Why Do They Do This? Minimu?

midori1999 · 2010-06-07T14:14:38+00:00

Right, we currently have four dogs. The second youngest one, Poppy, used to sit on the other, older two bitches. Now we have a younger pup, a boy called Buster, Poppy no longer sits on the other two girls, but Buster sits on all three of the girls. Both Poppy and Buster would choose to sit mostly on the 'matriach', Indi, the oldest of my girls and I suppose she is top bitch. Is it some sort of appeasement/alliance thing?

minimu1 · 07/06/2010 15:40

I don't think so. Boringly I think it is just puppy play behaviour. Some dogs do it and others never do. Usually it gets a reaction of some sort, laughter from the owners or a growl and shrug from the dog being sat on. That usually is enough for the dog to keep trying it! Dead cute though

Original poster

midori1999 · 07/06/2010 15:47

Thanks. I just found it odd that when the new puppy arrived, Poppy stopped doing it. Also, these puppies are the least confident dogs we have ever had. Not sure why with Pops, she had a good start at the breeder and was (and is) very well socialised by us. Buster came from the pound and we were his fourth home by 14 weeks, but apart from the pound/his homes he had never been anywhere by then, so I suppose that's why he's inclined to get nervous.

We definitely don't reinforce it ourselves, (although it does make us smile) and although it sometimes instigates play in one of the older girls, that is the one that gets sat on less often. Indi just ignores completely and carries on sleeping (she's very good at ignoring annoying puppies, bless her... )

I am probably looking for things that aren't there....

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morethanyoubargainfor · 07/06/2010 15:51

my two do this as well, they are 3 and 2 years old now! It is teh 2 year old that always does the 'sitting' and the 3 year just lays there! Our 2 yo is a rescue and we have had him 8 months, whereas the 3 yo we have had from 7 weeks, don't think he minds but he is so laid back he is horizontal most of the time .

minimu1 · 07/06/2010 15:53

Some puppies do it for comfort - the warmth they get from the other dog is obviously familiar to them. I had a lab pup that would sit on my feet all the time - even if I was just standing at the sink! Dead sweet but very inconvienent lucky when he got to 25kg my feet were too small.

They all generally stop it when they get a bit bigger although some try it for quite a while!

It is great having an old girl sho is used to pups. I have a 15 year old lab and wanted to get the new pup while she was still around. She is the best teacher and certainly shows my puppies the way to behave.

Off topic how are you? Still on bed rest?

morethanyoubargainfor · 07/06/2010 15:55

generally they stop when they get bigger, are you having a laugh! my older one is 42KG and the younger is 25KG can't get that much bigger surely!

minimu1 · 07/06/2010 16:10

well I have learnt in my line of business morethanyoubargainfor that there is usually more than one exception to the rule. A shame dogs are not robots then it would be easy (or boring)!

Original poster

midori1999 · 07/06/2010 16:10

Yes, maybe it is for comfort. Buster almost always sleeps curled up next to one of the girls. (we weren't meant to be keeping him, but it seems he is staying now!) This is him and Indi by my feet right now:

i40.photobucket.com/albums/e201/midori1999/e0ed72d9.jpg

I'm not on bedrest anymore. The short version is I got bi-lateral pulmonary embolisms, then went into labour due to an infection in the bag of waters on 30th April at only 23+5 weeks. I had twin girls. They did try and save both girls, but Megan died at 15 minutes old (she was the twin with broken waters and the infection was in her amniotic sac, so she never stood much fo a chance, bless her, but she was a fighter hanging on so long as the infection had been there a while it seems, just with no symptoms). Imogen went up to NICU and did really well. She lived for 9 days before she died of a pulomonary haemorrhage. I miss them, but I am greatful for the time I did get with them. The animals are a good distraction, tbh, and it's ncie to be able ot spend time with them again.

OP posts:

Original poster

midori1999 · 07/06/2010 16:10

Yes, maybe it is for comfort. Buster almost always sleeps curled up next to one of the girls. (we weren't meant to be keeping him, but it seems he is staying now!) This is him and Indi by my feet right now:

i40.photobucket.com/albums/e201/midori1999/e0ed72d9.jpg

I'm not on bedrest anymore. The short version is I got bi-lateral pulmonary embolisms, then went into labour due to an infection in the bag of waters on 30th April at only 23+5 weeks. I had twin girls. They did try and save both girls, but Megan died at 15 minutes old (she was the twin with broken waters and the infection was in her amniotic sac, so she never stood much fo a chance, bless her, but she was a fighter hanging on so long as the infection had been there a while it seems, just with no symptoms). Imogen went up to NICU and did really well. She lived for 9 days before she died of a pulomonary haemorrhage. I miss them, but I am greatful for the time I did get with them. The animals are a good distraction, tbh, and it's ncie to be able ot spend time with them again.

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minimu1 · 07/06/2010 16:23

Midori what a time you have had - sorry to bring it up here but felt things had been hard for you. Loads of positive healing support coming your way and let those animals be a huge distraction for you.

oxocube · 07/06/2010 16:25

Beautiful photo midori. And I am so terribly sorry for the loss of your baby girls. I had no idea

morethanyoubargainfor · 07/06/2010 17:31

midori i am sorry for your loss as well.

Minimu I am not complaining and i am glad they are not robots, i see too many dogs that are like robots and stripped of their personalities, not something mine could be accused of (although they are not bad).

Themasterandmargaritas · 07/06/2010 17:33

Oh I was just reading this and then saw your news midori. I'm so sorry.

Slubberdegullion · 07/06/2010 17:37

midori, so sorry to hear of your loss . Glad to hear you lovely dogs are providing you with some comfort.

Original poster

midori1999 · 07/06/2010 17:49

Gosh, thankyou so much everyone, but apologies for being so depressing. I think I just kind of blurted it all out.

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Slubberdegullion · 07/06/2010 17:55

My goodness, don't apologise. What a traumatic and terribly, terribly sad thing to go through.

Love and strength to you xx

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 07/06/2010 18:38

Only just seen this. I'm so sorry for your loss Midori

That is a reply lovely photo of your dogs, two dogs fit together much neater and take up less space than I thought.