Doberdog: Nudge. Nudge. Nudge nudge nudge. Nudge.
Me: What do you want?
Doberdog: Nudge. Looks at door. Nudge.
Me: Ohhh....wannagoforawalk?
Doberdog: Waggywagwagwagwag.
Loki has some very unique and endearing communicative habits. Some of which must have been shaped during his puppydom. Oh. what a mystery,,,,,
1. He doesn't BARK.
It is very very rare for Loki to bark. He is a quiet dog when he's in the house. He never barks or whines except if someone knocks at the door, and even then it's a small chesty singular Wooooof. As if to say "Hey, I'm here" He has been known to bark if left outside and can see people inside. Or at the occasional dog he can't get to. A new discovery: his husky side comes out with a gentle but elongated howl "haaawooooooooo" at sirens if they are passing by on the street. He only does this when he's outside. He looks like a cartoon.
2. He Chomps
Loki's preferable way of communicating is by chomping. Someone must have taught him that attention or excitement barking isn't tolerated, so he's come up with chomping the air at you when he wants something or when he's excited. The more excited he is the more he chomps his teeth together, almost like he's talking but all you hear is the hallowed sound of his jaw clenching. Has anyone else every heard of this?????
3. He Nudges
Where's theres an accessible lap or shoulder, he'll place his chin on it. Polly want a cracker?
Hes a huge fan of placing his chin on laps, shoulders, couch arms, your side of the bed, and the shoulder of the person in the driver's seat from behind. He'll just saunter up to you, sit, and rest his head on you. He's very gentle when he does it, and it's absolutely charming to those who visit. Some say that resting chin or nudging on laps and arms etc is a sign of dominance. He certainly does do this when he wants attention, but nine times out of ten it's for the immediate ear scratches, head rubs and neck massages that follow. "Hey, pay attention to meeeee" Who wouldn't do that?
4. He Doesnt Lick
Loki is not a licker. It is very rare for him to do so, but he is capable. He'd rather gently muzzle-sniff someone's face but no tongue. He keeps it classy. If he does give out face kisses, you are 100% on his Nice List. A rare few have been given this seal of approval. Growing up with excitable Westies, I was used to being showered with wiggly wag dog tongue when coming home. Loki's version is to greet you with happy wags, and a quick retreival of the closest toy to your feet. "See? Aren't I a nice boy? I bring you things! Welcome home!"
5. He Dreams Big
He's a dreamer. He falls asleep very quickly and enters doggie REM, where his paws twitch and his ears twitch and his mouth twitch. It's a full body experience. Sometimes some weary sounding vocalizations happen, in which I fight every urge not to wake him, instead I talk to him. "Loki, it's oookayyy it's only a rabbbiiiiiiiit, you'll get him neeeeexxxt tiiiiime" *laura's coo voice* Everyone has a doggie specific voice right?
Me: What do you want?
Doberdog: Nudge. Looks at door. Nudge.
Me: Ohhh....wannagoforawalk?
Doberdog: Waggywagwagwagwag.
Loki has some very unique and endearing communicative habits. Some of which must have been shaped during his puppydom. Oh. what a mystery,,,,,
1. He doesn't BARK.
It is very very rare for Loki to bark. He is a quiet dog when he's in the house. He never barks or whines except if someone knocks at the door, and even then it's a small chesty singular Wooooof. As if to say "Hey, I'm here" He has been known to bark if left outside and can see people inside. Or at the occasional dog he can't get to. A new discovery: his husky side comes out with a gentle but elongated howl "haaawooooooooo" at sirens if they are passing by on the street. He only does this when he's outside. He looks like a cartoon.
2. He Chomps
Loki's preferable way of communicating is by chomping. Someone must have taught him that attention or excitement barking isn't tolerated, so he's come up with chomping the air at you when he wants something or when he's excited. The more excited he is the more he chomps his teeth together, almost like he's talking but all you hear is the hallowed sound of his jaw clenching. Has anyone else every heard of this?????
3. He Nudges
Where's theres an accessible lap or shoulder, he'll place his chin on it. Polly want a cracker?
Hes a huge fan of placing his chin on laps, shoulders, couch arms, your side of the bed, and the shoulder of the person in the driver's seat from behind. He'll just saunter up to you, sit, and rest his head on you. He's very gentle when he does it, and it's absolutely charming to those who visit. Some say that resting chin or nudging on laps and arms etc is a sign of dominance. He certainly does do this when he wants attention, but nine times out of ten it's for the immediate ear scratches, head rubs and neck massages that follow. "Hey, pay attention to meeeee" Who wouldn't do that?
4. He Doesnt Lick
Loki is not a licker. It is very rare for him to do so, but he is capable. He'd rather gently muzzle-sniff someone's face but no tongue. He keeps it classy. If he does give out face kisses, you are 100% on his Nice List. A rare few have been given this seal of approval. Growing up with excitable Westies, I was used to being showered with wiggly wag dog tongue when coming home. Loki's version is to greet you with happy wags, and a quick retreival of the closest toy to your feet. "See? Aren't I a nice boy? I bring you things! Welcome home!"
5. He Dreams Big
He's a dreamer. He falls asleep very quickly and enters doggie REM, where his paws twitch and his ears twitch and his mouth twitch. It's a full body experience. Sometimes some weary sounding vocalizations happen, in which I fight every urge not to wake him, instead I talk to him. "Loki, it's oookayyy it's only a rabbbiiiiiiiit, you'll get him neeeeexxxt tiiiiime" *laura's coo voice* Everyone has a doggie specific voice right?