Man's Best Friend - 15,000 Years Ago In Britain

Hi Dormouse, thank you for sharing this positive and interesting story. Dogs are great companions and my woofer is certainly my best mate. Our ancestors' brains were well developed and I sense we still underestimate them, through our own pride at technological achievement and the paucity of records from those times. We owe them so much, including domestication of dogs!

I have found it worth paying attention to those canines familiar with me (any, not just pets); as I have come to realise while my alexithymia might be operating in a time warp / lag zone ...a savvy dog can provide me an advance nudge about "whatever" they might have noticed in me - while I was still oblivious.

Yes! That happens to me as well, Dormouse. I had pet rabbits some years back, and they seemed to know too. 

I agree, ideally wild. My rabbits were all rescues too. Rabbits are rather nuanced and I have never heard it expressed like that before, Dormouse - well put! Once I ended up looking after sheep, goats and hens for some weeks on a smallholding. Poppy the goat was good natured and we got on well. The Suffolk flock was also gentle but prone to mischief and mishaps. The hens were, as yours, either very interested (dinnertime) or not. 

Yes, years ago, I rescued a (by poor human activity) traumatised wild rabbit (who would not have made it solo as a result). 

The rabbit lived healthily for many years (it ruled the garden).

As a youngster, I did not always find it easy, in all weathers, to tend to the rabbit - but always did so. 

The rabbit seemed to be even more co-operative towards me when I had made a particular effort to battle the frozen, wintery weather to ensure said rabbit had their vital supplies.  I do mean well beyond "oh, good, food!".

If nothing else, I felt we usually read and respected each others temperament and energy levels quite well.

By contrast, years ago, I used to keep chickens (for eggs).  They are definitely "characters" alright - but I did not find to the same degree, as with a rabbit, that you could be aware of their emotional sentience.  Chickens always strike me as a bit "digital" - all or nothing - somehow lacking the nuance of a rabbit.

As a general outlook, I would prefer wild things to be - actually wild. 

That said, I would consider supporting an animal rescue centre rehoming (to my home) rabbit, or ex-battery chickens (at some point in the future -  maybe, in 10 years time - when my calendar is more my own).

Yes, years ago, I rescued a (by poor human activity) traumatised wild rabbit (who would not have made it solo as a result). 

The rabbit lived healthily for many years (it ruled the garden).

As a youngster, I did not always find it easy, in all weathers, to tend to the rabbit - but always did so. 

The rabbit seemed to be even more co-operative towards me when I had made a particular effort to battle the frozen, wintery weather to ensure said rabbit had their vital supplies.  I do mean well beyond "oh, good, food!".

If nothing else, I felt we usually read and respected each others temperament and energy levels quite well.

By contrast, years ago, I used to keep chickens (for eggs).  They are definitely "characters" alright - but I did not find to the same degree, as with a rabbit, that you could be aware of their emotional sentience.  Chickens always strike me as a bit "digital" - all or nothing - somehow lacking the nuance of a rabbit.

As a general outlook, I would prefer wild things to be - actually wild. 

That said, I would consider supporting an animal rescue centre rehoming (to my home) rabbit, or ex-battery chickens (at some point in the future -  maybe, in 10 years time - when my calendar is more my own).

I agree, ideally wild. My rabbits were all rescues too. Rabbits are rather nuanced and I have never heard it expressed like that before, Dormouse - well put! Once I ended up looking after sheep, goats and hens for some weeks on a smallholding. Poppy the goat was good natured and we got on well. The Suffolk flock was also gentle but prone to mischief and mishaps. The hens were, as yours, either very interested (dinnertime) or not.