New Puppies Page
LEADER OF THE PACK
I have bred dogs at different times of my life and I have lived with dogs in my house also
at different times. But this is the first time I lived with a pack of dogs who were also
breeders. The dogs form a pecking order so to speak, and I pretty much have to let this
happen. I have to fit into this pack somehow which consists of 10 dogs and a couple of
cats who occasionally have kittens. I have to have control or there would be chaos. I
have accidentally formed this relationship with these animals and have become a figure
of authority very similar to a parent, teacher, or leader is to us. In this role, I have come to
understand that these animals have a reasoning and thinking ability that most people
don't acknowledge. I have wanted to get into their little minds and understand what it is
they are thinking. However, sense I have only a limited understanding of the way they
communicate, I can only make guesses as to how they think . Also being raised in a
house where animals were called the "poor dumb things", I also have this mindset of
underestimating their intelligence. I have also been taught that animals do not feel
emotions. This is only for the superior brain of the human. So I am constantly amazed by
the things these animals do as they prove to me that all these things are false.
The dogs have formed this pack among themselves where they have their own little
world of dominance and submission that they have let me overseer . In my
underestimation of them , I thought this was because they had to do this to be fed. But
with each litter born and my interaction with the mama animals during this time, I have
formed a relationship of trust between them and me as they put their lives in my hands
willingly even if it goes against their natural instincts. My rule in this community is not as
a member of the pack for they already have this leader in the male dog Snoopy. It seems
all the animals see me as a superior creature who is to be feared, loved, respected and
looked to for their needs and protection..
The cats have a totally different way of living. They don't have a leader among them. This
is a creature known for their independent nature and their need for their own space.
Trust is not easy for a cat as they do not actually need us to take care of them. They
chose to stick around because food is easy to get here. They could get it themselves but
why bother if the human is there to put some food in a bowl for them. As far as affection
goes, they can take us or leave us. I always respected this and accepted this as cat
nature and thought them to not be all that bright. It took this beautiful white cat who is
independent in nature, to make me rethink my preconceived ideas about cats.
This cat is constantly pregnant. Every time I take her to get spayed she is already
pregnant again. Her first litter she did what I have seen cats do for years. She crawled off
to a private place and had her kittens and hissed if I came anywhere near her babies. Her
second litter I was allowed there but I had to keep my distance. But she watched me with
my dogs. I saw her watching with interest as I helped each puppy come into the world.
She would actually keep moving to a new spot to get as close a look as the mama dog
would allow. The next time she was ready to give birth she started following me around
the house crying and rubbing against my leg. She cried loudly if I walked into another
room or out of her sight. I know the dogs always come to me when the birthday arrived
but never a cat. With this thought going through my mind, I sat down to work on the
computer and told the cat to go away. The cat got up on the printer, gave one loud cry
while looking me square in the face (cats do that). There was an explosion of blood and
water around the tail area as a kitten appeared. I was surprised as she had never done
something like this before . She hadn't searched out a place to have babies. She hadn't
taken socks, toys and other things into this nesting place she chose. All the things she
did before, she didn't do now. I was starting to wonder if the cat had totally lost her mind
Of course I got up and got one of the whelping boxes and made her a place for her
babies . I tried to walk away and let her alone to finish her work. But she was not going to
have this. She followed me. She stopped long enough to cry and give birth to kitten
number 2. I picked the tiny wet kitten off the floor and went to put it in the whelping box
with its litter mate. I decided to put my work aside and sat with her while she had 3 more
kittens just as normally as if I had not been there. She even allowed me to pick them up
and examine each one. I was getting the idea from her that she wanted me to do this.
