I read an article once detailing how dogs were not man’s best friend but, in fact, highly evolved parasites. They learned how to manipulate humans and as a result were taken in, fed, housed, loved in exchange for very little. Sure, there are working dogs out there that work hard for the food, shelter and love they receive, but I think that they are in the minority.
Let’s use….hmmm…Ghengis as an example here. He knows exactly which facial expressions will get him more hugs and cuddling and he uses them liberally. He also knows exactly how to sit up and pout his lip a little (yes, he pouts his lower lip) to get a dorito from me.
In his slickest move thus far, he offered me a chunk of chewed up rawhide in exchange for another dorito. He kept plopping the gross little rawhide nubbin on my lap then looking at the bag of chips. I naturally gave him a dorito which he ate. Then he deftly picked up the rawhide he had given me, settled in net to me and started chewing on it.
He offered something to me in exchange for a dorito knowing that i would not want to keep it. He got his dorito AND his rawhide AND i will continue to look down upon him as though he were a little furry angel sent to make me happy.
I’m such a sucker.