There is always a concern when new dogs have to learn to be together, but for Michelle Calicchio and her family, their worries quickly ended when they saw how well their yellow lab Maggie interacted with other dogs. So well, in fact, that some of the dogs seem to love lying on top of her to cuddle!
Since 2005, their adopted yellow lab has shared the family home with various foster dogs who have temporarily stayed with the Calicchio family, and for whatever reason, many of the dogs began to sleep on top of their furry family member.
It began with a foster named Jasper, and while the rest of the family found it a bit odd, but counted it as a one-off. Since then, they have had 25 other dogs do the same!
They have a few ideas on why this happen. “I think it’s because she’s warm and she’s soft,” Calicchio explores. “But it’s the strangest thing. Not every single one of them does it, but a lot of them do, and independently of each other — so it’s not a learned behavior. I don’t know what it is about her.”
Maggie, on the other hand, doesn’t even seem to notice. “It’s almost like she doesn’t even notice, because if she hears the treats bag, and there’s a dog on top of her, she’ll just get up and they’ll go tumbling off. It’s crazy.”
Dr. Jill Sackman, senior clinician and animal behaviorist at BluePearl Veterinary Clinic in Michigan, on the other idea, had some ideas about why this might be happening.
Sackman told The Dodo, “She must be a very sweet dog who enjoys companionship. I think there are a lot of labs out there who are like this, and who enjoy the company of other dogs. The foster dogs might be nervous and insecure, and she allows them to touch and snuggle with her.”
The sweet lab seems to love and accept everyone!
“Maggie has got to be the world’s most tolerant dog,” Calicchio finally notes. “She’s also very mellow and very calm and quiet. I’ve never seen her not let one of them cuddle her.”
These foster dogs need the loving embrace and need a friend more than any other being at that time. Maggie’s accepting attitude seems to bring their temporary visitors joy when they need it most. We could all learn a little bit from Maggie’s friendliness!
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