There had to be something to learn form this I was thinking. Cats must see us as more
then a food provider. This cat anyway wanted to be treated the same way I treated the
dogs. I wonder if the cat was feeling left out when she saw the dogs getting all this
attention on their days for giving birth. According to my preconceived ideas about cats
and according to all I had been taught about animals and their lack of ability to feel these
human emotions made this idea seem irrational. Someone might say that she had just
now decided to trust me enough to have me there. But this does not explain why she
wanted me to treat her the same as I treat the dogs. It seems she wants to be part of this
pack with equal rights. It didn't matter to her that her kittens did not have any monetary
value. Animals have no need for money. She just wants to belong. If she were human I
am sure she would be walking up and down our front yard with a picket sign reading
"equal rights for cats." I am convinced she wants to be a part of this bond between me
and my dogs. I saw my pet cats with different eyes after this day and I started to pay
more attention to them even if it seems they don't really need this.
We have another cat we did manage to get spayed after her first litter. This was the
sweetest cat and she loved her kittens. After she was spayed she acted mad at the
world. She would attack my white cat when she became pregnant like she was jealous.
My son was sure jealousy was the motivation behind her actions. I dismissed this idea
because I had a preconceived idea that animals do not feel emotions like jealousy. But I
can't ignore the facts of this cats actions as now my son is the only one who can touch
this cat and keep all the flesh on his hand. Is it possible this cat really wanted to be a
mama? Is she angry with us for getting her spayed? Indeed, can she actually know what
happen to her? Nothing surprises me any more. The more I learn the more I want to
become vegetarian.
Whatever the reasons for the bazzar behavior of our pets, any of us who live in a house
with 3 or more animals will know in their hearts that animals know more then most
people give them credit for.
As far as my dogs go, from the beginning I insisted on being there at the birth. These tiny
dogs can have problems during labor. Its all a part of the job to be there when puppies
are born. The first ones I had here gave me resistance at first as they tried to follow their
instincts. But now everyone cooperates with me. Even the new dogs who have never
had a litter here before, know that I am suppose to be there. Now most will search me out
and make it known that its time. Who told them to trust me? Someone might say that they
really have no choice in the matter and have simply given in to me. I thought that for a
while until some other things happen to change my ideas.
My little Nellie carried on and refused to let me out of her sight. She seemed anxious and
cried and walked in my path all morning that day. I thought something was wrong. So I
called my friend Janet, who is more knowledgeable about this breed then I. She said to
be ready for puppies to be born because this is what Nellie is trying to tell me. So I got
out a whelping box and put in clean blankets and got ready even though I was only
partly convinced Janet was right. Nellie climbed in the box and started tugging and
pulling on the blankets. It was not even two minuets that the first puppy was born. I
could not even get up and leave between puppies being born. She wanted me to stay
right there. I am convinced she was not willing to settle down and have that baby until I
did this for her. This was her first litter. This was not instinct that told her to do this. This
was a learned behavior she picked up from understanding my rule as caregiver and over
seer in this group. I did not force myself into this moment against the dogs will. She
invited and indeed insisted I be there,
When Pebbles started having trouble with her birth she trusted me to do what was
necessary to make things right. It went against all her instincts to let me pick her up,
wrap her in a blanket and carry her to the vet. But she did this knowing I was going to
help her. All my efforts to stay calm were failing but Pebbles had more confidence in me
then I did. She was perfectly calm throughout the whole ordeal. The staff consisted of
the veterinarian and her assistant. They tried to calm me down and in so doing I could
feel Pebbles relax as they shaved some hair off her leg for an IV. I was surprised how
calm she was even if she was a little confused. I was there when she woke up and she
took to her puppies right away. There were no instincts being used when she had to
have a c section. But Pebbles seemed to know that all that was being done was for her
own good. That was not instinct. That is intelligent reasoning ability.
This trust my animals give me is an awesome responsibility. Its not always easy to know
what to do sense we have a language barrier. But even that gap is filled more every day
as we learn to understand each other. For example, a rolled up piece of paper in my hand
will make them be more obedient. I don't need to hit them with this paper. I just have to
show them and use forceful words. I am sure if I ever hit them with it they would soon
figure out it does not hurt and this method would not work any more. But for now,
holding it in my hand and an occasional slap on a piece of furniture will bring the whole
group to attention. Go figure. All my hollering didn't work but this simple action is all that
it took. Its like they are saying "Oh wow, shes got that bad piece of paper again, better
listen up." But sometimes I think they know I wont hurt them. I never have. But the paper
in hand makes them realize I mean business. Maybe its the stance I take while holding
the paper. Maybe its a signal Ive been pushed to the limit.
