Tuesday, January 3, 2012

DOG PSYCHOLOGY - SHERRY'S WELCOME GIFT


Dog Psychology
Sherry's Welcome Gift
By
VIKRAM KARVE



I have a pet dog named Sherry, a DobermanX girl (the X-Factor is probably a Caravan or Mudhol Hound). 

Sherry gives me a most enthusiastic grand rousing welcome every time I return home. 

Sherry waits for me at the compound gate, and the moment she sees me, Sherry goes berserk with sheer excitement, wagging her tail vigorously round and round, jumping up at me enthusiastically, making unique welcome yelps, nudging me with her mouth and nose, and when I, overcome by a flood of love, have caressed, patted and cuddled her, she runs round and round the compound in happy joyful exhilaration and ecstatic glee.

And then as I proceed towards the house, Sherry does something unique which I have never seen any other pet dog do – she brings me a “gift”.

Yes, she comes to me carrying in her mouth a welcome gift, and drops the gift at my feet.

And do you know what this welcome gift is...?

Well, sometimes it is an old bone she digs out, or maybe an old soiled rag cloth or the pair of socks she had stealthily pinched from the drying stand and hidden, buried deep in the lawn, or one of her toy “babies”, or an old shoe, or maybe just some piece of muck she has dug up, or a twig, or the towel from her bed, just about anything – but Sherry always welcomes me home with a gift.

She does this to my wife, kids, mother, friends, maid and others she knows well and though her welcome may not be as vigorously enthusiastic as she does for me, Sherry always brings them a “gift”.

I am sure if that if you ever visit me, Sherry will bring you a welcome gift too!

For unwanted strangers Sherry has a ferocious, rather ominous bark, and, if the pay no heed and dare to enter our compound, the trespassers are in for a vicious assault followed by a memorable bite. Oh yes, Sherry is is a superb guard dog.

Sherry’s “gifting nature” has me perplexed.

I have never seen any other pet dog bringing welcome gifts.

Sherry’s fantastic welcome overwhelms me with a delightful emotion of happiness, gratitude and love that I cannot describe in words, and I always look forward to returning home to Sherry.

My wife and kids do sometimes welcome me home too, of course not as enthusiastically as Sherry, and they never give me any “welcome gift” on my arrival.

Dear Reader, have you ever seen any dogs demonstrate their happiness and affection in this way...?

Please can some dog lover or canine psychologist throw some light on this “gifting behaviour”.


Why does my darling pet Doberman-X girl Sherry express her love in such an inimitably endearing manner...?



VIKRAM KARVE 
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2011
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
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Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
vikramkarve@gmail.com

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
   





6 comments:

manan guju said...

http://mananguju.blogspot.com/2009/08/dogs.html
that blog is my philosophical take on dogs.. n i blogged it around 2 years back. call me a cynic,or a broken hearted idealist.. but wouldnt you agree.. you are bestowing human nature on the dog.

love sms said...

nice blog

love sms said...

sir i have a doubt about the dogs...........ie. how to control them in a easy manner.....

Ruchi Sunandan said...

Sherry is a people lover! And she absolutely loves her set of people, hence the gifting nature. Dogs are so much better than human beings some times. They fascinate me.

Ours at home, gives us a grand welcome, we call it "susu-wagatam".. she pees.

Vikram Waman Karve said...

@ Ruchi - Your pet dog's welcome is indeed hilarious - maybe she is too excited to see you! Of course, dogs love you so much that they are genuinely happy to see you come home.

alka narula said...

being a dog lover i totally understand the psychology a dog and your sentiments..i lost one of my dogs a day before ,though it was the time for her to go but she left immense pain behind which she may not ever know. without reading your post i knew you are a dog lover ,your profile pic says it all...:)