I have two West Highland Terriers that I adore. Recently, however, the female developed a rather obsessive habit of licking the male’s ear. Being human—and therefore prone to sentimental self-deception—I interpreted this behaviour with all the emotional sophistication available to our species. I imagined hidden emotional depths. Loyalty. Affection. Maternal instinct. Some furry manifestation of tenderness embedded within the mysterious architecture of canine consciousness.
The veterinarian proved considerably less poetic.
“No,” he said dryly. “She likes the taste of the yeast infection.”
And just like that, an elaborate emotional theory collapsed into something considerably simpler: incentives.
Likewise, our house is presently being renovated, and the dogs periodically escape upstairs where they enthusiastically interfere with workers attempting to carry drywall, lumber and tools, while kicking up enough dust to recreate Vimy Ridge.
If I announce, “Dogs to the basement,” the response is u…
