This is my family dog, Maya, a one and a half year-old Alaskan Malamute. I usually say that she’s my dog, but the truth is that she is the family’s dog. In many ways she (as with many family dogs, I imagine), reinforces the ties that bind each member of my family closer together. Even though we have different personalities and interests, each of us shares an abundance of love for this furry friend.
She looks a bit forlorn because she knows that my suitcases are packed, a tell-tale signal that my time at home is over. When I packed yesterday morning, she brought her bone over to an open suitcase and nestled it beneath a layer of socks, sneaking away with a sparkly-silver pair in exchange. I can’t be sure, but I’d like to think it was her way of making sure that I came back home again- to trade back her bone for my socks.
Right after I took this photo, around 3 p.m., she sat down next to me and nuzzled her head against mine. A final plea for me to stay? A petition for treats? I’m not sure exactly what she was trying to say, but it nearly broke my heart!
It’s interesting what animals, especially dogs, communicate to us. Here’s a thought: A professor from grad school, a fellow dog owner, suggested that we assign more meaning to their behavior than they intend to send. It’s true that we sometimes misinterpret their communication, but I wonder how much meaning we share with our canine companions. How much of our communication do they understand and how much of their communication do we understand?
Hmmm. . .
ofmatterandmeaning 