A new experience for me thanks to Sassy

[remltr]

When walking Sassy I only get to see the back side of her head with her ears pinned back as she races to greet someone approaching from the other direction. There are no other Cairns in the neighborhood, but Sassy spotted one tonight as we were turning a corner inside my condo complex and she froze and then started heading that way. I tried to keep her going the direction I was heading, but she persisted and I then noticed what she had. A mirror image of her except for height and weight. It was really cute, because she never responds to dogs that she sees in that fashion, she usually just ignores them, but this other Cairn seemed to have the same idea and started towards Sassy with it ears pinned back and I got to see the front end of that behavior. What a happy face

I had to laugh as I thought what it must be like to find one of your own. I know she recognized this other dog to be one of her own. It must have been like being in foreign land for years and just out of the blue you find one of your own countrymen, who actually speaks the same language, understands baseball and football, cheeseburgers, french fries and milkshakes.

The sad part is the Cairn and its owner are only visiting from another state for a couple of days.

But still a great experience for me and I think Sassy enjoyed as well.

[TazTalk]

That really put a smile on my face. I agree that there is a special connection when they see another Cairn. Too bad the dog was only visiting

[TazTalk]

That really put a smile on my face. I agree that there is a special connection when they see another Cairn. Too bad the dog was only visiting

[pindrop]

That was a wonderful story and when put into words about her meeting someone of her own race, it brought back to mind a book I once read called "Clan of the Cave Bears" whereby our heroin, who is human, finally meets one of her own kind. I guess they instinctively know when they do. Whoever once said that dogs are not smart creatures were dead wrong. We all know how that is not true. Thanks for sharing your and Sassy's experience.

[Dempsy's Mom]

Wonderful story. Made me smile too. I hope that a best Cairn friend moves in the complex someday for Sassy to play with.

I just have to add - I see this all the time between animals of the same form but of a different breed. We have Angus cattle and Jim's brother has Marifax (sp?) and when they are in the same pasture they will still bunch together according to their breed. One day I was up at Jim's brothers farm and he has sheep - it was funny to see all the white faced sheep in one corner and all the black faced sheep in the other. It really does make you think. You wouldn't think that they would know the differnce, but it is obvious they do. Hmmm.

[Jeff N Oscar]

Jeff has never met a Cairn he didn't like... and he's met at least 4 that I can recall and he's just turning 5 this August, that's about 1 a year. OH and my neighbor in the back of us said there will be a Cairn visiting them soon, that will make 5. Keeping up the streak...lol

There are other dogs Jeff likes too, but he usually puts up a nasty front when meeting them until he is comfy, but when he mets a Cairn he doesn't do that, he just sniff and wags his tail. I think there is something about that!