Round 'em up, Cowdog.

[krypticklaws.livejournal.com]

Well, I haven't written in a while, and I've kind of been preoccupied, but I decided to write one for you guys, because I'm a lazy, lazy, bad corgi *hits self with newspaper*

This one's going to be on my relationship with other animals, and I'm kind of writing as I'm going, so it's rough, to say the least.

I've always been a real animal person - not in the therian sense (being a recent enlightenment), but I've always had an affinity for animals. Most everything, from dogs to horses, from hamsters all the way on up to big things. It's just been part of who I am.

But this time, I wanna write from the therian sense on what all the different animals in my life mean to me, why I work with animals, and how I interact with animals that makes me different. Here's hoping that this is all making sense to ya'll.

Being a dog-person myself, it's kind of obvious to say that I live with another dog. A golden, actually (I always begged my parents for a corgi when I was a teen, but alas, I was disregarded) and I love my dog to bits. I play kind of roughly with him - he's around nine, and I figure my dog-age to be somewhere from two to three, roughly. I'm always pouncing on him and pushing him around - something that, as a corgi, I probably shouldn't be able to do - but being 'big' has it's advantages, I guess. We're still the same 'species', I suppose, even if my mental 'self' is a lot different size and shape than him.

But me and my dog get along on a primal level: we're packmates, after all, same as me and the rest of my family. In fact, I just let him back in because he's been asking for it - behavior and all. I can tell what my dog's thinking, and he usually seems to understand what I'm thinking, too: but some of that's just the 'magic' of Goldens: they always seem to understand. My parents say my dog understands more English than most kids do, and it's true, too. But this isn't about him, huh? It's about me.

Corgi, and all herding dogs, are special in a way that they are bred to interact and work intimately with other species: In my case cattle and horses... sheep to a degree, but Corgwyn are drovers. For seven years, I've owned and raised horses, and I've always had a special thing with them, too. I've never cut cattle or herded all that often, but when I used to, I always thought it was fun - sometimes I wouldn't know when to stop and I'd end up getting 'scolded' by the animals in question.

But I have a thing with those big things, almost as intimate as my connection with other dogs. I understand how they move and how they act, but more importantly how I can make them move the way I want them to. It's just the way it's supposed to be. When I tried that with sheep, once, I did alright, but the flocking instinct is so much more different than it is in horses and cows, and I didn't really understand them. However, actual dogs, in trials, work sheep, cows, and even ducks - which I'm not sure I could do. Chasing birds is one thing (I've done it on occasion. Those gulls were taunting me, I swear it) but I don't think I could herd birds.

But there are some animals around me that I can't really read at all. My rabbits, for one. I've learned over time how they work, but they're so quiet in their ways and so hard for me to figure out what they're going to do. In fact, rabbits are probably one of the animals that I don't prefer to work with as a corgi. It's just too hard. It was only recently I learned that rabbits don't like the undersides of their chins scratched, and with anything else, I probably could have figured out what they do or don't like on my own, but the rabbits? Eeeeh. I'm still figuring them out. Them and their strange thumping and teeth-grinding.

Cats are kind of that way, too. I don't get the solidarity thing, personally. It's just not how I work. For a dog, I'm pretty aloof, but I'm still a people person, at my core. I just prefer to be a little less attached than some other breeds might. And then you take in the fact that I'm also 'cross-species' in the way I work, with cattle and horses. Cows are dumb, but I still prefer their company than being alone - even if it is just to push 'em around. Cats, especially big cats, are different, and it's just somewhat confusing to me. Nonetheless, I enjoy watching them, and I really appreciate them. I'm just mentally a different species, you know? It's not so much dislike as it is that I just don't get them.

But that's just a brief thing on how I act/think about other animals. Just if you'd like to know.

Comments

[die-monster.livejournal.com]

I understand those little gaps in animal empathy, like with rabbits. I'm the same way with rats. I like my rats, but I just don't get them or understand their language, I never feel truly at ease when I have them out to play. It's not like snakes, with which apparently I have a very good understanding, surprisingly enough for a canine. Have yet to be bit, and I'm just able to empathise much better with them. The rats though, they still throw me. And I'm actually almost afraid of birds. Still don't know why. I think with me it's small, skittery/fluttery things, they make me a little unnerved.

