(no subject)

[camwyn]

When I was in the city yesterday (Thursday evening), I got lost trying to find the yarn store I wanted to visit for the Jayne hat. I tried calling them for directions, but the girl said to go west from the Spring Street train station. West from Spring Street takes you to the Hudson River eventually. I got as far as Greenwich street before realizing that I wouldn't find Sullivan anywhere nearby. So, I started walking north and peering around and going down a few cross streets to see if I could find someone to give me directions.

wound up wandering into a store that sold pet toys and treats- Zoomies, on Hudson Street. Got some directions there to a different yarn place (the Point, on Bedford Street). As I was waiting to get the cat toy I wound up buying, though, a woman came in with her two dogs. One English Bulldog type (might've been American breed- I don't know), and one lovely Rhodesian Ridgeback. Man, just looking at those you can tell they were bred for lion hunting... I crouched down while the woman talked and held out a hand to the Rhodie, then started petting her head and scritching her neck. She tried to lick my face a few times.

When I looked up the store lady was smiling at the sight. "Ah, you must be a very good person, she does not normally let strangers even touch her and here she is trying to kiss you."

The dog's owner nodded. "Especially not cat people, usually," she added.

I told them I wasn't really a cat person, that I got on well with dogs and just happened to have been tapped for cat care, but still, it was nice to know that my apparent talent for reaching out to animals that I probably shouldn't be able to was still in effect.

Comments

[paradisacorbasi.livejournal.com]

Dogs know.

I've been told that about dogs too. Because they react the same way.

[camwyn]

It doesn't happen with every dog, but then I don't try with every dog. If it looks like it might not object, I hold out a hand for the sniffing, and if it looks interested, I crouch down to its level and pet. I won't pester a dog that doesn't want to be petted.

It doesn't work with cats, probably because I can't read cat body language, but occasionally it crops up with other animals. I once stood at the fence of a paddock to watch the two horses that were in there- one pony, one big bay fellow- while I waited for a friend of mine to come home. Eventually the horses both came over to see what I was there for, and let me pet their heads and necks a little. When Deirdre came home I told her about it (the horses lived across the street from her- rural New Jersey people often put paddocks or what have you in the front yard). She said she was surprised, since no one had ridden the bigger horse in two years. I figure maybe they thought I'd come out with food, but they did seem happy to see me even when I turned out not to have any.

Wish I could read cats, but dogs and horses are much more herd animal in nature, so maybe that's part of it.

[chn-breathmint.livejournal.com]

Ridgebacks are magnificent creatures, those lovely soulful eyes and the wonderful pelt color.

- Mel

[camwyn]

Aren't they, though? And when one of them (or a pit bull, for that matter) butts up against your leg, it's like being thumped by a young dinosaur.