The boys hold a surprising number of meetings throughout the day.
Most of them begin without notice.
One dog locates the other.
A stare is exchanged.
A toy is presented.
The other dog immediately takes the toy.
A brief discussion follows.
By “discussion,” I mean someone runs away and someone gives chase.
There may be wrestling.
There may be dramatic sighs.
There is occasionally barking.
Minutes pass.
Energy is spent.
Positions are taken.
Nothing is resolved.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, the meeting adjourns.
One dog curls up on the couch.
The other stretches out on the floor.
Within minutes, both participants are asleep.
No decisions were made.
No action items were assigned.
No follow-up meeting was scheduled.
And yet everyone seems perfectly satisfied with the outcome.
Watching them has made me wonder if dogs understand something that humans sometimes forget.
Not every interaction needs to produce a result.
Not every gathering needs a purpose.
Not every conversation needs a conclusion.
Sometimes it’s enough to simply spend a little time together.
Although, to be fair, I still suspect at least half of their meetings could have been naps.
The participants clearly disagree.
