Donkey!

[altivo]

Well, a little one. This is the little guy I mentioned yesterday:



He's made by "Mane Events" and is supposed to be a dog squeaky toy. Once I saw him I couldn't bear the thought of him being chewed and possibly ripped to pieces, so I took him home with me. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford to rescue all his brothers and sisters and had to leave them at the store.

No photo of the steam locomotive I mentioned several days ago. It did arrive today, but alas, it doesn't run. I did make a reasonable attempt, including cleaning, lubricating, adjusting the power pickup brushes, but no luck. It's supposed to be returnable, seller message sent.

Gary and I went and finished shopping this afternoon. This included a visit to a new wineseller where I was intrigued by possibilities but only bought what I needed for gifts. I'll be going back later, I'm sure.

We got a couple of items for his mom as well, and that concludes everything but the wrapping and the cooking. (Yes, we're making a ham and hauling it to Chicago. Sigh.)

Comments

[avon_deer]

I wonder why dogs like chewing on things so much?

[altivo]

Instinct. It's hard-wired. It helps clean and maintain their teeth and gums, and as you might expect, a wolf without teeth is in trouble unless he's in captivity.

Also, dog play toy behavior is part of puppy education and growing. Many of them play with soft toys just as they would play with an animal they caught. Where felines usually break the prey's neck or back by pouncing on it, or suffocate it one way or another, canines break the neck by shaking it back and forth. TMI, I know, but if you watch predator behavior either on film or live, you see this difference.

[avon_deer]

Makes a lot of sense. Our cat used to like pouncing on my hand, my uncles dog sometimes used to mouth my uncle gently. :D

I still think the world would be more interesting if all creatures had opposable thumbs though. I suppose that's why I'm a fur. :D

[altivo]

Golden retrievers often do the mouthy thing. They "attach" themselves to things they like. It's almost like an extension of nursing. When we rescued our big favorite years ago, he was so happy to be with us that he used to want to "hold hands" by taking our wrists in his mouth and just holding them gently.

My theory is that we have neotenized the wolf into the domestic dog so completely that he maintains puppy behaviors all his life. Once in a while it can be irritating, but mostly we find it appealing. The adaptation is symbiotic. Dogs and horses act like babies and we provide for their needs because we perceive them in that way.

[moonhare]

That's a nice looking little donkey, and a lucky fellow.

You're hauling a cooked ham to Chicago? I hope it's a short trip: the aroma would drive me crazy!

[altivo]

It's already cooked, but I'll have to heat it to glaze it. It should be chilled down enough not to have much scent by the time we get it into the car.

[casey382]

Is that an eBay locomotive, or a Trainworld? Either should make good on it.

[altivo]

Ebay, and I figured the seller wasn't really a train guy. He isn't, and he was very gracious about it. I offered to return it, and he said he'd refund the full price and I could keep it, because he doesn't do trains and couldn't do anything with it. I think he's probably a pawn shop, actually, from looking at the other stuff he's selling. I haven't posted feedback yet, but when the refund comes through I'll give him a good rating anyway.