Pondering the world

How young birds are like teenagers

If you think about it, adolescent baby birds are a lot like human teenagers. They're noisy and insistent, following their parents around the yard demanding food. When the parents are trying to teach them how to find their own food, they don't want to do it.

We've had a "teenage" starling in our yard for the past three days. He can barely fly and still has his pin feathers, so he's spent most of the time walking around the yard. On the first day he kept following his parents around, fluffing his feathers and calling for food. They tried to show him how to find the food, but he would keep crying until someone fed him. Yesterday, only one parent was in the yard and ignored the young one, only foraging and showing him where to find food. There was no feeding at all.

Yesterday he had a rude awakening. The roadrunner came into the yard and took one of our finches. (You know that roadrunners are carnivores and eat live prey, right?) The young starling was left out in the open in the middle of the yard. He got very quiet and tried to sneak over to hide under a lawn chair. He nearly made it when the roadrunner spied him and started stalking. He got to within about eight feet of the starling, but I opened the front door and intervened. I guess the roadrunner decided he didn't need to go after the starling after all.

Today the starling is completely on his own. He's quiet now and sticks to the sheltered edges of the yard. I bet he'll be glad when he gets real feathers and can fly away to safety.

Like the starling, human teenagers have to make mistakes and learn hard lessons at times. We can only hope they're not fatal.

If dogs truly were human, they would be jerks.

Dogs dig holes in the yard, chew socks (and everything else), bark to alert us to everything from intruders to birds, and at times pee on the floor. They are pretty much genetically wired to do every one of these things for various reasons, and no matter how many times we "tell" them not to do those things, they still do them because they are dogs and don't understand human behavior and expectations.  Yet we forgive them time and again and hope they enjoy a long life with us.

Roommates drink from the milk carton, leave clothes in a trail from the front door to the bathroom, and forget to put in a new roll of toilet paper, inevitably leaving you stranded. There's no good reason for any of the things they do. No matter how many times we point out these annoying habits, they still do them in spite of being human and fully comprehending human behavior and expectations.  Unless the roommate is your spouse, significant other, or adult child, you can't wait for them to find their own place and move out. Maybe even if they are.

Isn't it amazing the behavior that we will tolerate from our pets? If your dog were human and did those things, you'd throw him out in a minute. Roommates often do the human equivalent of some of those things mentioned above--leave water rings on the coffee table, "borrow" your favorite clothes, talk and play music at top volume, and they may even pee on the bathroom floor. It can soon come to a parting of the ways.

"Let's face it:  If dogs truly were human, they would be jerks.  As dogs, they are wonderful."         --Stephen Budiansky, in The Truth About Dogs

 

"cave canem"

"Beware of the dog." Apparently, the Romans had this phrase inscribed in the mosaic floors of their homes. It probably didn't mean "my guard dog might bite you" so much as "he's lying on the floor--don't expect him to move, because he probably won't, so don't trip over him."

Such are the pithy observations so far in The Truth About Dogs by Stephen Budiansky. The book is intended to be insights into the genetic wiring in behavior of dogs, i.e., why they do what they do and how do we work with that. I'm only on page 17, but I expect to learn a lot not only about dog behavior but about human behavior as well. I suspect that the vast majority of the problems people have with dogs is caused by our own unreasonable expectations and misunderstandings, as well as a huge amount of anthropomorphism--viewing them as "fuzzy people" and expecting them to act like humans.  After all, do we really expect a dog to be happy if we put him in a chair at the table, strap a party hat on his head and give him a piece of birthday cake?  Well, one out of three...

Here's my favorite passage:

"Dogs belong to that elite group of con artists at the very pinnacle of their profession, the ones who pick our pockets clean and leave us smiling about it. Dogs take from the rich, they take from the poor, and they keep it all. They lie on top of the air-conditioning vent in the summer, they curl up in front of the fireplace in winter, they commit outrages upon our property too varied and unspeakable to name. They decide when we may go to bed at night and when we must rise in the morning, where we may go on vacation and for how long, whom we may invite over to dinner, and how we should decorate our living rooms. They steal the very bread from our plates. (I am thinking here of a certain collie I used to have whose specialty actually was toast.) If we had a roommate who behaved like this, we'd be calling a lawyer, or the police."

In view of my own experience with both roommates and dogs, I wholeheartedly agree.

It probably won't be a Bichon.

At the library today, I cruised through the reference section on dogs and found a book on the Bichon Frise. They are cute little dogs, but I only got through the first couple of chapters on ancestry and history. Then I ran across a couple of warnings.

