Just talked to my brother on the phone, and apparently Boghan did something at the end of the conversation as I heard a crashing sound and Seth yelled, and before he could hang up, I heard him say “Boghan, what was that all about?”
Just kind of made me laugh how the Coles all talk to their pets like they are humans.
For the new readers, if there are any, Seth is my brother and Boghan is one of his dogs, a very magnificent Wire Haired Pointing Griffon, seen here sitting on my mom:
His other dog is little Ellie, who really is one of the most adorable mutts ever, who he found on the side of a country road around the same time I found Rosie. I’m telling you, these animals see the Cole suckers coming. At any rate, Boghan is quite the stud at agility drills, and on a lark, Seth spent the day training Ellie and let her compete. Remember, this is after one (1) day of training:
She is also a boss dog who spent her time on the streets and is like John Wayne- rough and tough and takes nonsense off no one. She keeps Rosie, Lily, and everyone in check. If Rosie starts to act up, Ellie will run over and get all up in her grill, basically putting her head over Rosie’s flank or sitting muzzle to muzzle and dominating her until Rosie backs down and behaves. It’s so funny to watch because Rosie is actually so much heavier, but like I said, Rosie was just dumped when I found her. Ellie lived on the streets and knows the deal. The Honey Badger has a whole week of tv dedicated to her.
Mary G
What a smart girl! Good Ellie!
Yatsuno
PUPPEHS!!!
Mr Stagger Lee
Watching the Hooters beauty Pageant, does this make me a cad? Understand I had the bad luck at that horrendous selfie of Geraldo Riveria I need to get that vision out of my head.
rikyrah
that pic of Boghan and your mother is cute.
you all love your animals.
as someone whose only pets were fish…I simply have never gotten folks with pets like yourself.
Mr Stagger Lee
@efgoldman:The Speed Channel, I think a division of Fox Sports!
TaMara (BHF)
I love that dog.
MathInPA
Dominance can be so much more about the ‘tude than the size; that’s one of the reasons it’s possible to socialize dogs to be more or less submissive to cats, or at least sufficiently so for household “harmony.” Of our two dogs, the larger was seriously abused prior to the rescue we adopted him from, and he went the scared-panic-freeze rather than scared-panic-snarl route. Until it became clear that he had very serious issues stemming from the abuse, he and the smaller dog (Well, I say small. 70lbs and 50lbs, but my wife adores Shepherds so “small” it is) were in the same fosterage/wide-open kennel mix, and the smaller dog apparently made himself into the larger’s protector, friend, and general life coach, encouraging him to play with the other dogs and with people on the approved list.
That’s actually how we got the smaller dog; we’d originally been looking primarily for the larger, with vague ideas that when we were more financially stable, looking for a companion. But my wife, who has never been without any dog around the house ever except at college, was really unhappy with the lack-of-dog after our older one had to be put to sleep, and she wanted a dog, right now. So when we heard that the dog we’d been looking at had a friend already, we jumped. He is definitely the dominant dog of the two, taking the lead in pretty much every second until they’re in our bedroom doing their pre-sleep roughhousing (they know when the light’s off, that means go to sleep, and will generally just snooze out on our plush carpet until one needs to go Out), at which point for some reason, the bigger dog actually feels confident enough to play back. Even then, though, while the larger dog _can_ take charge, the smaller dog generally still takes the overall lead on points.
Actually, it’s hilarious watching them with my mother-in-law’s pair. Those dogs are enormous– actually, for a while, my wife and I and my sister-in-law had to have a serious talk with her about overfeeding, but thankfully, the vet convinced her– a german shepherd/golden lab mix and a newfie/something mix. I like to say bear, my wife pokes me and says “chocolate lab.” They have a sorting hierarchy of place and time too; the golden one is more placid in most activities, but makes the overall decisions in absence of human authority, especially concerning food dishes, where the pack is allowed to run, etc. He’s older, and a bit more muscular, but the newfie mix is still, as you would imagine, huge.
Our smaller dog, somewhere around 1/3rd his weight, pwns him. He’ll run circles around the newfie mix, and the newfie lets himself be herded. The golden lab/shepherd mix is still the clear leader. Our poor, scared larger dog is very definitely the combined household pack omega, but it’s mostly in a good way; the bigger ones try to encourage him to exercise and play, and they don’t nip or otherwise do anything that might actually hurt.
WereBear
Just noticed Bufferapp.com has a hiring notice up; they need help with apps, web stuff, etc.
Shakezula
Who doesn’t talk to their pets like they’re humans? In my case, incredibly cute but rude and borderline evil humans who do whatever the fuck they want, whenever the fuck they want. So I insult them by speaking to them as if they are mere slave monkeys.
I had to watch that video a second time to make sure my husband wasn’t leading a double life. They even dress alike.
Flying Squirrel Girl
Seeing Rodrigo y Gabriela tonight at the House of Blues. Kinda geeky excited about it.
Old Dan and Little Ann
Fuck fucking fracking ads on Pandora.
geg6
Always interesting, this pack behavior among our pets. Otis used to be the submissive one to our Henry. And the fact that he was an abused and neglected rescue fed into that. Once Henry died, Otis bloomed as an only and much loved dog. Once we got Koda, we were concered due to Otis’ lack of early socialization. But with some slow introduction, some positive reinforcement, and a few minor fights, they are now the best of buds and Otis is the alpha even though he is less prone to trouble and mild defiance of his humans. They are too sweet.
? Martin
@Old Dan and Little Ann: http://www.pandora.com/one
$36 per year. $.10 per day.
Old Dan and Little Ann
@? Martin: Cheers. But I don’t need another bill. I’ll just get outraged occasionally. : )
Kristine
Seriously impressed by Ellie.
Origuy
I remembered Elle and Boghan being about the same size at one time. Am I wrong or did Boghan get a LOT bigger?
Gex
How is Seth doing? And Devon? Been thinking about them too.
ETA: How likely do you guys think it is that a grown adult has zero writing implements in their home or car? Just curious. I can’t imagine a grown adult having no pens.
I hate my neighbor sometimes.
gogol's wife
Are Ginny and Guesly still with us? I hope I’m not opening a wound by asking that, but if anything happened to them, I missed it.
Violet
What a sweet dog. I love her floppy ear. So adorable. Boghan is so big. That photo is awesome. Hope your brother and sister are doing okay.
Bobby Thomson
@Gex:
And I can’t be the only one who read something else.
mai naem
That’s pretty impressive. My two dogs would be like – “Huh, wait, I see a fly, let me chase that fly”, the other two dogs would be giving me the “Are you kidding? You want us to what?”
Katherine
i wonder about Kiwi, the pit bull rescue, who did Tunch in / what happened to her ? i have been donating to Noahs Ark Rescue ever since the picture of Freckles was posted / he is a pit bull / it appears that most of the dogs who have been badly abused and mistreated, including being shot in the face (their owners arent talking to them as if they were humans or maybe that is how they react to others) are pit bulls / i wept for all concerned when Tunch passed / so anyway . i am happy that John has found Beggar, er um, Boss.
Origuy
@gogol’s wife:
That’s the dogs I was thinking of, not Elle and Boghan.
Mnemosyne
@Gex:
I frequently don’t have a pen, but (as discussed in detail below), I have ADHD, so thinking ahead is not really one of my strong suits.
Usually I have either zero pens or three pens at the same time, at least one of which belongs to G. So it goes.
Paul in KY
@Flying Squirrel Girl: Saw them at Bonnaroo last year. Be prepared for some badass guitar playing.