These two wrestle happily, share food bowls and toys, walk next to each other all the time and cooperate with barking and growling duties at the front door. There haven't been too many arguements, and those there have been are usually settled by Tovarisch sighing and walking away from whatever chew toy or bone Ilka is sitting in front of him barking about.
A few nights ago I gave them each new bones with the yummy basted on parts, the bigger one for Tovarisch. These are real treats and are excitedly chewed whenever they appear. I put the bones down on opposite sides of the bed to prevent argueing and to promote non-competetive chewing.
I turned out the lights and started to fall asleep when I heard the clinking from a collar on the move. Knowing how mischevious Ilka is, I assumed she was up and planning a raid on Tovarisch's bone. I flipped the light on in time to see my suspicions were correct and she had stolen his, as I could see both of them on her side, and Tovarisch standing at the foot of the bed, giving me one of his long-suffering looks which I took to be a request for interdiction by a superior power.
Sighing, I dug myself out from under the covers to retrieved his bone, but I was interrupted by Ilka who picked up her bone. I decided to wait and watch.
Ilka carried her bone until she was in front of Tovarisch, then dropped it. He picked it up and moved back to his side, she turned back to her place and settled in to work on her new bone.
I have no idea who suggested the trade, and I have no idea how they managed to agree on it in the dark, but they did and I must have lain there for a half hour in the dark smiling to myself and marvelling at these beasts!
It's clear to me that these two really love each other. When they wrestle in public it draws a crowd because they do it with such joy and ferocity, but they never hurt each other. Neither will wrestle with another dog in the same way, as though they know the other dog might get hurt. I find them a real joy to be around, but I have a question:
Will things change as Ilka grows older? Will her heat cycle affect things? I want them to always be happy with each other, but I worry that things may change. What do those of you with multiple LGDs know about this? What can we expect?
Benjamin G. Levy, ben-levy@westworld.com
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