Callie, like lots of dogs, has a “security object.” It’s like her “puppy pacifier,” even though, at 28 months, she’s hardly a puppy any more. Since she was about 8 weeks old, Callie’s security object has been “Stinky,” the remaining front half of a stuffed puppy, sans ears. The back half and the ears were casualties of over-aggressive chewing. But Callie is pretty gentle with Stinky, so with the help of a local seamstress, we’ve been able to keep Stinky more or less intact.
Callie could destroy Stinky in a nanosecond, but she doesn’t. She just lies near Stinky, or she “gums” Stinky to relax in the evening. Sometimes, Callie trots the length of our house to retrieve Stinky (named after our granddaughter’s security blanket) and bring him (or is Stinky a her?) to where we are.
But now enter “Ducky Wucky.” A few weeks ago, while Barbara and I were travelling, Callie spent a few days with our daughter’s Golden Retriever puppy, Magnolia (Maggie). Callie took a liking to Ducky Wucky, and our daughter, Karen, gave Ducky Wucky to Callie as a going away present.
Over the past few weeks, Callie, has begun to pay more attention to Ducky Wucky. She still hangs out with Stinky, but she has started to use Ducky Wucky in the same way that she uses Stinky — like a pacifier.
Here is a photo of Stinky Winky and Ducky Wucky together. Which one would you choose, if it were your choice?
I am continually amazed at dogs’ thought processes. The wheels are going around. Dog intelligence is different from people intelligence, but it’s real.
Does your dog have a “security object?” What is it? How do you know it’s a security object? What does your dog do with it? Are there special times when it uses it? Share your experience; post a comment
