When Sandy was adopted, after five exhausting months of living with a hyperactive little demon-child but feeling an inexplicable attachment, I comforted myself with the thought that I would again be able to find a dog like her if the time was right to foster again, or adopt.
And by "like her," I mean a dog who snorts. Yes, Sandy did this little piggie snorting thing when she sniffed and when she kissed, and I found it the most compelling, adorable, heartbreaking thing I could imagine.
And much as I loved having Pager and Collette and the others, none of them did those snorties.
She is a little pain in the butt, zooming around in the evenings like a deranged madwoman and giving us humans and Fozzie no rest, but somehow the snorts make it all OK.
Of all the selection criteria for an animal companion--you know, like great with kids, housetrained, knows basic commands--I imagine that "makes snorting noises" is low on most people's list. But I can't help it. There's just something about those snorties.
What dog behaviors reduce YOUR ability to think rationally?
I love the snorting & grunting too! Both Jaylynn & Red were big time moaner/groaners/snorters & I miss it :)
ReplyDeleteMy McIver groans like a bear when I rub his ears. Lucy grunts for attention and Calhoun inhales the world when he smells something. All of them make noises when they sleep which I find to be so sweet.
ReplyDeleteMamma Heartbeat
Look at all that love! And a snorting dog is even better than a snorting pig :-)
ReplyDeleteOink oink,
Katie and Coccolino the mini pig
Awww, puppy snorts! I'd probably find that pretty irresistible as well. I love all their little sounds!
ReplyDeleteExcept the whining. I could definitely do without the whining.
I love the sounds Georgia makes. She's very vocal. I even love her hysterical yowling at cats in the street and in the car, though people think we must be torturing or killing her and give us dirty looks.
ReplyDeleteBAH! Braylon does this on some scale. I know little things can be so endearing. But of course we love those quirks because it's what makes them unique. We love that Braylon nibbles when she kisses and we love that Hades always does a "breath check" before he kisses. He will sniff and turn his head if you've recently brushed your teeth. If you just ate he'll usually go in for the kiss :)
ReplyDeleteFreedom looks at me with big "sad puppy" eyes, and I just melt. Casper makes a flubbery noise when he settles down to sleep...love it. Nikki does this little happy spin whenever she gets a treat. It never fails to bring a smile to my face.
ReplyDeleteI love it! Gloria snorts too! :)
ReplyDeleteOur boy Bill will show off his bad leg when asked and Hiker often lays on her back with one front leg straight up in the air. Brook is a groaner who loves to cuddle in really snug. All seven have their own personalities and are so wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLook at all that loving!my Lily does that nutty zooming, BOL
ReplyDeleteBenny & Lily
Are you trying to tell us something Kirsten?
ReplyDeleteHi Kirsten, my sister the "princess" sheltie, snorts like a little piggy too, whenever she's excited and happy because my dad is petting her and making a big fuss about "his little girl". Gee...makes you a little nauseous. Oh well, the two of them were pretty much inseparable when she arrived. Owen and I were already here and Jetta (the annoying little brother) had yet to arrive. When we were really little, Owen and I used to sleep in separate large travel kennels and at night after mom and dad gave us belly rubs, they'd drape sheets over the front of the kennel so we'd go to sleep but Tuvia would lie right outside our kennel doors and sometimes peek under the sheet at us. She may be a "princess" but she's the only girl here besides mom. I think that we'll keep her - snortie noises and all.
ReplyDeleteSnorting is soothing and sweet, I agree. After having several very nice puppies in a row, I'm now in love with puppies (in limited numbers and not just whelped ones). I miss Waldo's wise old eyes looking at me to pick him up while his sister Diva zoomed all over, finally falling asleep like THAT on my neck, stole-fashion.
ReplyDeleteThat's so so sweet, I know what you mean, SUsie-Belle does a really sweet, gentle hand chewy thing, it's gentle now, it wasn't when she first came to us as she'd never learned inhibition, but now she's got it off perfectly, gentle, gentle soul that she is. xx
ReplyDeleteI love a dog who loves to snuggle. I know that sounds strange - all dogs love to snuggle, right? Well, not mine. Only one does, Oliver. The others just don't want to cuddle! That's why I absolutely had to have Oliver when I met him as a puppy at the shelter!
ReplyDeleteA dog that gets the wiggles. Big stand-up pittie ears. I'm a sucker every time.
ReplyDelete