Am I becoming my dogs or are they becoming me?
by Pamela Dennison

I have been thinking about this a great deal lately. Did I choose my dogs because, well, just because, or did I know on a subliminal level, that they each harbor a trait of mine, or vice versa? Did they pick me because of the same thing?

I have three Border collies, all very different in looks, personality, ages, sex, manners.

Beau is the more timid of the three, preferring to stay on the outer perimeter most of the time. If in a large group of dogs, he will stay on the outside. If a new dog gets too close too soon, he will definitely warn them away with flashing teeth, although he is much more tolerant of little dogs. He warms up quickly though and usually within an hour is fine with the new dog. He never used to be afraid of thunder, lightening and fireworks, but when he saw that Emma was, he thought that was a really good idea and now he claws me and tries to climb on my head. He is very sweet, smart, iffy on petting, although sometimes he loves it. His face goes from looking like a stuffed animal to having a cute "evil" look to it. At times he thinks he can't do something new and seems surprised when he actually does it.

Shadow had (has) a human aggression problem, having been taught by his previous owner to mask his "leave me alone" signals. The upshot of that was to not give any warning whatsoever if he was afraid and (in the past) would just launch himself. He is, at the same time, completley and utterly obnoxious and when he warms up to someone new (which now only takes about 30 seconds), he wants petting and he wants it now and he wants more and more and more. But he can be very sweet at the same time, gentle and loving. He has to be touching me 99% of the time, in an insecure way, not a bullying manner. Shadow does his own thing when other dogs are around.

Emma is simply a bitch. Everything has to run the way SHE wants it to. She doesn't like to share (although sometimes she will), likes to cuddle - on her terms, loves grooming, likes her manicure and pedicure. Is only mildly pushy, warms up quickly to most people and dogs, will play with other dogs beautifully, but only in the house. She is afraid of thunder and lightening and fireworks and hides in her crate. She loves to play and sometimes she rotates her toys - can't make up her mind which one she wants at any given moment. If there is a large group of dogs and she feels that they are out of control, Emma Policewoman, aka Emma Princess Warrior, aka Emma She who Must Be Obeyed, saves the day.

They are all very smart in the agility, obedience, rally, tracking, tricks and swimming departments and follow me continually around the house and outside. Beau even visits me when I am in the shower.

They all love to learn new things and are always up for anything, day or night, but unlike typical Border collies, they also know how to rest and relax. (no climbing the walls here at the Dennison household!) If I'd let them, they could play for hours, always wanting more, more, more. They can all, most of the time, read my mind. Emma and Shadow in particular. I can ask them to do something for me (in my head with pictures) with no verbal or hand cue at all and they'll do it.

I am all three put together - like Beau: shy and retiring, I don't always warm up to new people quickly. Like Shadow: I want more, more, more and sometimes warm up to new people within seconds, sometimes a pain <g>, sweet, gentle, loving and like Emma: I want what I want and I want it now! (my mom concurs with this assessment, saying I was like that even as a young child), sometimes I don't like to share and sometimes I just can't make up my mind of what to wear :o) I am always on the go, go, go and yet at times like to sit around and do nothing. At times I am very intuitive.

So, who picked whom?