I thought I could start a new thing, 'Selfie With Your Dog 'Thursday. Really, who doesn't want to see pictures of their friends with their dogs? Am I right? Trying to get a selfie with Riley was pretty much impossible, as you'll see...
My thought was that I could lay down near him and get our heads together, but as soon as I got near him he became agitated, as he often does, and suspicious about what I was doing. In this picture he's just dragged his slobbery mouth across my face.
Now he's aware that I have something in my hands and he thinks it might be food. At least I have his attention. Being blind, he's looking to where my hands were a minute ago, not to where they are right now. But what a dashing Doberman profile he has!
Now that he has determined that I have no liverwurst, there is no reason for me to be in his space. He has put his foot into my ear and he is no longer interested in what I have in my hands. This is not working out at all.
This might be the most communicative Riley has ever been. He actually put his head behind mine and he's pushing and lifting my head up. He's trying to get me to go away and leave him alone. Most people would feel hurt if their dog was rejecting them this directly, but I'm thrilled that he's being so interactive! That's right, baby, you stand up for yourself and keep annoying people out of your space!
I didn't leave his personal space quickly enough and now he's confused and anxious. That is what the fake yawn means, that he's conflicted. I promise that I got out of his way immediately.
So, Selfie With Your Dog day didn't turn out exactly as I had hoped. I'll try again on another day with another strategy. But I did learn something very important about Riley. He's no longer helpless. He was very clear and direct in telling me to leave him alone, and when he pushed me away with his head, he was gentle. Gentle. Why on earth would this dog, who suffered nearly fatal abuse at the hands of humans, be gentle with humans? Riley is a much better person than many people I know.