Rioja and Deuce have been playing for days with one of their favorite pals -a dog I have here for boarding. They met Scout previously when she stayed with us a few months back, so I was really happy to have her stay with us again. Just watching them interact - be it outright play or laying closely two-for-one in a crate has made me think about friendship.
Can we say that dogs make “friends.” And, if so, what does their friendships look like? Is there a common denominator to “doggy-friendship”? And also, what are the circumstances that could potentially erode a canine friendship?
According to my computer’s dictionary a friendship is defined as…
Now, if I look in the same dictionary under “friend” the entry is only in reference to personhood… “A person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.”
Yet for anyone that has hung around dogs and is paying attention, it is evident that dogs can form lasting friendships.
I think their friendships are similar to ours, granted they don’t go out to bars for drinks or to the movies, but what they do is spend time doing activities that they find reinforcing in the company of their friend.
One of the things that I observe between dogs that I consider "friends” is that they are “in tune” and respond to the other’s dog body language almost effortlessly.
I watched them play, and while their play can get out of hand, it appears to naturally morphs to a less intense interaction. I noticed how Deuce plays different with Rioja when it is only the two of them than when they have a buddy over. Of course, one can argue that the dynamic of two is not the same of dynamic of a threesome. And my point: friendships allow us to incorporate a "third" into what we do so customarily.
Deuce and Scout have become close buddies because they both love to hunt after lizards or imaginary lizards for that matter. Rioja and Scout on the other hand, engage in more bodily contact. Their play styles matched to a "T." Leaping and intersecting each other almost full-speed - yes there has been a few coalitions, but heck all is forgiven between good mates.
I know that what also maintains good friendships between dogs are that we are careful around precious resources. I do think that with dogs –as it is with people, a qualifier of a good friend is someone that forgives our occasional rude behavior or an indiscretion in the case of people, etc. However, when conflict between friends becomes the norm it can erode the friendship to the point of no return.
Fights between dogs can become more regular, more injurious and now the dogs have replaced the positive association with their “friend” for a negative one.
Part of what I do when I have doggie-friends over is to make sure to not feed my dog’s with visiting dogs. I also dispense marrow bones in crates and I carefully watch interactions when resources such as toys or treats are made available.
Equally important, I can help strengthen the relationship between my dogs and their “pals” by having the dogs engage in activities that they all enjoy. Be it a hike, retrieving a ball, etc.
For most dogs, having access to other friendly dogs is really at top of their list. Frequent opportunities to hang out or play with other friendly dogs are the best way to make sure that our dog’s social manners do not erode.
Can we say that dogs make “friends.” And, if so, what does their friendships look like? Is there a common denominator to “doggy-friendship”? And also, what are the circumstances that could potentially erode a canine friendship?
According to my computer’s dictionary a friendship is defined as…
- “The emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends”;
- “A relationship between friends;
- “A state of mutual trust and support between allied nations."
Now, if I look in the same dictionary under “friend” the entry is only in reference to personhood… “A person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.”
Yet for anyone that has hung around dogs and is paying attention, it is evident that dogs can form lasting friendships.
I think their friendships are similar to ours, granted they don’t go out to bars for drinks or to the movies, but what they do is spend time doing activities that they find reinforcing in the company of their friend.
One of the things that I observe between dogs that I consider "friends” is that they are “in tune” and respond to the other’s dog body language almost effortlessly.
I watched them play, and while their play can get out of hand, it appears to naturally morphs to a less intense interaction. I noticed how Deuce plays different with Rioja when it is only the two of them than when they have a buddy over. Of course, one can argue that the dynamic of two is not the same of dynamic of a threesome. And my point: friendships allow us to incorporate a "third" into what we do so customarily.
Deuce and Scout have become close buddies because they both love to hunt after lizards or imaginary lizards for that matter. Rioja and Scout on the other hand, engage in more bodily contact. Their play styles matched to a "T." Leaping and intersecting each other almost full-speed - yes there has been a few coalitions, but heck all is forgiven between good mates.
I know that what also maintains good friendships between dogs are that we are careful around precious resources. I do think that with dogs –as it is with people, a qualifier of a good friend is someone that forgives our occasional rude behavior or an indiscretion in the case of people, etc. However, when conflict between friends becomes the norm it can erode the friendship to the point of no return.
Fights between dogs can become more regular, more injurious and now the dogs have replaced the positive association with their “friend” for a negative one.
Part of what I do when I have doggie-friends over is to make sure to not feed my dog’s with visiting dogs. I also dispense marrow bones in crates and I carefully watch interactions when resources such as toys or treats are made available.
Equally important, I can help strengthen the relationship between my dogs and their “pals” by having the dogs engage in activities that they all enjoy. Be it a hike, retrieving a ball, etc.
For most dogs, having access to other friendly dogs is really at top of their list. Frequent opportunities to hang out or play with other friendly dogs are the best way to make sure that our dog’s social manners do not erode.
Almudena,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post.
I think its good for people to understand that dogs need and want dog friendships. I schedule play dates for my dog and her pals all of the time.
I see how she looks at her friend's homes when we pass by them when the family is not at home. She knows her pals live there, she knows all of her friend's names when I say them, she sniffs around their property and then just looks at me with happy anticipation...
Hi,
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. I could not forget while reading your post that dogs (wolf descendants) are pack animals. Therefore used to cooperation and pack life with its specific roles and characteristics. Dog and man have collaborated for thousands of years. Indeed dog are social animals and social contact must be of the essence for a healthy life.
(Ruco)
Hi There! Thank you for your post. I love the fact that you are so observant of your dog’s demeanor when in the presence of a “friend” or its territory. Also the fact that you give your dog ample opportunities to engage with his/her pals… a truly lucky dog!
ReplyDeleteDear “Anonymous” thanks for your comment. You are spot on dogs are truly socialalmost to the point of being compulsive. However differently from wolves, they do not form “packs” which be definition implies hunting (food-acquisition) behaviors. Instead dogs form loose (social) groups with which they share in activities such as scavenging for food, play, sleep etc. with members of that group only to (potentially) move on to another group. In other words, their social relationships are more fluid than a pack
ReplyDeleteanimal (wolf) where they remain, for the most part together as a unit.