The Amazing World of Canine 'Higher' Education!

As I looked towards the spot where Sally, our 8 year old retriever had just released her bladder's 'puddle', Mr. Wiggles and Mall Cop, the males in the group, had arrived, moved into position, to 'wrap it up'. They marked her spot, each covering the scent of what she had just deposited to keep 'others' at bay. Then little Ella arrived to add to the 'discussion' and 'punctuate' the spot. Seeing was believing!

Unusual animal behaviour had occurred. The act of bodily elimination is a daily occurrence in all animal kingdoms. With a male dog, it was common to see him protect his female companion by covering her scent with his to keep 'others' at bay. What made today's event so unique was Ella's interpretation of her older brothers' protective behaviour. He was always doing it, moving from tree, to grass then back again, to protect his domain. Mr. Wiggles had followed suit. He was a male after all. Occasionally, a 'collision' between Mr. Wiggles and Mall Cop's head was on course. But both males managed to go their separate ways. Soon the unexpected began to happen. Ella began to play follow the leader, lifting her hind leg, in accordance with male house rules, masking the scent of her male counterparts. It was odd behaviour even for odd Momsey to witness late in the life of little Ella..

Ella had learned to behave like a male and did what males do when other females are around, marking territory, covering the scent of the female. Who's scent was she covering, I wondered? Ella's actions were a remarkable feat of learning. I had never witnessed such misdirected allegiance to behaviour not ingrained in the female. Our little Ella, a 17 pounds, 4 year old dynamo, was acting like an 'interim' male, thanks to the teachings of her brother, Mall Cop, alias the professor. I recounted the event to her parents. They had seen it, too. In over 40 years of raising male and female pairs of retrievers, I had never seen such a feat of learning. Ella was an A student. I was in awe of her plastic burgeoning brain.

The adult female mini schnauzer had learned a behaviour unbeknownst to all of us. (The brain is this incredible plastic organ, command central, always changing, always 'learning'). In the mind of Ella, she was simply following her brother's lead. Her 'mom' told stories of Ella performing this 'masking' act, often, with her male sibling, during walks in the neighbourhood where other dogs lurked. I'd noticed this behaviour only while dog sitting the four of them. Ella was an interesting subject, always encouraging her brother, Mall Cop, the professor, to move or else. (I think he worried about what the 'or else' would mean. So he invariably moved to the absurd). I watched in wonder at these two. But then I watch in wonder at all of them including Tiggy, our miracle cat. I was observing and learning much from our furry four-legged teachers.

Dogs give us so much while telling us their story. I watch and learn and now know that an inert male canine trait can be taught, unknowingly, to a close canine sibling. Learning can occur in the absence of pen, paper or textbook. Let that be a lesson to the educational community. The young child comes to mind. We must allow the unconventional to be included in the curriculum in order for conventional learning to occur. Ella was now a most unique canine subject.

Recently, our middle son, the 'healer', adopted a rescue, a 6 month-old beagle. ('Adam' chose this precious rescue pup in spite of a long awaited business trip, to San Diego, planned months earlier). Family is now caring for this newest member during his absence. Dogs will surprise you when you least expect it. With a new puppy, in an excitable state of mind, around other more mature dogs, not of his species, our little 'Emerson' is learning quickly in his precocious puppy world. Mr. Wiggles is not far behind. After watching me place a rubber 'lady bug ' partly through the enameled wire top of the puppy cage, little Emerson began to pull it through. (Was someone else watching me, too?). I left for the kitchen, a few feet away, when something caught my attention. I returned to the cage to find our Wiggler's plush teddy, on top of the cage, partially through, next to the rubber lady bug, left by me, moments ago. Without missing a beat and behind my back, our wiggler had been studying me, followed my lead by placing his favourite teddy he'd been carrying, on top of the cage, near its center, in the hopes that Emerson would have another 'object of play' to pull through, in a new puppy game of brain stimulation. Emerson had learned a simple lesson taught by a member of his canine species. So had Mr. Wiggles! (Me, too!) (Little Emerson is given plenty of supervised outside time, with numerous squeaky balls of different shapes and sizes, to 'exercise' his 'freedom').

I was astonished but not surprised. Engagement had inspired learning. Little Emerson, the 6 month old beagle, had begun his apprenticeship program. In the world of canine behaviour, anything was possible. With Ella, Mall Cop, Emerson and Mr. Wiggles, I now realize, the games have just begun.