Hi Karen,
Peanut was not trying to get midnight into trouble.
Dogs mark their territory out as do cats with their urine and fecies.
If anything Peanut was giving midnight the territory not getting the other dog in trouble.
I worked for a number of years with dogs, especially greyhounds. I worked for a trainner and for a track where they race.
The dogs love racing and the excitement of the meet.
Like most, I had my own dogs which I walked for the owners as did the other staff. Being new girl I was usually given all the dogs less likely to win because the others wanted the tips when they won. Dogs are very intelligent and so are cats. They sense the person as do young children. The trainner knew I had arrived before anyone saw me, because the dogs for the trainner I worked for knew when I had arrived without seeing me and would try and pull the staff to the paddock door to get to me.
Dogs know instinctively how we feel about them. Emotions are picked up on and I knew how my dogs felt.
Needless to say in the weeks ahead, my dogs and I bonded and soon I had more winners than any of the girls at the track.
Judy was a lovely little greyhound and she was the downer when it came to dogs at the track. She never won and had been passed on to someone who could hardly afford the trainning fees let alone the meet fees. She was sad because you could see in her eyes no one expected her to win and she did not believe in herself. We soon turned it around even though she was getting old. We would have our little talks and we grew very close. In no time she started getting placed 3rd and upwards till she was winning. The owner and the trainner said to me, "I don't know what you have done but Judy has changed and she is wonderful when she runs and back at the Kennels."
You need to believe in your animals and they need to know that they are special to you no matter what they do. Judy raced for a number of years, winning races and happy. She died from an heart attack at the kennels when old, but she died happy and knowing she was loved and someone believed in her. I think you will find peanut was endearing herself to midnight not causing her trouble.
It is important we treat all our animals equally when together, giving extra attention only when each is alone with us. It validates to them that as a whole they are loved the same but also as individuals they are only given special attention when alone so they love being with others with you, as well as on their own.
I believe with all animals, you will only receive what you are willing to put in. When my aunts cat hurt her hind leg. She had been limping and was in pain. I befriended the cat and started doing physio on her hind leg with massage. She soon got better and since then,when I visit, makes a b'line for me. I am allowed to stroke her, and she sits on my knee and will often fall asleep. The cats are cunning. for unlike dogs they are loathed to admit they understand what you are saying. They think if they pretend to not understand they can get away with murder. But my aunts cat knows different with me. And when dining she wants some of what I am having.
Dogs understand more than most give them credit for. But be careful because like human beings, you get good and bad. I know it sounds daft, but I can tell from the way a dog pants when running if happy or angry. Sorry it is so long winded.