I am not sure if they see us as a part of their pack. I am sure the cats and dogs do not see
each other as part of their different worlds. Its like my house has become a little town
filled with souls of different ideas and beliefs. They have all agreed to respect each other
and accept all differences. But the truly amazing thing is that they have been able to use
reasoning and thinking ability to get past even their instincts to make the community a
success. They have all decided that I was going to be their leader and protector. Not
only because I demand this but because they all love me, trust me, and respect me.
These are more human emotion animals are not suppose to feel. But I live here and I see
this every day. I know they show emotions. I know they have more intelligence then my
parents ever even noticed. We still have problems in our community as the dogs bark at
the cats and the cats tease the dogs to get them to bark. Theres a few arguments
between the female dogs when one comes in heat. These are minor although they can
look pretty ferocious to anyone not knowing what is going on. My rule as leader is to
stop these disagreements and stop them before someone gets hurt. They all look to me
to settle things. This is not instinct but thinking ability and love for me their leader.
If the world would only work as well as the harmony that lives within the boundaries of
our property, it would be a wonderful place to live. My grandfather told me once that the
animals are here to teach us lessons about life if we had the eyes to see these lessons. I
have learned this. Animals share our many emotions but there is one they do not share
that has caused the most trouble for men. Greed. Animals are content if they have what
they need. They protect what is theres but they never go out and try to steal what is not
theirs just because they want it. They don't manipulate the other souls in their world to
satisfy some type of greed but adjust to and accept the souls, no matter how different
they might be. They work hard, play hard, and love loyally. They take only what they
need and no more. If only all human souls in the world could say these things about
themselves, then humans would all sleep as soundly as their pets. For this last human
emotion is also one animals have no need for. That emotion is guilt!
at different times. But this is the first time I lived with a pack of dogs who were also
breeders. The dogs form a pecking order so to speak, and I pretty much have to let this
happen. I have to fit into this pack somehow which consists of 10 dogs and a couple of
cats who occasionally have kittens. I have to have control or there would be chaos. I
have accidentally formed this relationship with these animals and have become a figure
of authority very similar to a parent, teacher, or leader is to us. In this role, I have come to
understand that these animals have a reasoning and thinking ability that most people
don't acknowledge. I have wanted to get into their little minds and understand what it is
they are thinking. However, sense I have only a limited understanding of the way they
communicate, I can only make guesses as to how they think . Also being raised in a
house where animals were called the "poor dumb things", I also have this mindset of
underestimating their intelligence. I have also been taught that animals do not feel
emotions. This is only for the superior brain of the human. So I am constantly amazed by
the things these animals do as they prove to me that all these things are false.
The dogs have formed this pack among themselves where they have their own little
world of dominance and submission that they have let me overseer . In my
underestimation of them , I thought this was because they had to do this to be fed. But
with each litter born and my interaction with the mama animals during this time, I have
formed a relationship of trust between them and me as they put their lives in my hands
willingly even if it goes against their natural instincts. My rule in this community is not as
a member of the pack for they already have this leader in the male dog Snoopy. It seems
all the animals see me as a superior creature who is to be feared, loved, respected and
looked to for their needs and protection..
The cats have a totally different way of living. They don't have a leader among them. This
is a creature known for their independent nature and their need for their own space.
Trust is not easy for a cat as they do not actually need us to take care of them. They
chose to stick around because food is easy to get here. They could get it themselves but
why bother if the human is there to put some food in a bowl for them. As far as affection
goes, they can take us or leave us. I always respected this and accepted this as cat
nature and thought them to not be all that bright. It took this beautiful white cat who is
independent in nature, to make me rethink my preconceived ideas about cats.
