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.
