So I was just sitting down to write out how the dogs are getting along.
Earlier today, we were out and about. It’s been raining all day, so we left Magdalena inside with the other dogs for once. When we got home, everyone was alive, the house wasn’t torn up, and no pee or poop was on the floor. We took this as a good sign.
This evening, Major Tom and Sirocco were wrestling on the floor, as they often do. Magdalena was sitting on the couch watching them. Everybody was getting along fine.
Magdalena got on the floor and Major Tom and Sirocco moved to the couch, and continued wrestling. Then something interesting happened. Sirocco got on the arm of the couch and looked at Magdalena. He was wagging his tail. He barked at her. She came over and sniffed him. He got into that crouching position, head down, legs out front, butt in the air, that dogs do when they want to play. Sirocco was actually trying to play with Magdalena!
Sirocco got the zoomies and went flying into the bedroom, where he crawled under the bed. Magdalena followed and was looking for him, when he pounced out at her, then retreated under the bed again.(A favorite tactic of the wee dog.)
Major was back in the living room and started playing with a squeaky toy, which drew Magdalena’s attention, so she left to see what was up.
When I got out to the living room, Major Tom headed towards the back door, like he wanted to go out. Magdalena wasn’t far behind. Just as I got to the door to open it to let them both outside, it happened. I’m not sure who started it but Major Tom and Magdalena got into it, snapping and snarling at each other.
That is when I did something stupid and put my hand down to try to separate them. Major Tom was snapping at Magdalena and managed to bite my middle finger on my left hand. It broke skin on both sides of the finger but not much. Enough to put a bandage on, but not deep, mostly surface.
I grabbed a spray bottle nearby and spritzed them both with water and got them to separate. Then I whacked each on the head and they settled down.
After decades of dealing with dogs I should know better than trying to put my hand between them to break them up. It’s my own fault for doing it, so I can’t really blame Major Tom.
I am guessing it was because Magdalena’s food bowl was right outside the door. This hasn’t been a problem until now. The dogs all go in and out and no one messes with it. Major Tom and Sirocco will steal a few bites if Magdalena is not around, but they ignore it otherwise. And we feed her on the back porch so she is away from the other dogs when everyone eats, to avoid situations such as this.
Here, I was hoping that the dogs were finally beginning to get on the same wavelength and bond. Dare I hope that it will still happen? Sirocco making an attempt to play with her, especially since he gives her a wide berth after she attacked him, I took as a positive sign. I’m willing to give it some more time. Maybe they will bond. I hope so.
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