Behavioural traits
I think the behavioural traits in my DNA report are much more interesting. The bit that concerns me is that I don’t seem be quite as much in control of my life as I thought I was. Don’t we all think the decisions we make are our own? It’s a little unnerving when you start to realise some of those things may be programmed reactions, passed down by your parents.
The first one gets a bit personal. Apparently, it’s more likely that my ‘anal sacs will need expression’ – that’s the words they use, sorry if you’re squeamish! I will of course be pointing that out to Mum or Dad the next time I get told off for scooting across the rug in the lounge. (You might have guessed that I was told off for that only last week.).
Worse still is being told that may get worse up to the age of four and then plateau. It affects one in ten dogs. And Mum may have occasions when she needs to take me to the vet for assistance. When I told Mum she said that Alfie had the same problem. At least she knows what she’s in for.
Focus
I’m more likely to be good at focussing on tasks. Not brilliant, but better than ‘typical’. I’m in the mid range of more likely, if that makes sense. Mum might say otherwise. Actually in reality she’d say I can be very good when I want to be, I just don’t always want to be. Worryingly, that decreases from the age of two or three, so it’s good to get all the training we can in now, before I go off the idea altogether.
Retrieving
I am significantly more likely to be good at retrieving than many dogs and, get this, I’m more likely to carry something around with me. I carry Sloth all the time. Mum thinks it’s cute, but it turns out it’s genetic. It is unfortunate that we don’t play fetch as I’d probably be very good at it. Of course, I’d get so excited that I’d accidentally bit Mum and back to square one – that is exactly why we don’t play fetch.
Reverse Sneezing
Now this is really interesting. I’m significantly more likely to be affected by reverse sneezing. This is where we suddenly take air in through our noses and can make a honking sound. I’ve done it and Mum has come running thinking I’m choking. We didn’t know what it was, but it’s happened a couple of times and now we know. When I do it, Mum gently strokes me to calm me down and apparently that is exactly the right thing to do. Distraction can be good too – I’m happy for Mum to distract me with cheese or pate, whichever is nearer to hand.
I’m going to stop there for today as there are quite a lot more to go through. To be continued.
Pebbles
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