Dogs
© photo copyright 2009 Carrie Boyko
One of the first recognizable doggie communications we all see in our pups is called the Play Bow. Named for the front legs dropping to the elbows, while the rear stays up, the play bow is an invitation, doggie style, to play.
The Play Bow can be used with people, dogs and other pets. Dogs do not discriminate. Before Marc took his rabbit back to Virginia, Oliver often invited Robby to play. I never managed to catch one of those play bows on camera, much to my chagrin. Oliver still invites our cat, Patches, to play. Unfortunately for Oliver, Patches has outgrown her playing days, and would prefer to smack him in the nose when approached with his juvenile enthusiasm. Her response is something akin to "Get out my face, you dawg!"
Despite Oliver's diminutive size (tipping the scale at 8.2 pounds), the cutest Play Bow in our family is still Xena. She may be nearing 90, but she still enjoys a good wrestling match--generally with Tanner, whose size matches hers much better. At her age, she's not really interested in learning how to wrestle with a peanut sized sparring partner like Oliver. Really! What's the point? She's going to win simply by her size alone. No contest.
Racing would not be much different. Although Oliver could easily keep up with her, dogs generally wrestle at the end of a race, so that's that. Why bother?
No matter who offers the play bow, it is always a pleasure to see--cute and innocent--let's have fun! We should all be so lucky as to have life be so simple.
Want to learn more about your dog's language? Check out this book:
- Almost Wordless Wednesday: Patches Enjoys A Doggie Day Off
by Carrie Boyko, CEB © Carrie Boyko Patches Relaxes the Way Xena Taught Her--Like a Dog! Patches is the housemate of Tanner and Oliver, the usual backdrop of All Things Dog Blog. When they get a doggie playdate, Patches gets to enjoy some quiet...
- Dogs With Cat Problems, Or Perhaps It's The Other Way Around
Find us at Facebook Follow us on Twitter © photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2008PatchesA Rare Moment of Camera Friendliness I probably don't mention it often enough, but I do have a cat. Her name is Patches; she was adopted shortly after Xena, our...
- Help For Toy Challenged Dogs
Have you got a dog who would rather play with you than a toy--24/7? Or perhaps your pup is the first to greet every human that enters the park? And then there is the doorbell. Of course, that human out there is here to see the dog. Right? That's...
- Do Dogs Have Male Bonding?
© photo copyright Carrie Boyko Oliver, My Daughter's Papillon © photo copyright 2009 Carrie Boyko Jacque, My Mom's Papillon This post is a short and sweet, very unscientific opinion on a timely and highly contested topic. Do male dogs experience...
- Toy Dog Or Athletic Dog?
© photo copyright Toni BoykoOliver's First Nap with TannerWhen my family decided to take the dog plunge for the first time, it was with much sales effort on the part of my kids. I finally was sold by the tactics of my middle son, who assured me that...
Dogs
Learning to Speak Dog: The Play Bow
© photo copyright 2009 Carrie BoykoOliver Demonstrates a Play Bow
One of the first recognizable doggie communications we all see in our pups is called the Play Bow. Named for the front legs dropping to the elbows, while the rear stays up, the play bow is an invitation, doggie style, to play.
The Play Bow can be used with people, dogs and other pets. Dogs do not discriminate. Before Marc took his rabbit back to Virginia, Oliver often invited Robby to play. I never managed to catch one of those play bows on camera, much to my chagrin. Oliver still invites our cat, Patches, to play. Unfortunately for Oliver, Patches has outgrown her playing days, and would prefer to smack him in the nose when approached with his juvenile enthusiasm. Her response is something akin to "Get out my face, you dawg!"
Despite Oliver's diminutive size (tipping the scale at 8.2 pounds), the cutest Play Bow in our family is still Xena. She may be nearing 90, but she still enjoys a good wrestling match--generally with Tanner, whose size matches hers much better. At her age, she's not really interested in learning how to wrestle with a peanut sized sparring partner like Oliver. Really! What's the point? She's going to win simply by her size alone. No contest.
Racing would not be much different. Although Oliver could easily keep up with her, dogs generally wrestle at the end of a race, so that's that. Why bother?
No matter who offers the play bow, it is always a pleasure to see--cute and innocent--let's have fun! We should all be so lucky as to have life be so simple.
Want to learn more about your dog's language? Check out this book:
- Almost Wordless Wednesday: Patches Enjoys A Doggie Day Off
by Carrie Boyko, CEB © Carrie Boyko Patches Relaxes the Way Xena Taught Her--Like a Dog! Patches is the housemate of Tanner and Oliver, the usual backdrop of All Things Dog Blog. When they get a doggie playdate, Patches gets to enjoy some quiet...
- Dogs With Cat Problems, Or Perhaps It's The Other Way Around
Find us at Facebook Follow us on Twitter © photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2008PatchesA Rare Moment of Camera Friendliness I probably don't mention it often enough, but I do have a cat. Her name is Patches; she was adopted shortly after Xena, our...
- Help For Toy Challenged Dogs
Have you got a dog who would rather play with you than a toy--24/7? Or perhaps your pup is the first to greet every human that enters the park? And then there is the doorbell. Of course, that human out there is here to see the dog. Right? That's...
- Do Dogs Have Male Bonding?
© photo copyright Carrie Boyko Oliver, My Daughter's Papillon © photo copyright 2009 Carrie Boyko Jacque, My Mom's Papillon This post is a short and sweet, very unscientific opinion on a timely and highly contested topic. Do male dogs experience...
- Toy Dog Or Athletic Dog?
© photo copyright Toni BoykoOliver's First Nap with TannerWhen my family decided to take the dog plunge for the first time, it was with much sales effort on the part of my kids. I finally was sold by the tactics of my middle son, who assured me that...