"A Bichon does not shed its coat, so you will not find hairs all over the furniture, but the beautiful white curly coat which, no doubt, was one of the features that attracted you to the breed, must be groomed daily. Unless you are able to bathe, brush and scissor the coat yourself, your dog will require regular visits to a grooming parlor, which is an added expense. The Bichon coat, if neglected, will turn into a solid mat, and that condition can only be remedied by the complete removal by clippers of all the matted coat."

That's enough to give me serious pause. A Golden Retriever does require daily brushing and regular baths--and sometimes more than regular baths, depending on what interesting stuff it rolled in--but at least I could do it myself. I'm not looking for a show dog, after all.  

But here's the part that really got me:

"The Bichon Frise is a lapdog. It needs human company most of the time, so do not contemplate owning a Bichon if the house is left empty for long periods."

We're here all the time, and, for the most part, any dog we get will most likely accompany us in the car on errands. But I'm not up for having a dog that insists I drop what I'm doing and hold it for a while. What I loved about a Golden Retriever was its laid-back temperament. "Go for a walk? Okay. Go for a ride? Okay. Take a nap while you work? Okay. You have to work all day? Okay--I'll wait."

Back to looking at other breeds.

Scottish deer hound takes best in show 2011

I'm pretty sure they said this was the first time the Westminster Kennel Club show has been won by a Scottish Deer Hound. It's not a dog I'm particularly attracted to, but I don't think I've ever met one in person.

However, look at the write-up about the breed:

"Characterized as "the most perfect creature" by Sir Walter Scott, where do we find the essence of this graceful and stately sighthound? Great stature with greyhound-like curves and a natural, wiry coat with shaggy beard and brows give him a wise appearance and reinforce his natural dignity. Keenness, great speed, and endurance make him formidable in the field. A Deerhound breeder once said that Deerhounds steadfastly believe the best of their humans. Their quiet dignity, readiness to forgive injury and remember kindness, sudden fits of irresponsible gaiety, wistful expression, and unfaltering friendship are their hallmarks."

Wow. Wouldn't it be nice if someone said things that nice about us?

bring on the low-shedding dogs!

I was watching the Westminster Kennel Club dog show (part 1) as I wrote this post.  We're beginning the process of acquiring a B&B dog.  Requirements:  small-to-medium size, low-shedding, social and laid back, not barky or yappy.  The following are some of the contenders among purebreds and recognized cross-breeds, with their characteristics that might make them good B&B dogs.  Here's your chance to vote for your favorite, although the final choice is ours, of course.

Bichon Frise: The Bichon is a fluffy, little white dog that loves human company. It has an independent spirit, is intelligent, affectionate, bold and lively. This charming, gentle dog is not a yapper. It has a self-assured, happy temperament that is easy to live with. These bright little dogs are easy to train and just plain love everyone. They need people to be happy. They are naturally sociable and are happiest when they are part of a family that takes them everywhere. This sociable trait also means that they are fine in the company of other dogs & pets and are excellent with children.

Havanese:  Havanese are natural companion dogs: gentle and responsive. They become very attached to their human families and are excellent with children. Very affectionate and playful with a high degree of intelligence. These cheerful dogs are very sociable and will get along with everyone including people, dogs, cats, and other pets. They are easy to obedience train and get along well with other dogs. This curious dog loves to observe what is going on. 

Lagotto Romagnolo: The Lagotto is loyal, keen, affectionate, very attached to his owner and easy to train. In Sweden the breed is very popular. For some this breed is perfect, because of its allergy friendly, non shedding coat, its medium size, its happy disposition, its intelligence and its willingness to work.  It is an excellent family companion and a very good warning dog. [Does this mean it barks a lot?  Do you know anything about this breed?  The website I found also noted that this breed loves to dig holes in the yard!]

Mi-Ki: The Mi-Ki is intelligent, calm, sweet natured, affectionate and their activity level is low to moderate. Friendly and alert, making an excellent companion to the handicapped. They are laid back, and seldom bark. Some also make a sound much like a yodel or a type of joyful twittering. They possess a high degree of intelligence, making them top candidates for the obedience ring. They love to be around people, and readily accept strangers. The Mi-Ki have a very even temperament, which makes them an ideal therapy dog. They are easy to train and seem eager to adapt to your life style. 

Schnoodle: [Schnauzer-Poodle cross-breed] The Schnoodle is very loyal to his family, affectionate, extremely intelligent, easily trained, clever, friendly, fun loving, with plenty of personality!  They are good with children and get along fine with other animals.  They are great watchdogs because they will let you know when someone is near, but they are non-aggressive.  They are not yappy dogs unless you allow them to take over your home.  They love car rides.  This great companion dog excels in obedience, agility, flyball, and make excellent therapy dogs, they are first and foremost a loyal and loving companion! They would be fine in an apartment or on a farm, as long as they are with their family. These dogs are so loyal and affectionate they would not be happy kept outdoors. As far as exercise, the Schnoodle is very adaptable. A game of fetch played in the house or a 5 mile jog, either one is fine with them. Because the Poodle and the Schnauzer both do not shed, the Schnoodle does not shed so they must be brushed weekly and clipped every 6 to 12 weeks depending on the length of hair preferred. Their nails should be kept trimmed. The Schnoodle sheds little to no hair and is considered good for allergy sufferers.