This cat is constantly pregnant. Every time I take her to get spayed she is already
pregnant again. Her first litter she did what I have seen cats do for years. She crawled off
to a private place and had her kittens and hissed if I came anywhere near her babies. Her
second litter I was allowed there but I had to keep my distance. But she watched me with
my dogs. I saw her watching with interest as I helped each puppy come into the world.
She would actually keep moving to a new spot to get as close a look as the mama dog
would allow. The next time she was ready to give birth she started following me around
the house crying and rubbing against my leg. She cried loudly if I walked into another
room or out of her sight. I know the dogs always come to me when the birthday arrived
but never a cat. With this thought going through my mind, I sat down to work on the
computer and told the cat to go away. The cat got up on the printer, gave one loud cry
while looking me square in the face (cats do that). There was an explosion of blood and
water around the tail area as a kitten appeared. I was surprised as she had never done
something like this before . She hadn't searched out a place to have babies. She hadn't
taken socks, toys and other things into this nesting place she chose. All the things she
did before, she didn't do now. I was starting to wonder if the cat had totally lost her mind
Of course I got up and got one of the whelping boxes and made her a place for her
babies . I tried to walk away and let her alone to finish her work. But she was not going to
have this. She followed me. She stopped long enough to cry and give birth to kitten
number 2. I picked the tiny wet kitten off the floor and went to put it in the whelping box
with its litter mate. I decided to put my work aside and sat with her while she had 3 more
kittens just as normally as if I had not been there. She even allowed me to pick them up
and examine each one. I was getting the idea from her that she wanted me to do this.
There had to be something to learn form this I was thinking. Cats must see us as more
then a food provider. This cat anyway wanted to be treated the same way I treated the
dogs. I wonder if the cat was feeling left out when she saw the dogs getting all this
attention on their days for giving birth. According to my preconceived ideas about cats
and according to all I had been taught about animals and their lack of ability to feel these
human emotions made this idea seem irrational. Someone might say that she had just
now decided to trust me enough to have me there. But this does not explain why she
wanted me to treat her the same as I treat the dogs. It seems she wants to be part of this
pack with equal rights. It didn't matter to her that her kittens did not have any monetary
value. Animals have no need for money. She just wants to belong. If she were human I
am sure she would be walking up and down our front yard with a picket sign reading
"equal rights for cats." I am convinced she wants to be a part of this bond between me
and my dogs. I saw my pet cats with different eyes after this day and I started to pay
more attention to them even if it seems they don't really need this.
We have another cat we did manage to get spayed after her first litter. This was the
sweetest cat and she loved her kittens. After she was spayed she acted mad at the
world. She would attack my white cat when she became pregnant like she was jealous.
My son was sure jealousy was the motivation behind her actions. I dismissed this idea
because I had a preconceived idea that animals do not feel emotions like jealousy. But I
can't ignore the facts of this cats actions as now my son is the only one who can touch
this cat and keep all the flesh on his hand. Is it possible this cat really wanted to be a
mama? Is she angry with us for getting her spayed? Indeed, can she actually know what
happen to her? Nothing surprises me any more. The more I learn the more I want to
become vegetarian.
Whatever the reasons for the bazzar behavior of our pets, any of us who live in a house
with 3 or more animals will know in their hearts that animals know more then most
people give them credit for.
As far as my dogs go, from the beginning I insisted on being there at the birth. These tiny
dogs can have problems during labor. Its all a part of the job to be there when puppies
are born. The first ones I had here gave me resistance at first as they tried to follow their
instincts. But now everyone cooperates with me. Even the new dogs who have never
had a litter here before, know that I am suppose to be there. Now most will search me out
and make it known that its time. Who told them to trust me? Someone might say that they
really have no choice in the matter and have simply given in to me. I thought that for a
while until some other things happen to change my ideas.
