost never see them in a full coat like that, because it must take a lot of work to maintain. All sleek and silky black, shimmering and pooling down to her feet. Big, liquid eyes and the happiest expression. That’s another thing—I’ve met way too many mean cockers. So sadly, my associations with the breed are like 10% Lady and the Tramp, and 90% being chased halfway down the street by a dog I should be able to drop-kick if I wasn’t so soft-hearted. But this one was just the epitome of what the AKC boasts about the breed: happy, smart, gentle. She was coming straight toward me, appearing to float off the ground with the way her coat was flowing, and her whole body wiggling, looking for all the world as if I was the only person she’d been dying to see her entire life, in the way that extremely sweet and friendly dogs always do. You know, the Daisy-Buchanan-esque dogs—”promising that there was no one in the world she so much wanted to see. That was a way she had.” (The Great Gatsby)
I was completely transfixed by her approach, and I stretched my hands out in anticipating of stroking those beautiful silky ears. She was so close…
And then she froze.
She lifted her paw in the absolute daintiest way I have ever seen. And she looked down at the poop she had just stepped in. Her lifted paw trembled as her whole body shuddered and recoiled. Then she looked up at me.
Those beautiful, round, liquid eyes that moments before had held nothing but promises and joy now were filled with confused betrayal. I opened my mouth to apologise, but I’m afraid that a nervous laugh may instead of have escaped. No doubt adding insult to injury.
I reached to pet her, but it was too late. The moment was over, and she turned and marched away from me, casting a reproachful glance over her shoulder as she went.
Delia the Babysitter
One day there were two little tri-coloured Pembroke puppies in the little dog section. They were around 3 months old. I always take Delia to the big dog section because she has a much easier time finding dogs who match her play-style there. But when I saw those little corgi pups I made an exception.
When they first walked up to her, the male who was slightly larger and bolder stretched up to lick her mouth. Delia reacted with exuberant surprise. “Are you babies?!?!” She sniffed them thoroughly. “Yes! You are! You’re babies!” After a thorough sniffing, nuzzling, and licking, the three of them sniffed around and explored together. Then someone threw a ball, and Delia ran to intercept it. She caught it and brought it back to the babies, depositing it right in front of them. The little girl attacked her brother when he went for it, a little too sharply to be nice play. Delia chewed them out for that!
She always has a soft spot for puppies. There is a beautiful American bulldog and her adorable male pup that we’ve seen a couple of times. He’s so smushy and sweet. Delia always gives him lots of kisses. She’s especially good with the shyer puppies, never overwhelming them, which is surprising if you’ve ever seen how rough she can play with some of her friends.
A Catalogue of the Humans You May Encounter
One of the best things about the dog park is the people-watching. Here is just a sampling of the humans you will meet.
There are the wholesome rays of sunshine who react sincerely to every dog as though it’s the first dog they’ve ever seen in their life, and certainly the goodest one. The joy is just infectious.
There are the guys standing around one-upping each other because they only paid [insert shelter fee/rehoming fee/craigslist puppy price] for their dog, but after doing their research, they think similar dogs are selling for about [insert crazy price here, the one that stuck in my mind the most was $8,000, in regards to a sweet pitty mix that a buddy had given him for free, whose sweet personality alone, truth be told, was probably worth that much, but still. Come on now.] “That could’ve been an 8k dog. Easy.”
There is the spouse who appears to have been The One Who Did Not Want This Dog™, and yet ended up being the one to take it to the dog park today, who seems determined to maintain a grumpy visage for anyone who may be watching, but can’t restrain a smile every time the dog brings back that tennis ball with his whole body wagging.
There is the guy who is there with two poodles and is jogging around barefoot. Yes. Barefoot. More power to him for owning his life choices, but the risk of stepping in dog poop is just so, so very high. Just far too high. If you’re there long enough, he will run up to you and ask if you have the time, because of course he is unencumbered by electronic devices in his dog park retreat. Kindly give him the time, and watch him jog away, wishing him well. But be not fooled by the ascetic vibes: I promise you this man owns a Macbook and somehow shops at Whole Foods, even though we don’t have one in town.
There are the super moms who are there with 4 dogs and like 20 kids, somehow keeping a close eye on all of them. If there’s a dog causing trouble while her owner is completely tuned out, it’s never one of this lady’s dogs. She doesn’t even look tired. This is just a Tuesday.
There is always the sweet older person who will tell you their whole life story while your dogs play together.
And there are always the little kiddos who will dutifully ask, “Can I pet your dog?” as they’ve been taught to do, even as the dog in question is practically flinging himself into the kid’s arms.
And then there’s this weirdo, some absolute psycho in a hat, who is eavesdropping on everything going on and turning it into blog content.
“I DON’T HAVE TO ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE!!!”
To round us out for today’s post, I would like to share how I learned that petting a corgi confers upon one the sovereignty of at least two kingdoms.
There were two little girls at the park one day with their mom and their dog. They were sisters, and I think both of them were under 10 years old. They were playing on the big boulder that Delia often likes to stand on.
One of them saw Delia and came squealing over to ask me if she was a corgi and whether she could pet her. When she received an affirmative response to both queries, she hurriedly petted Delia. I mean just wiped her hand over her 5 times fast. Then she ran back to her sister, leaving both Delia and I a little surprised but not too bothered.
Then I overheard the following conversation.
Girl 1: I PETTED A CORGI!
Girl 2, skeptical: A real corgi?
Girl 1: Yes!!! She’s right THERE!!!
Girl 2, excited: OHHHH!!!!
Girl 1: So now I’m the leader.
Girl 2: No! I’m on the leader rock!
Girl 1: That’s not a leader rock. That’s just a puny rock. That’s the loser rock. Because you didn’t touch a corgi and I. Did.
Girl 2: I DON’T HAVE TO ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE!!!!!!
Girl 1: It’s not what I want you to be. It’s REAL. I touched a corgi and now I rule BOTH KINGDOMS.
Poor Girl 2. She may not be the ruler of both kingdoms, but her powerful, poignant words will always resonate across generations. She speaks for so many of us. May these words never be forgotten:
I DON’T HAVE TO ALWAYS DO
WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE!!!
And that’s all I have for you today! I hope you enjoyed this post and maybe had a bit of a laugh. I can’t wait to get back to the dog park and collect some more amusing little moments. Maybe I’ll even share some more of them on this blog in the future.
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