Canine Politics

I remember seeing (not that long ago) a Footrot Flats cartoon with the dog walking along, thinking about his place in the local canine pecking order. If I could find it online, I'd link to it.

Essentially, he was lower than everyone in the neighbourhood, except for prince Charles the corgi. And as he went through the list of a dozen or so dogs, including someone's Cavalier King Charles Spaniel... his head got lower & lower... until he came to Prince Charles, when he perked up again & gave the corgi a bollocking.

And this came to mind again yesterday as I watched the social pecking order at Magpie Lawn being decided, and then maintained...

The dogs were running around as usual, Wilma was playing tug of War with Havoc, the mad Staffordshire Terrier.

Havoc meanwhile, was being harried from the rear (if you get my drift) by Sam the Spoodle. Havoc stopped now & then to growl at Sam, but that didn't stop him for long.

Finally, Havoc broke off the play, and very severely put Sam in his place. He didn't actually bite the spoodle, but it did look quite nasty, and Sam was completely traumatised, lying on his back, whimpering with his tail between his legs.

Havoc was pulled off him & went back to play, more hyperactive than ever.

Wilma didn't seem the least bit bothered by this.

the other dogs on the lawn were Barney & Mitch. Barney looks just like the Tramp, from the Lady & the Tramp, and he was the only other male dog on the lawn besides Sam & Havoc.

The weird thing was, after Havoc gave Sam the bollocking, he ignored him. However, the incident had plainly signalled to Barney that Sam was the lowest of the low & he began - there is no other word really - to bully Sam. Just, I think, to make it clear who was boss.

Wilma & Mitch just ignored Sam. And it occured to me that Wilma always does, she's neither antagonistic (as she is to one or two dogs), nor scared (as she is by one neighbouring boxer, who as far as I know, has never done anything to warrant it), nor friendly with him.

Must be a girl thing.

SunnyO: Wilma & friends at the Lawn