What Are They Thinking

This Sunday it was a bit too brisk for us to go out hiking.  I'm guessing Bunny and Morgan probably would have been okay, but Mr. Taleteller and I are wimps about the cold weather.  This meant that our Sunday afternoon found us sitting at home with the dogs and watching a movie.  The movie we were watching was Temple Grandin. 

For those of you who have not heard of her, Temple Grandin is doctor who is autistic.  Her field of study is animals.  She has a gift for sharing what it is like to be autistic and also to design facilities for the safe handling of animals.  Her autism has allowed her to think and see things the way animals do.  Most of her work has been with livestock and the movie deals with how she helped to change things in the cattle industry.

Watching the movie made me think and wonder what it would be like to see things the way our dogs do.  I feel like I have a pretty close bond with each of them, and I can guess sometimes what they must be thinking, but at other times, they baffle me.  When we're together, they seem to be very content. 

One thing I'm curious about, though, is what they're thinking when we're not together.  Do they wonder where we've gone, or are they content just napping in their various favorite spots?  If we leave with just one or two of them, do they wonder why they were left behind, or why they got to go and the others got left behind?  Alas, I digress.

What I do know is that while being cooped up inside really isn't much of a hardship for the Greyhounds, it induces strong cabin fever for Morgan.  Blueberry and Lilac seemed happy that we were all home together, and Bunny was happy to share the couch with me.  After Morgan attempted to pounce on Blueberry as she hobbled by, use Lilac as a chew toy, continued to agitate Bunny and play bitey face with me (ewwww, my lips have touched dog lips), Mr. Taleteller decided to take pity on us and try to amuse her.

He started with the puzzle cube.  Morgan had no interest in tipping it over and getting the food out.  Harrassing Bunny still seemed like a lot more fun.  So, they practiced their obedience work for a bit.  This held her attention for a little while until Blueberry decided to show that she can still do obedience with a splint on.  Finally, he resorted to trying to teach her a trick.  They were working on her keeping a treat on her nose.

I am not sure who ended up being more amused by this endeavor.  Mr. Taleteller was laughing some.  I was laughing.  Morgan was pouncing on treats that happened to slide askew.  Even the Greyhounds were amused by watching Morgan try to keep the treat on her nose.

She didn't master the trick yet, but I'm sure that she will end up getting it with her usual determination.  I could see the wheels turning in her mind as she worked to achieve the goal my husband had for her.  Either that or she was thinking a lot of words that I can't type here on the blog.  Maybe it's better if I don't know what they're thinking!