Tails of Two Sisters--09/21/06 Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have nor do I play favorites with our German Shepherds; Mia & Bella both clearly have their own personalities and with them, their own needs! Bella loves affection while Mia doesn’t crave affection in the same way. Mia more or less gets “insulted” if Bella is doted on and she doesn’t get her share. After all, Mia was here first. And I do understand this, so I am always sure to love & dote on her in exactly the same manner as Bella. Even though I “hear” Mia saying, “Alright, alright, enough!”—she hates all the smoochy kisses, but at the same time, she laps it up! And, Mia isn’t a nasty dog, by any means—she’s merely the eldest and clearly announces it. But don’t think that Bella is all subdued. She’s a real instigator as she vies for attention with yaps, barks, singing, and then bites & nips Mia’s legs as she tries to walk from place to place. Mia falls all over herself trying not to land on Bella, until she’s had enough & grabs Bella’s collar & pulls her to the ground, at which rate Bella pulls the sympathy routine and starts yelping in order that Mia release her—and sometimes before Bella’s even been touched! It’s a game they play; one which can have us all on pins & needles at times. “Ok, enough is enough! Be sweet to one another!” we tell them. Pfffff! Uh, huh…!
And Bella has taken full control over the food situation. She merely drops her ball in the dish as if to mark her territory & Mia isn’t allowed within 3 feet without Bella dropping her head, lunging, growling and chaos developing. Now who’s the Alpha Dog?! Sometimes Bella has clearly eaten but when it comes time for Mia to eat, Bella scarfs up any & all extra food—then promptly heaves the lot, which is found to be completely whole. Poor Mia; She’s distraught that her sister’s sick, (either that or she’s tattling!) as she brings me there to look giving me that, “When do I get to eat?” look. lol Oftentimes I literally have to allow Mia to eat first or separate them altogether. I’m glad I nursed my children until they were 3 ½ years old! No nipple anxiety, there!