I'm sure there will be more to come.

Westminster dog show starts February 14, 2011!

My favorite time of the year--the Westminster Kennel Club dog show starts tomorrow and continues on Tuesday! For dog lovers, it's about four hours of sheer bliss.

I will be watching some breeds more closely, since I hope to acquire a dog this year.  We have to be fairly particular since we run a bed & breakfast. Any dog we get has to be small enough not to intimidate anyone coming to the door, housebroken (of course), very trainable (so it doesn't ever enter forbidden rooms, jump up on furniture or beg at the table), and it has to be one of the non-shedding breeds. There are a couple of breeds that fit those requirements, among them the Bichon Frises, the Labradoodle (a cross-breed, so it will not be shown at Westminster), Schnauzers, and...  I need to do a little more research. 

Our very favorite dog is the Golden Retriever. Ours has been gone from our lives for over 10 years and I still miss her every day. However, she could be a little intimidating as she bounded up to strangers she considered her new best friends, and we used to count the amount of dog hair collected in the vacuum cleaner by "how many puppies" worth of fur we got. A 100-year-old house in a dusty state like New Mexico is difficult enough to keep clean without adding excessive dog hair to the mix. I still swear I'll have another Golden Retriever one day after our time as B&B owners is over.

Where have all the birdies gone?

Just before we went on vacation, a hawk was apparently very active in our yard.  I was busy and it was cold and blustery, so I didn't get around to raking up the three piles of pigeon feathers left behind in the grass.

Well over a week after we had returned, the birdies had still not come back to our yard, despite me having refilled all the feeders, the fountain and the birdbath.  Usually, they're back on the feeder within 10 minutes of it being refilled.  This absence seemed like more than my birds having found other places to eat once my feeders were empty.

I can imagine the conversation between the Finches, Bob and his wife Irma:

Bob:  "Here's a nice-looking place.  There's food and water, some trees to perch in.  Seems reasonable to me."

Irma:  "I don't know.  Nobody else is around.  Oooooo.... look at the feathers.  Are you sure this is an okay neighborhood?"

Bob:  "Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Why do you always do that?  You never like the places I pick out!  ...wait... is that Fred??"

I got busy and raked up the entire yard, both the piles of feathers and the leaves that had blown down while we were away.  Still, the birds have not come back by the dozens as they usually do.  One or two here, six now and then, but long periods of time where none are hanging around, fighting over their favorite perches.

I suspect that the hawk has found easy pickings, at least in our yard, and is staying close by.  That would explain the big chunks of fur in the driveway around back.  So long, Ernie the squirrel.

time to return the squirrel trap--again

We finally caught squirrel number 3.  I thought he was the smarter brother because he managed not to get caught for a really long time.  Then Steve suggested maybe he was the stupid brother because he apparently kept trying to get to the food from the wrong end, the closed end instead of the open end.  So I did the Hansel and Gretel trick, sprinkling a few pieces of food in front of the open door and then a few more pieces inside.  That worked.

No more squirrel sightings, so I think we can return the rented trap and stop running up the tab.  

Of course, if they're migrating our way, it's only a matter of time until more appear.  Another task on the to-do list:  go around the house and seal up all possible entrances to the crawl space.

$%#! squirrel No. 3--the smarter brother

We had to go back and rent the squirrel trap again.  Just when we thought all the squirrels were gone, we ran into another.  Rather, he ran under the house and took up residence.

Not every night, but sometimes, I wake up hearing the noise of him scratching in the ceiling overhead.  I didn't think squirrels were nocturnal.  Maybe this one has insomnia and uses his middle-of-the-night awake time to go exploring or move furniture.  I've also surprised him several times in my storage building.  He's obviously discovered the small attic space in there that's not available for us to use.

This one is also the smarter brother who has managed not to get caught in the live trap over the last several weeks.  

I actually like squirrels and think they're pretty cute.  I wouldn't mind them living in the area and even foraging in my yard if they didn't try to live in any of my buildings.  My fears about having squirrels inside are the following, in increasing order of anxiety:  they make noise and keep me awake; they chew on nearly everything, including storage boxes, wiring, and my possessions; and, at some point, they die--and I don't want it to be inside my house when it happens.