I deleted the (far too many) photographs on my laptop computer and got here throughout this video from years in the past. It just about sums up the connection between canine and cats: Extraordinarily variable and at all times fascinating. Some canine are cats’ greatest pals, some ignore them, and others chase them or attempt to herd them. Or are afraid of them, usually for good cause.
Within the video you see Maggie, on the left, defending Nellie from Willie. Willie, like many border collies (together with Skip), perceives cats as odd beasts with muddy hooves. Maggie, however, was protecting of Nellie the second they met. What I like most in regards to the video is Maggie’s facial features. She’s probably the most expressive canine I’ve ever recognized and normally has both a candy, passive resting face (the true Resting Bitch Face) or radiates pleasure like a sparkler. She is completely able to offering shade for me or one other canine at occasions when Princess Margaret feels her the Aristocracy is just not being honoured, however I’ve by no means seen her so critical. What Willie want to do is herd Nellie as if she had been a sheep and on just a few events pinch her when she disobeys. Why does not it transfer away once I strategy like a stalking predator? How can I achieve management of this creature that I’m genetically programmed to herd? Poor Willie.
I discover Nellie’s habits simply as amusing. You possibly can see how careworn she is by Willie’s habits — as in, do not. However is she reveling in Willie’s incapability to do what he needs to do? Or simply get pleasure from a pleasant roll on the carpet? Making attributions about psychological states is a harmful sport at occasions, however on this case, it is laborious to not think about that it has one thing to do with Willie.
Skip got here to usHe had reportedly by no means seen a cat in his life and his habits mirrored that. When he first met ours he appeared shocked, began chasing Polly one night time (it was straightforward to cease however Jim, Polly and I had been equally scared for just a few seconds) after which changed into making an attempt to to handle the cats. He grew to become a canine that was actually obsessed and I had my work lower out for me in these early days. At first I could not get his consideration as he stared at a cat. Here’s a video of the method we began with within the first few weeks. Be aware that “Look” did not work, however “Home” did. (Which means, “Go inside.”) It does not appear like a lot, however significantly, that was an enormous step again then.
After just a few extra weeks He acquired off straightforward on the primary strive, however so long as Nellie and Polly had been right here he by no means stopped responding to the cats as in the event that they had been little sheep.
All of this acquired me pondering about how fascinating and various the relationships between canine and cats are. Finest pals. enemies. Cattle. predators. Prey. Younger mammals to be raised. playmates.
As you’ll be able to think about, Given the subject material, it was unimaginable for me to not fall down the Google rabbit gap of “canine and cat movies.” This one popped up instantly and I am together with it as a result of 1) the German shepherd within the second video is simply too lovable for phrases and the bulldog within the third section scares me with all of the physique traps and neck biting. (Is it too late to save lots of this cat or is it simply me?)
I want to have a dialog in regards to the relationship between canine and cats. your experiences? Her ideas? I am nonetheless fascinated about it early on, but it surely feels prefer it’s a relationship that is usually stereotyped and oversimplified. But it surely feels much more sophisticated and fascinating than is commonly assumed. I want to give him our consideration.
BETWEEN BETWEEN BACK ON THE FARM: We simply acquired again from the Star of the North Sheepdog Trial in Minnesota final weekend and what a beautiful weekend it was. Right here is the view from our camper on Friday morning:
The colours had been continuous:
Nevertheless, I used to be disillusioned with our runs. Skip ran too far on his run on his first run, utterly lacking the sheep after which, once I requested him to return to the sheep, crossed far sufficient to land within the marked pens. Lastly, after about THREE YEARS, he got here again to me, known as him and mounted the sheep. We had a pleasant run after that, however after all we misplaced a ton of factors. His second run had a great outrun and fetch, however we had been crushed by a sensible previous ewe who took benefit of me stopping Skip a few occasions and we had a screwed up drive. I really feel unhealthy that I let him down. He walks means too far, particularly when he is careworn, however I nonetheless have not accomplished my job properly sufficient. Sigh.
But it surely’s nonetheless a sport, is not it? It was lovely all weekend, if a bit glowing. Okay, it was actually chilly the primary day, within the 30’s and low 40’s, however once you’re surrounded by it, how unhealthy can it’s?
Maggie and Skip on Sunday I acquired to assist arrange sheep for the Novice runs and had a good time. We needed to work right here. we poor
Maggie and Skip exchanged whereas hard-working Samantha (not pictured) let 4 sheep out of their pens directly. Many due to Samantha for making it straightforward for me and to John Wentz for doing a lot of the breaking apart. We had been simply the transition crew (it was a good distance from the pens to demolition and over the crest of a hill) however we had a good time. Many due to Pearce Ward for operating such an ideal examination and to everybody else who labored so laborious to make it so. (I communicate particularly to you Claudia and Maddie!)
After the newbie’s course was over, Skip needed to transfer the remaining sheep to the opposite open class pens that had been arrange. We loved it equally – I like the true work and might by no means get sufficient of it on our small farm with our small herd and the small pastures.
I hope there was quite a lot of good issues in your weekend too. Inform us about it and add your ideas and experiences about canine and cats residing collectively. Or not. You recognize, like “cats and canine”.
