Like many dogs, my dogs are not big fans of being picked up or being hugged, but they both do enjoy being lap dogs. And getting the associated massage and petting.
Zora and my husband have a nightly ritual when he gets home from work that involves him sitting on our couch and Z taking up her rightful snuggled in perch on his lap. We joke that she is his cat-dog because she tucks her paws in just like a little kitty (1). If he for some reason forgets or is distracted from the routine she gets right put out and blocks his path gradually herding him to the couch so she can sit on him. It is very cute.
Tom will pin just about anyone sitting on the floor. He lures them in starting with just petting, as he quietly maneuvers himself so that at just the right moment when they least expect it he can sit on their lap. Ensuring they pet him forever! I try to warn our unsuspecting guests but they never believe me until they find they have a large Tom dog sitting on them. He too is also very cute when he does this.
Our dogs also expend copious amounts of energy in training us humans in the fine art of dog petting. They both think us humans are very challenging subjects to train, and very dense (they would be right, smart dogs). Both dogs think I am a lost cause (2), though when no one else is available they are eternal optimists so will attempt to train me. Usually they give up in disgust. And if someone else is around move on to that person. The dogs will almost always choose my husband over me to ask them to pet them. And Tom when he does this, spends the whole time someone else is petting him staring at me going, “See, you should be jealous, other people pet me the way I like. You should learn too mom!” It really is quite comical. (3)
The dogs and I also have a cue, “My quota is full” means yea sorry dogs, I am done petting, I can’t touch you any more go ask someone else.
Generally the petting routine goes something like this,
I’m sitting somewhere
Tom comes up and stands there
I don’t take the hint
So he moves closer and nudges my hand
I think “Oh Tom, I don’t really want to pet you right now.” But then I think, “But what kind of dog owner would I be if I didn’t pet him, he clearly wants it. Gee why do I have a dog who likes being petted? How many client’s do I know that have dogs who don’t like it? Maybe someday I will have one of those dogs. Then I won’t feel guilty for not liking this.”
I start petting under his chin or massaging his ears
He decides he doesn’t want me petting there right now, so he shifts
I then pet his shoulder
He decides to shift again
I then pet and scritch his rear. Which he enjoys much.
My hand and arms cramp up and get tired or there is just too much dog hair coming out or my sensory system just can’t handle the tactile anymore, so I stop
Tom stands there hoping this was a fluke for a few seconds then sighs, “These humans are so difficult, have to go train her all over again.”
And we start from the top. He nudges my hand, I pet his head and ears, he shifts, etc, etc until once more I’m done. And he is not.
This repeats until, “Tom Tom, sorry, my quota is full.” If no one else is around he might give it one last nudge of a go to see if maybe I might find it in my sensory overloaded pain cramping system to pet him further, which usually I don’t. He then gives a deep sigh, flops heavily to the floor, looks at me pitifully because he is the most neglected dog ever don’t you know. Then about a half an hour later he tries me again.
Tom. The eternal optimist. 5 years of trying to train his human. And he never looses hope. Maybe someday he will wake up and I will have transformed into the A+ petting human he so deserves. They say miracles can happen, right?
- My husband is a self described cat person. While we don’t have a cat at present (and he says he doesn’t want one), Zora is his surrogate cat. She even climbs up his torso when he is sitting in the recliner to curl up on his shoulder like a cat.
- I don’t really enjoy petting dogs. I enjoy them sitting or lying on me. I enjoy doing things with them like walking or training or engaging with toys. But petting, yea not a big fan. And dogs will clearly tell me that I am deficient in ability to pet properly despite many many dogs attempting with vigor to train me to do it well. I am a lost cause.
- This was hysterical when my husband and I first started dating. Tom would totally use my husband to try to get me to pet him more.