My little Nellie carried on and refused to let me out of her sight. She seemed anxious and
cried and walked in my path all morning that day. I thought something was wrong. So I
called my friend Janet, who is more knowledgeable about this breed then I. She said to
be ready for puppies to be born because this is what Nellie is trying to tell me. So I got
out a whelping box and put in clean blankets and got ready even though I was only
partly convinced Janet was right. Nellie climbed in the box and started tugging and
pulling on the blankets. It was not even two minuets that the first puppy was born. I
could not even get up and leave between puppies being born. She wanted me to stay
right there. I am convinced she was not willing to settle down and have that baby until I
did this for her. This was her first litter. This was not instinct that told her to do this. This
was a learned behavior she picked up from understanding my rule as caregiver and over
seer in this group. I did not force myself into this moment against the dogs will. She
invited and indeed insisted I be there,
When Pebbles started having trouble with her birth she trusted me to do what was
necessary to make things right. It went against all her instincts to let me pick her up,
wrap her in a blanket and carry her to the vet. But she did this knowing I was going to
help her. All my efforts to stay calm were failing but Pebbles had more confidence in me
then I did. She was perfectly calm throughout the whole ordeal. The staff consisted of
the veterinarian and her assistant. They tried to calm me down and in so doing I could
feel Pebbles relax as they shaved some hair off her leg for an IV. I was surprised how
calm she was even if she was a little confused. I was there when she woke up and she
took to her puppies right away. There were no instincts being used when she had to
have a c section. But Pebbles seemed to know that all that was being done was for her
own good. That was not instinct. That is intelligent reasoning ability.
This trust my animals give me is an awesome responsibility. Its not always easy to know
what to do sense we have a language barrier. But even that gap is filled more every day
as we learn to understand each other. For example, a rolled up piece of paper in my hand
will make them be more obedient. I don't need to hit them with this paper. I just have to
show them and use forceful words. I am sure if I ever hit them with it they would soon
figure out it does not hurt and this method would not work any more. But for now,
holding it in my hand and an occasional slap on a piece of furniture will bring the whole
group to attention. Go figure. All my hollering didn't work but this simple action is all that
it took. Its like they are saying "Oh wow, shes got that bad piece of paper again, better
listen up." But sometimes I think they know I wont hurt them. I never have. But the paper
in hand makes them realize I mean business. Maybe its the stance I take while holding
the paper. Maybe its a signal Ive been pushed to the limit.
I am not sure if they see us as a part of their pack. I am sure the cats and dogs do not see
each other as part of their different worlds. Its like my house has become a little town
filled with souls of different ideas and beliefs. They have all agreed to respect each other
and accept all differences. But the truly amazing thing is that they have been able to use
reasoning and thinking ability to get past even their instincts to make the community a
success. They have all decided that I was going to be their leader and protector. Not
only because I demand this but because they all love me, trust me, and respect me.
These are more human emotion animals are not suppose to feel. But I live here and I see
this every day. I know they show emotions. I know they have more intelligence then my
parents ever even noticed. We still have problems in our community as the dogs bark at
the cats and the cats tease the dogs to get them to bark. Theres a few arguments
between the female dogs when one comes in heat. These are minor although they can
look pretty ferocious to anyone not knowing what is going on. My rule as leader is to
stop these disagreements and stop them before someone gets hurt. They all look to me
to settle things. This is not instinct but thinking ability and love for me their leader.
If the world would only work as well as the harmony that lives within the boundaries of
our property, it would be a wonderful place to live. My grandfather told me once that the
animals are here to teach us lessons about life if we had the eyes to see these lessons. I
have learned this. Animals share our many emotions but there is one they do not share
that has caused the most trouble for men. Greed. Animals are content if they have what
they need. They protect what is theres but they never go out and try to steal what is not
theirs just because they want it. They don't manipulate the other souls in their world to
satisfy some type of greed but adjust to and accept the souls, no matter how different
they might be. They work hard, play hard, and love loyally. They take only what they
need and no more. If only all human souls in the world could say these things about
themselves, then humans would all sleep as soundly as their pets. For this last human
emotion is also one animals have no need for. That emotion is guilt!
