Greeting Rituals

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

24 Jan 2007 08:28 PM

Pets are generally creatures of habit. Dogs and cats especially love routine.

• My girl dog Lally insists on a welcoming game of ball -- regardless of where I've gone and how long I've been out. We absolutely must go into the yard and play ball, even if it's just a few fetches. If I don't go outside with her, she pesters me until I relent, or at least toss the ball down the hall a few times.
• My friend Marta's dog Merlin (who you may remember from her unusual separation anxiety issues) runs off to find a favorite toy or sock. She doesn't want you to try to take the sock or play tug, she just wants to hold it while she greets you.
• My brother's dog Lily Biscuits isn't happy until she's kissed your face in greeting. And if you don't bend down to greet her, you can count on her jumping up to get her licks in. I've bonked my head on hers too many times by bending down just as she was hopping up.
• My friend Mike's cat Shiro insists on a friendly headbutt when it's time for dinner. Shiro (a Russian Blue) presses his forehead against Mike's, as if he's trying to telepathically communicate his hunger.
• When I used to catsit for my neighbors, Murray the cat would hold long conversations with me every time I came to check on him. As soon as I unlocked the door, I would do my best imitation of Murray's voice: MAAAARE! Murray would meow back. So I'd do it again. And he'd answer. While we talked, he'd come wandering out of his hiding place to see if I was making his supper.

Do you and your pets have a certain greeting ritual? I know many dogs like Merlin who bring a favorite toy (or shred of what was once a toy) to the door. My fuzzy niece Casey does this; my brother's dog Kuma used to bring the "greeting rag" to the door until it disintegrated.

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Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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