With eldercare duties pulling me and Tom hither and yon, especially in the last couple of weeks with life at boil, rather than simmer, we’ve had to leave the dogs to their own devices much more than normal. Apparently, when their number-one playmate (me) is gone, Lilly and Ginko remembered that they enjoy playing, just playing together.
How do we know that with my extended absences?
Well, Tom had the rare chance to work at home for an ENTIRE day last week. A noise broke through his concentration (and a couple of doors). He walked into the main part of the house to investigate and found Lilly and Ginko enjoying a smiling, growling, wagging game of tug with their dog toy shaped like an alligator.
Typically, we have to encourage tugging between them because Lilly won’t tug if Ginko already has the toy. She just won’t try to grab it from him … even when he clearly swings it toward her in hopes of getting her to latch. BUT, if she already has the toy, and he grabs the other end to begin the game, then Lilly will tug with him.
We’ll never know for sure, but knowing what I do about their tugging games, I assume Lilly got out the toy and invited Ginko to play.
It is some consolation, not much, to know that they cleave to one another when I’m gone.
I’m sure both Lilly and Ginko miss you. But I once had a dog behaviorist tell me that dogs will adapt when we are not around to play or sometimes even provide them the basics (as when they are lost in the wild). So, give your self a break, I’m sure Lilly is coping and will welcome you back with huge smiles and tail wags when you’re able to return to some normalcy.