Ani likes to watch dogs on Youtube. Howling fascinates her, though it isn’t something she ever does herself. She sometimes climbs into my chair and waits until I put on something of which she approves then listens and watches, cocking her ears… especially at the puppies. She has an affinity for young things. Babies she loves, though she still tries to educate them early with a tennis ball. The first newborn she met had a ball at his feet by a couple of days old.
She always alerts me to young birds that have been blown from the nest too. There is a special tone to her ‘singing’… a quiet and varied vocal thing that is usually only used for lost tennis balls. Their parents, of course, are not allowed in her airspace without being severely spoken too. Babies are different though.
In a world without so many unwanted dogs, I would have loved to watch her with a litter of her own… though a whole batch of Ani-kin would probably be too much for even my flexible sanity.
She listens to the local dogs too and responds to their barks… the mornings always see them conversing across the airwaves and you can just tell they really are sharing – though what remains a mystery.
Today was a bit different. A dog has howled all day.
It didn’t sound to be in pain, just trying to attract attention. I’ve heard it howling before, but never for long. Today it howled all day, as if left outside while the owners are at work. I can’t locate where it is coming from, it is at some distance and the gardens all have high fences. But Ani doesn’t like it. She’s barely even played ball.
Ani herself chooses to be outside all day… but only as long as the back door is left open so that she can come and go when she pleases.
She was okay to begin with, just curious and listening, but the howling seems to have got to her as the day wore on and she came for far more cuddles than is usual. Normally she wouldn’t come without bringing a ball for you to throw. Today, she just seemed to want the reassurance of my hands in her fur and stayed close. And some people still think dogs have no emotions…
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
Yup – people do say that but it’s completely untrue. I’ve had many wonderful canine pals and all of them were very sensitive.
Wonderful photos of Ani. 🙂
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Bless her, she’s always ‘there’ when you need a friend.
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Oh my, that howling sounds bad, I fear there was something going on that only Ani could understand. A wonderful photos and story.
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She really wasn’t happy about it at all 😦
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I can imagine … I’m curious, did you ever find out what the problem was?
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Not yet. I’m hoping it doesn’t happen again though.
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Best of luck on that!
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So far so good today.
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🙂
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Ani certainly is sweet! She really has a special compassion!
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And she’s a perpetual pup too 🙂
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So sweet!!!
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What lovely pictures of Ani. She certainly does show her compassion, and it is awful to think that she was disturbed by that other poor dog’s suffering. I love the way she looks put for the baby birds too. 🙂
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She’s a lovely soul x
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Most definitely xx
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She’s a very sweet looking dog and they’re far more attuned to our moods than we give credit for. Was the baby bid one of her finds? I hope it survived.
xxx Massive Hugs Sue xxx
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It was and it did, David… There have been a few xxx
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you only have to look at those eyes to know she has far more intelligence than the average bear!
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Intelligence she has … No question.
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in spades…
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Yep 🙂
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Couldn’t agree with you more about dogs having feelings, Sue. Toby always knows if one of us is not very well even though both us macho men try and hide illness, he’ll come up and curl up by the side of us and stay there all day.
There is lovely post and perfect for my challenge this week. Thank you so much.
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They have both feelings and intellect… you only have to get to know a dog to see that 🙂
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Congratulations Sue (and Ani), I have featured your entry to my recent photo challenge on my blog.
http://hughsviewsandnews.com/2016/03/29/hughs-weekly-photography-challenge-week-19-gap/
Thank you so much for participating.
Best wishes,
Hugh
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Thanks Hugh 🙂
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Ah, lovely photos of Ani, that last one, so sweet.. 🙂
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She really is a sweetheart … even if she is loopy 🙂
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‘I am in love’ Mylo.
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*flutters eyelashes and swishes tail*
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*swoons*
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:p
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Perhaps Ani understands the howls and is confused or sad? Or maybe she’s just like the average person who’s ears would have had enough of the ongoing howling. 🙂
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I have a feeling she understands somehow.
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Absolutely no doubt. Happy Easter to you and Ani. xo
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Thanks Debby… hope things are improving your end x
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Every day is a new day Sue. Slow and steady wins the race. 🙂 xo
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Keeping you both in my thoughts, Debby x
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Thanks again Sue ❤
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I’m glad you speak dog. It’s an important language … and the language of love. I wanted to get a few pictures of MY dogs today, but they were not in the mood to cooperate, so I’m vicariously getting my dog fix from you 🙂
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Ani has taught me to be obedient to her commands at least 😉 They usually involve balls and cheese …
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She’s a very sweet dog indeed. And I think anyone who’s ever owned a dog knows they feel things just like we do – your Ani is a sensitive soul 🙂
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I don’t think any dog owner would argue that… or cat-owned either. Ani is certainly alert o people’s feelings.
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Sweet, empathetic Ani. ❤
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She misses very little.
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Pingback: Hugh’s Weekly Photography Challenge: Week 19 – Gap – Hugh's Views & News
How did I miss this post? Only just found it on Hugh’s photo challenge blog. Dearie me, I know sometimes WordPress eats comments but I hope it’s not going to decide which posts I want to see.
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It’s been eating my subscriptions too…
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Definitely a tonne of sweetness here. Dogs are such sensitive souls. Ani is adorable.
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She is… though her obsession with the ball can be hard work 😉
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