Selective Hearing

Everyone knows that a dog's hearing is highly developed. But did humans know we can switch it off whenever we like? It's not commonly known, but extensive research has been done in most of our very own homes.

For example, when I'm out in the garden, doing my ablutions or having a sniff of the territory or smelling the air for neighbourhood cats, mum will call me to come in for whatever reason only known to herself. Our hearing is almost like a computer and we can switch off certain types of words, like our name, come, stop, sit, stay, leave it and so on. But we are cleverly able to keep in tune with certain words of our choice, such as carrots, biscuits, din-dins, park, walkies etc.

So the one-sided conversation will go like this:

Mum (friendly voice): George! Come on, I need to go out.

George hears: Jooooorg! mumble, mumble mumble.

Mum: (higher pitched): George! COME on!

George hears: Jooooooorg! MUMble.

Mum (not as friendly): NOW!

George hears: AAH!

Mum (whispers): carrot.

George hears: CARROT!!!!!!! clear as a bell.

*drops the stick he was chewing and runs straight in, licking lips*

The Park

The park is a wonderful place to be if your're a dog and we're especially lucky in the UK to be able to run free off lead in most of them. But there are certain rules when meeting another dog. I'm quite a polite boy and I tend to trot up to another dog head low to the ground, making myself smaller if I sense they're the older dog, or just more dominant. We simultaneously wag tails (if it's a friendly greeting) and sniff each others butts while moving around in a circle.

However, for some reason, dogs have taken a particular interest in my 'bits' of late. I can't work out why. Is it the spring? Either way, I try to ignore it and just get on with sniffing the grass or playing with my ball. But some dogs, just don't give up. I think they're young pups usually, perhaps they want a sniff of an older dog. Mum and I usually look at each other with bewilderment.

The one-year-old chocolate Labrador, pictured, also had a good lick of the inside of my leg, and was lucky that I was taking a breather, otherwise he could've ended up being growled at.

I'm not as sociable as I used to be. When I was a young pup I would run up to any dog, ears flapping ready to play boisterously and may be try to kiss their owners' faces too. I've calmed down now (well, I am seven human years old, so it's about time) and I choose my playmates wisely.

I am more interested in a good sniff. I like to know who's been around and what they've eaten recently. I also have my favourite bushes and see what kinds of things humans have been dumping, and no, that's not just food. BOL! (Bark out loud).

Welcome to my Blog

I'm not sure what I'm doing really, but I am a Labrador, so anything beyond eating, sleeping and running about, I'm a bit thrown. My hooman mum, or hu-mum, helps me write and she thought it would be a good idea to write a blog about being a dog, especially one who enjoys life as much as I do. I have so much excitement for life and new people, mum says I go deaf because I can't seem to hear my hoomans call my name or words like 'leave it', 'sit' or 'come'.

I love people, especially ones who tickle my tummy and just behind the ears. I quite like my chin tickled too.

But my real love is....food. I've started to drool just thinking about it. Nom nom nom. *goes off to the kitchen to see if any food has magically appeared in his bowl*