 |
| Molly McNab and Mattie-Kate Papillon Copyright © 2014 MJ Miller |
When I decided we'd add a puppy to our furred family, I was apprehensive. I've had Papillons (or a Papillon-Chihuahua cross) for nearly 20 years, and I've always had large dogs at the same time; yet this time, I worried. Our young McNab, Molly, had just turned six months old -- and what a bundle of happy, energetic, persistent puppy-ness she is. Whereas Earl the McNab is more sensitive and retreating, Molly is spunky and unsinkable. She'll tease and cajole, be it her humans, her horses or her cats. She herds the cats and the horses and she "rounds up" her favorite things. I was concerned she'd be too energetic and careless around a puppy as small as a Papillon and that she'd trample the new pup beneath her feet like the tiny butterfly Mattie-Kate is.
 |
| Copyright © 2014 MJ Miller |
Too, I worried about my relationship with Molly. We're close. I work from home and I'm here with my critters close to constantly. Molly is ever at my side; as I type, she's sleeping behind my chair. At night, when I'm in the tub, she's either on the bath mat or sleeping at the doorway. She's at my side when I do the livestock chores and she's my companion when I'm having an afternoon nap. Perhaps a hundred times a day she gives me those ecstatic, loving kisses she delights in -- her paws on my lap, maybe on my shoulders if I'm kneeling to greet her, covering me in affection. I love that darned dog and I didn't want anything to change our mutual adoration.
Finally, I was concerned that the strong personality of a Papillon -- and make no mistake, they have huge and courageous personalities for small dogs -- would clash with Molly's big personality. Molly's resilient, physically and mentally tough, and perhaps a tad bit domineering. She bowls Earl over physically and emotionally. She bowls me over with her joie d'vivre and her happy-go-lucky nature. Sometimes she'll get snarly when Earl or Froggy the cat approaches her dish. I wondered how she'd accept a tiny, vulnerable pup. Would she snap at her when the puppy tried to play with her toys? Would she growl when she approached Molly's dish?
 |
| Copyright © 2014 MJ Miller |
 |
| Copyright © 2014 MJ Miller |
What's most amazing, though, is how protective our young Mollster has become of her little pal. She keeps her in constant sight when we're in the backyard, often touching her with her nose. When Mattie is sleeping, Molly quietly and tenderly touches her muzzle with her own nose, smelling that puppy breath. When Froggy the petulant ginger-cat approaches (and Froggy still has not accepted Mattie), Molly steps between them and chases Froggy away. Crate-training has not been easy with Mattie -- and when she shrieks that special Papillon banshee-shreik, Molly consoles her through the openings in the crate.
It is rare we raise our voices to our dogs. McNabs are sensitive and don't require scolding; a simple "no" in a conversational tone can be devastating to them. Now that I'm teaching Mattie, I can barely utter a quiet, "No, Mattie" without having Molly bolt between us and lick my face, wiggling in protective concern. Russ calls her our "police dog" because she intervenes in any conflict, real or perceived, trying to protect her little Pap sister. Mattie isn't just Moll's playmate; she's more like Molly's own puppy.
It's as if my puppy Molly grew up overnight. Suddenly she's more serious, more focused. I didn't expect that, even from a dog from such good working stock. Neither did I expect this dynamic: Earl is depressed, feeling left out. Just a few days ago, HE was Molly's mentor and protector. Nightly, they played tug of war and wrestled before snuggling bed with us. Now, Molly is turning to Mattie for her playtime. The paw is on the other foot. Earl's not happy about it.
 |
| Copyright © 2014 MJ Miller |
 |
| Copyright © 2014 MJ Miller |
And is that any wonder, after all? These dogs were bred for generations to work livestock and, to some degree, to "train" and nurture the rookie cattle dogs beside them. Bred selectively for rounding up wilder cattle on rugged land, they carefully ensure they've located and brought in the cattle hiding in thickets of brush well away from the herd. It shouldn't surprise me that the same traits are reflected in their relationships with their humans and canine counterparts. When Earl waits for me when we're walking the fence line, it's this innate trait that emerges -- leave no one behind.
 |
| Copyright © 2014 MJ Miller |
 |
| Copyright © 2014 MJ Miller |
Amazing dogs, these McNabs. How blessed we are to have them in our lives.
Copyright © 2014 * All rights reserved * No part of this article may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the express permission of the author * Links to this page, however, are encouraged and may be freely shared * Thank you for linking, liking, loving, sharing, forwarding, +1'ing and tweeting and otherwise helping grow my readership -- and most of all, thank you for stopping by.
No comments:
Post a Comment