Quiet Conversation

Our friends are quite generous and invite not only us for a visit, but also our dogs. We travel up to Bellingham for various events and their large house fills up quickly around dinnertime. Post dinner one night we sat in the living room with a fire going and a glass of wine bringing out old stories. Six dogs lay strewn about the living room requiring exceptional grace to walk across the living room and avoid stepping on a tail.

I sat in front of the hearth as much for the warmth as a backrest. Some sound outside caused a ripple of action to spread across the floor and five of the dogs went running and barking to the back door.  Bear, the senior of the group, raised himself up, took a few steps, then reconsidered and collapsed beside me. While someone else rounded up the dogs, I turned to Bear and gently lowered his head into my lap.  Starting with slow, long pulls of his ears, I easily convinced bear to relax. While laughing at the stories of my friends, I began to tell a story of comfort and affection to my audience of one using only gesture.  After the ears, I turned to Bear's eyes and forehead; massaging his temple then moving down his neck and back.  Bear grumbled with appreciation when I reached his hindquarters and massaged his hips and legs.  His thick Labrador undercoat covered my lap, but I figured if I'm in for a penny, I'm in for a pound.  After another twenty minutes Bear was a big brown puddle.

Raleigh had been running through the field behind the house whenever the weather broke and was walking a little stiff. I called her over and gave her a similar treatment with the pile of discarded dog hair browning on my other side.  When called upon to provide my own details to a story being told I stopped my massage therapy for a moment and Raleigh lifted her head as if to ask whether that was all.  I resumed storytelling and massaging until I had reached the tail end of both.

Ranger, an oafish lug with a big square head, came over startling both Bear and Raleigh and convincing them to locate elsewhere.  I entreated Ranger to lay down but he made no effort to comply. Starting slowly with my new customer's ears, I earned his trust and eventually he sat. I massaged his head and throat but he still wouldn't lay down, acting almost puzzled at what I was doing. I leaned into Ranger and he toppled over in surprise. The tough guy didn't put up a struggle and submitted to a long back rub. When I scratched his chest, Ranger started to growl causing me a bit of concern, but it turned out the growl was out of satisfaction.

When Ranger moved away, I called over the Golden Retriever, Riley.  If I wasn't already covered in hair, now was my chance.  Riley didn't understand the concept of massage and instead through I was trying to play, which in turn made Flynn want to get in on the game. With my left hand on Riley and right hand on Flynn, I attempted to keep the two apart while also giving them as much of a massage  as they would allow.  My final customer of the evening was our Chihuahua, Duncan. My hands are built more for the rough play and deep tissue massage of large dogs, so Duncan just received light scratching and tickles.

I easily gain a dog's favor with homemade treats and surprises of meat. However, it's moments like these, giving each dog individual attention and making them feel comfortable that earns their trust.  A few months later, we're back in Bellingham, but this time without our dogs.  Bear, Ranger and Riley are constantly at my side.  Bear and Ranger seek out the same attention, while Riley and I roughhouse until he's worn out enough for me to give him a quick massage of the temple.  I may not pay close attention to the verbal conversation sometimes, but it's because I'm having a silent dialogue with dogs.

For more information about Quiet Conversation go to this article more about Quiet Conversation