Friday, June 24, 2005
Dog Talk
We give our dogs voices.During socialization sessions, when two or more shelter dogs are brought out to play in the yard, we Canine Associates often narrate the interactions by speaking for the dogs.
Sometimes they speak sweetly. Sometimes they curse. Sometimes they're downright inappropriate.
The little ones end up with falsetto voices and often do a lot of screaming. Occasionally you meet a little dog that sounds like Gollum.
The pits and labradors have deep goofy voices to match their awkward bodies and galumphing personalities. Even the girls.
Pointers sing. Hounds try to sing.
Herding dogs speak softly (and carry a big stick).
The end result is that if you're ever observing a Socialization session at the Oakland branch of the East Bay SPCA, the dogs seem perfectly sane but the trainers? They're all nuts.
