Achilles is the only one of our three dogs who regularly uses, looks in, a mirror to observe. Here he is on the bed watching me photograph him. Chili continues doing this after I enter the room and he can look directly at me.
Tag: Achilles
Family portrait of sorts, and endurance
Like the maple tree all five of us reached out to the sun, enjoying some time outside. We have endured a long, cold, snowy winter. It isn’t over yet, we will have more cold and snow to endure. Yet I think the most brutal and hardest spells are behind us. Winter’s end is closer, each day spring is one day closer. A cardinal was caroling in our Manitoba maple day before yesterday.
Achilles and Kendal
Such different temperaments, different personalities. Achilles is (adn I’m anthropomorphizing) deferential, gentle, graceful. Kendal by contrast is bluff, assertive, physical, clumsy. Both are deeply valued, deeply loved companions.
Playing
I’ve owned Stella for over ten years now and Achilles for almost seven. For all of that time they have gotten along well and been good play partners. Stella is the more assertive of the two so Achilles’ more deferential temperament is a good complement. Having said that Achilles is often the one to instigate play sessions.
Beng older now (Achilles who knows, our best guess is ten with Stella being almost eleven) they play less. It’s interesting to see how Achilles uses his 20 pound size/weight atvantage to push missy dog around while Stella counteracts with her quickness, darting and boxing. Sometimes Achilles would (and still does) simply butt-tuck and race around the yard, zooming up to and past a nearly stationary Stella. I came across this sequence from March 2010.
Chili Dog circles in. Stella waits, hackles slightly raised yet ears and mouth relaxed.
Full speed and flat out he reaches the speed of sound. Zoom zoom. Hackles up but Stella’s facial and head expression was still playful. Achilles swept past and came in for one (or more?) strafing runs.
I’ve learned a lot about canine body language. The unknowing might watch them play and conclude that at times they are angry, fierce, blood is about to fly. I’ve never seen that. They growl, fling themselves at one another yet it’s play. When Stella has had enough she snaps and briefly chases Achilles; he understands and stops.
Irresistable
Taken and posted with the PlayBook.
Nearly seven years later, I am still astounded that Achilles languished in the shelter for a year before I adopted him.
Observant Achilles Two
Taken and posted with the PlayBook.
In fact, Achilles was so interested in the crows that he sidled up to the gate for a closer look.
I do not know what drew his interest so. What goes on in a dogs’ mind is often, frequently, a mystery to us. Humans pretend to always know what Fido thinks and feels yet we do not, we cannot.
Observant Achilles
Taken and posted with the PlayBook.
We sat outside for a while this afternoon. The snow had stopped, the sun emerged, and the thermometer made a giddy charge in the general direction of the freezing mark. While it stopped short of achieving that ambitous goal, it was a pleasant sojourn.
The cattle dogs joined us and for a time Achilles lay down on the duvet Faye spread out on the snow. Several crows roosted high in the maple tree across the road and Achilles exhibited an unusual level of interest in them.
Achilles the Hardy
Achilles joined us for our sojourn outside, sitting and even laying on the snow. He showed no signs of being uncomfortable, cold, cramped. Had he been he would have headed for the door. He’s a hardy boy and wanted to be outside with us.
Snuggled in
There are three dog beds on the living room floor – a large LL Bean canvas bed, a smaller foamy that Faye sometimes uses when she can’t sleep, and this oval bolster bed. Achilles hasn’t often used it so when we saw him curled up in it that made it worth a photo.
Guard dogs
‘We will ensure that the couch isn’t stolen while you are away.’
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