They say you shouldn’t put human emotions on an animal. But I prefer to think of it as interpreting their body language in human terms. After all, the “experts” will tell you that a dog that is poised and still with their mouth closed, may be about to attack out of fear or aggression. And what is aggression but anger on steroids? You have fear and anger there, both human emotions/reactions. So neener neener to the academia macadamia (college degree toting nuts), my dog communicates himself in human terms. How does he express himself? Let me count the ways…..
Confusion
When I first saw him it was in this photo he had just been sprung from animal control on Friday, because they wouldn’t guarantee he would be there on Saturday. Nobody wanted him. Nobody came for him. He had been wandering the streets “for a while”, hungry and blind. At this point in his life, I don’t think he knew where he was.
Lost
Grady was transported from Albany, NY to Calais, ME by a wonderful group of dog lovers. The number of changes to his life in just a few days was staggering: from a shelter, to a rescue, being neutered, then passed along a chain of people in strange vehicles…and yet he did not fight against what was happening to him. He took it in stride, even though he couldn’t see where he was going, from a physical or emotional perspective.
Tired
Over 600 miles later, in the back seat of my car, I’m sure he wondered if there was ever an end to the new cars and new people.
Hope
Almost six weeks and a lot of good food and grooming later, he begins to have a light, even in his blind eyes, that says maybe this is home.
Humour
It wasn’t long before his puckish and frequently twisted sense of humour emerged, and his reactions, even to a simple “listen” command was to make faces.
Contemplative
Grady is a great thinker. But I have gone from wondering if he’s just pondering the mysteries of life, to fearing what he would get up to next. These moods were often followed by one of his silly faces. See above.
Depressed
He wasn’t the only one. And no, it wasn’t because he is wearing ladies panties. Grady had a tumour removed from the back of his left haunch. Because we had no alternative, he needed to wear the hard cone, which deprived him of his freedom and the ability to use echo location to find his way around. There were so many more emotional expressions over those two weeks, including panic, frustration, hysteria, disbelief and guilt. The last was mine. It was the worst two weeks of our first year together.
Resilience
As always I am amazed at his resilience. While it’s true that animals don’t focus on their misfortunes, they still suffer from reactions to and the consequences of illness, mistreatment and stress. Yet by October, Grady was back on top of the world, enough to give me “back talk” about wearing a costume for Halloween.
Secure
Although cats may not have been a big part of his life before, Grady took them along with the other changes and made the most of it. Only a secure dog is going to share his bed with three of them.
Innocence
No, it wasn’t me that stole your cheese sandwich off the counter. Or the almost whole loaf of French bread. Didn’t touch the frozen pizza pockets either.
Romantic?
Afraid not. He couldn’t see the roses I put down there for a prop when he came and laid his paw on my knee as he so often does. Still, and despite being blind, I swear there is love in his eyes.
Patient Fraud
I can’t tell you how many times I have had him out and people say “oh what a patient puppy!” or “What a well behaved dog!” He’s fooled the groomer, the vet techs, the pet store staff, the Tim Horton’s girls…..
Exuberance
Taken a nano second before he launched himself at me.
Joie de vivre
Which he is always willing to share with his best bud, Fuzzy.
Now….tell me that dogs can’t communicate their feelings. I think not.
Thank you. I completely agree that dogs do in fact communicate their feelings and you have documented Grady’s feelings. I remember when I first saw one of your posts on the GR Forum and searched to find all the posts and followed his journey to Canada. I know Grady feels and understands probably even more, did you mention gratitude? I bet he feels that every day. And isn’t there a one year anniversary coming up soon?
Hi Kathy! Yes, gratitude too but I have no picture of that. It’s usually expressed by flinging himself into my lap and rolling around, then jumping up and trying to smother me. Yup, Gotcha Day is Monday. New post then!
What a transformation for Grady in your great care! Lucky, lucky pup!! Thanks for rescuing and loving him. 🙂
He is a knothead, Ogee. But you just have to love the big doofus.
Oh Grady, we hate to think what your life was before you found your forever loving family, you sure are loved now darling and you are super handsome 🙂
HAPPY DADDIE’Z DAY XX00XX
Mollie and Alfie
Awww, thanks Mollie and Alfie. All we really know is that his life wasn’t very good, if someone can throw him out on the street, blind and hungry. We can’t fix the blind part, but he has plenty to eat, lots of furriends, and a home.
Grady is one of our bestest buddies & being the expressive, intellectual (BOL) Scottish Terriers that we are, we can tell you with utter certainty that a) Grady can & does communicate emotion and b) especially that of his love & appreciation of you!
Rock on Grady-dude!!
Your pals,
Wally & Sammy
Aww thanks W & S! You two dudes are some of his favourite furriends. And the smartest, too. Possibly a bit of a bad influence as well, hehe.
Oh we 100% agree with you. Finn has all the local fooled too, how fun is that. I was so sad reading the first part of the post, I don’t want to think about what happened to him before he found his way to you, but he has the most wonderful and loving home now, I am sure he doesn’t even remember that part!
I hope he doesn’t Finn. Or at least when he does, maybe it’s just like a bad dream.
I really enjoyed this post! What expressions Grady!
Thanks DG. I don’t seem to be able to get a shot of him with his tongue stuck out!
Great blog Betty, I love reading about Grady. Happy Gotcha Day!
Oh, Grady, I love your Hope picture, and I can see so much love in your eyes. I’ll bet if this blog post included a picture of your human, we would all see hope and love there, too! So happy that you found each other. 🙂
Thanks MHL! But his human thinks Grady is much cuter, and besides, I don’t trust him with my camera 😛
My mommy doesn’t trust me with her camera either. I saw your note about not being able to get a shot of Grady with his tongue out. Somehow my mommy has tons of pictures of me with my tongue out. If only I could turn that camera on her, I could really get even!
Most excellent facial expressions!
Thank you, Run A Muck. It all comes from inside him because he doesn’t have the sight to give him visual input that he can react to.