Maggie loves dogs, but do they love her?
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Margaret is very fond of dogs. Early on, she showed a definite interest in Maddie, something which was not reciprocated at all since Maddie has shown, if anything, a clear desire to avoid the kid. People often ask us "Does your dog herd the baby?" (since Maddie is a border collie) or "Does your dog let the baby climb on her?" The answer to any such questions is a definitive NO! Maddie does NOT like Margaret. She scoots out of the way whenever Margaret approaches and moves even more quickly when there is physical contact. Admittedly, this has changed a bit as Margaret has learned how to attract the dog (e.g. picking up sticks or tennis balls), but for the most part, Maddie wants to avoid Margaret as much as possible. Not in an angry or hostile way, just in a way that indicates that Maddie doesn't like physical contact with the kid and really views Margaret as an annoyance. (This morning, however, Maddie did allow Margaret and me to rest our heads on her in the bed. Which Margaret loved.)
But Margaret still loves dogs. Apparently, rejection isn't something that an infant can register (neither are admonishments from her Papa to eat, sleep, etc.) When we go to the dog park in the evening, I plop her in the midst of the dogs (only as long as too many aren't around, and only known dogs are there), and she has a blast. Bob (a chocolate lab) bonks her from one side chasing his ball. Then Buster or Sophie (two English springer spaniels) hits her from the other side almost knocking her to the ground. And Margaret is in heaven. The other dogs often give Margaret a cursory sniff, which inevitably elicits a giggle from Margaret, and often linger longer if Margaret appears to be a potential easy target for food as when she has just eaten a piece of bread.
Incidentally, one aspect of Margaret's presence that Maddie does love is the post-dinner high chair tray - Maddie has quickly learned to loiter to scoop up any droppings from the high chair and to lick the tray which we plop in front of her to do an initial cleaning for us. Margaret has not really learned that she can attract Maddie from the high chair by dropping food since we've worked hard to discourage such behavior. But as Margaret learns what really attracts Maddie (and Maddie correspondingly learns that Margaret can do things that appeal to her), their relationship should improve. But for now, we have fun watching every dog that we see, occasionally saying, albeit out of context, "Mah-eee!"
But Margaret still loves dogs. Apparently, rejection isn't something that an infant can register (neither are admonishments from her Papa to eat, sleep, etc.) When we go to the dog park in the evening, I plop her in the midst of the dogs (only as long as too many aren't around, and only known dogs are there), and she has a blast. Bob (a chocolate lab) bonks her from one side chasing his ball. Then Buster or Sophie (two English springer spaniels) hits her from the other side almost knocking her to the ground. And Margaret is in heaven. The other dogs often give Margaret a cursory sniff, which inevitably elicits a giggle from Margaret, and often linger longer if Margaret appears to be a potential easy target for food as when she has just eaten a piece of bread.
Incidentally, one aspect of Margaret's presence that Maddie does love is the post-dinner high chair tray - Maddie has quickly learned to loiter to scoop up any droppings from the high chair and to lick the tray which we plop in front of her to do an initial cleaning for us. Margaret has not really learned that she can attract Maddie from the high chair by dropping food since we've worked hard to discourage such behavior. But as Margaret learns what really attracts Maddie (and Maddie correspondingly learns that Margaret can do things that appeal to her), their relationship should improve. But for now, we have fun watching every dog that we see, occasionally saying, albeit out of context, "Mah-eee!"
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