[krypticklaws.livejournal.com]

yeah, like that. They're just so blank to me. It's like trying to speak a foreign language. I'm not good with reptiles, though... but nor do I like birds. I just chase them when it's convenient and I can get away with it.

But it's like trying to communicate with aliens. 0.o

[zenosaur.livejournal.com]

Thats the opposite of me! I'm good with reptiles and birds! Anyway I really like this essay of yours.

[krypticklaws.livejournal.com]

Mammals, all the way, baby. I don't work well with birds at all. I petsit on occasion and I've tried working with birds, but I always seem to get bitten and things. Reptiles, eh, I'm so-so. It's still worlds away from the way I can work with dogs & livestock.

[aloiis.livejournal.com]

I like how and what you write. It's both light and serious; you're articulate. You are very good at explaining how Corgi differs from other canines, and going deeper into our own specificities, what makes us different, isn't something easy. I also don't think my relation to other animals is something I could write about much, as a raven and cat-person (yet I find your essay inspiring). Thanks for sharing this!

[krypticklaws.livejournal.com]

Heh, why thank you! I'm not exactly very elegant or poetic... I just write what comes. I'm naturally a very laid back and somewhat goofy person.

I'm glad you liked it! And inspiring, even. That makes me feel all wiggly-happy inside.

[sun-huntress.livejournal.com]

Reading this made me smile - I like how you word things, and it's a fascinating insight into a dog-person's mind and relationships.

I completely and totally 'get' both cats and dogs, but livestock baffles me. I (unintentionally) view livestock as just food, and less intelligent food than, say, antelopes or white-tailed deer. Growing up around farms, you'd think I'd have a better ken with them...

In any case, it was a thought-provoking piece! I'm glad you shared it. ^_^

[krypticklaws.livejournal.com]

Well, I think livestock aren't so much stupid as they are just reeaaally sedated. Or at least cows are. Sheep are neurotic and horses are fairly skittish too.

But I can still understand and predict the behavior. Herding is fuun. :P

[primaldog.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed reading this. We need more thoughtful insight like this in cynanthropy.

[phaethon.livejournal.com]

This was a very interesting read. Animal interaction is very much a part of my everyday life, but I've never really thought to sit down and dissect my own viewpoint like this. So, forgive me if I start to ramble; I simply found this piece thought-provoking.

I'm with you in that I don't understand cats. At all. It doesn't help that my family has never had one, but feline behavior in general is something I find confusing. As with most animals, I do enjoy spending time with cats, but I often ask my friends to explain certain things about them. There's a lot to admire about cats, I think, but ultimately their sheer self-sufficiency is what I find most confounding (which I suppose would come as no surprise, seeing as I am a canine person).

However, I love rodents, and like to think I have a pretty good understanding of how they work. I've heard many carnivorous therians talk about experiencing prey drives toward their small animal pets, but I've yet to deal with that; I'll certainly have similar reactions to squirrels on the street, but not with my own animals. I think part of it - aside from that fact that I'm human and would have no desire to eat my pets anyway ;P - is because my dog-self thinks of them almost as pups of some sort. My gerbils are small and fragile; they need to be taken care of and handled gently, and since dog-me can be intensely maternal, I think that's what manifests the most when I am interacting with them, and it works in concert with my human affection. I'm aware that what I just wrote probably sounds silly (especially since I don't often get the "pup" reaction from babies), but that's just the way it is for whatever reason.

Thanks for sharing!

[aloiis.livejournal.com]

It's funny, I get both the prey drive and protective attitude towards the rodents I've had over the years. That is, they do look like fragile little food things, but I never act on that because I love them (... not in a culinary way). Simultaneously, I want to affectionately lick them with my big pard tongue - something I've only felt towards cats among domestic animal types.

[krypticklaws.livejournal.com]

My brother has owned several different hamsters, and I just ignored them for the most part, but besides trying to catch them with my hands (not so much a prey thing as it is... I just want to catch them.) I didn't have much to do with them.

No prey drive for my bunny, and I didn't think I was very protective, but recently some cousins of mine had their dog by (a kelpie-thing, herding dog love!), and she was obsessed with my rabbit. And it drove me nuts... kept trying to get her away from my rabbit.

[fleetfoot77.livejournal.com]

Definitely an interesting read; I'm also loving the specific corgi-view of people, life and everything else.