Tuesday, June 8, 2010

My Beak, Your Muzzle

JoJo the gander makes it his business to snap at as many animals as he can catch in any given day. Young puppies or kids submit in fear under his attacks. Older ones are less fearful, although JoJo has been known to "ride" adult goats or dogs as he chases them.

Oddly enough Ms. Kathleen, who is just shy of a year old, seems to have taken a shine to JoJo's attentions. Rather than seeing the attacks as malicious, she seems to view them as acceptable attention of a sort. Perhaps she even accepts his nips as a form of scratching.

Whatever she's thinking, I'm amused to watch them meet across a fence. Kathleen comes smiling to the barrier on her side. JoJo stalks up, neck outstretched, to the panel through which he can walk when he so chooses. The dog lies down and places her head within the gander's easy reach. When he reaches in to nibble, she seems pleased to receive the attention.

I still have not quite figured out this strange relationship; however, the two animals seem quite content with their odd arrangement. Stranger things have happened, I am sure.

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