Let me tell you about our collie Max.
Collies are known to have sensitive stomachs. So I depart very little from his dietary regimen of Nutros' Natural Choice formula for sensitive stomachs. But for a long time I had been giving him an occasional treat in the form of a few pieces of raw carrot. He loved it.
A few years ago Max developed an aversion to the sound that my potato peeler made whenever I peeled potatoes or carrots. Whenever I began the peeling process, he would drop whatever he was doing (that usually involved taking a nap) and he would race into the kitchen and to my side at the sink where he would begin this horrid high-pitched, ear-piercing whining that would evolve into an outpouring of rapid barking. I took this to mean that he was begging me to abandon the project due to the noise.
One day while I was peeling carrots I decided that maybe I could get him to shut up by giving him the carrot peelings. It worked. It works with potato peelings, too, except I am careful to give him only small amounts of raw potatoes.
Now whenever he hears the sound of the potato peeler, he rushes into the kitchen and stands quietly alongside me there at the sink waiting for his treat.
This is one reason why I love this dog.
I have heard of animals being sensitive to the foods they may need for survival but never of an attraction to potato -- maybe for carbohydrate value?
ReplyDeleteWe recently lost our 18 year old border collie and will be on the lookout for another soon, when winter breaks and nature returns in full flower.
Wow. Growing up none of our dogs displayed ANY vegetable-oriented behavior! They did like to chow down the cats' food at any opportunity...
ReplyDeleteHi Goatman. It's been a long time since we were last in touch with each other. Good to hear from you. Our collie also likes zucchini.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the loss of your border collie. These pets become like family to us. So their passing can be very painful for us. Our collie is almost ten years old. He has a few years left. We really love him so very much. We will shed tears when he passes away. Like you, we will look for another dog. I would not know how to function without a dog in our household.
Paul, your visit here tells me it must be time for me to visit your blog and read your new post. I'll leave a comment.
ReplyDeleteI haven't known a dog that did not like to chow down on cat food.
Yeah, I seem to have become a once every weekend blogger.
ReplyDeleteAnd funny, I don't remember our cats going for the dog's food, they just seemed to mind their own food-business. But the dog's behavior seemed very deliberate and even strategic: "Chow down all the cat chow as fast as possible then go for my own dish..."
Beautiful collie!
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