It’s all about compromise
“These two are like chalk and cheese,” laughed PJ Horton from Runcorn, Cheshire, describing her Papillons.
“They’re like living with the odd couple!”
Six-year-old Solo, and two-year-old Mace were both rehomed to PJ by their breeders as adult dogs. However, their early upbringing was fairly similar, and PJ doesn’t think it explains their differences.
“Solo is like a bull in a china shop,” she said. “He’s more stubborn than Mace. You can’t bribe or lure Solo into doing anything, whereas Mace is more willing to try it if there’s a biscuit in it for him. If it’s raining, Solo won’t go out — he’ll cross his legs for hours, but Mace is fine.”
Both dogs participate in agility, but have different attitudes. “Solo gets bored, so if it’s too easy he’s not interested. Even out on a walk he likes to interact with me. He’ll come and check in, and we play recall and target games. We do tricks on a walk, and find things he can jump over, just to keep his brain working,” said PJ. “If I don’t do that, he’s constantly jumping up at me wanting to do something, whereas Mace is content to just walk.”
Inside the house, the two boys behave differently too. “Mace is more cuddly and doesn’t allow you personal space. Mace lies around my neck whereas Solo’s more likely to lie beside me!”
They interact with their toys
differently too. “Solo cherishes his toys, but Mace shreds them — shears bits off and destuffs them — much to
Solo’s disgust.
“Mace eats absolutely anything without it basically touching the sides, whereas Solo is a much slower eater.
“They cuddle up together, they play, they run around together. I think, like people, they’ve just got different needs and personalities. What one enjoys the other might not, but he’ll do it anyway. It’s like being in a relationship and compromising, but one of them’s a bit more willing to compromise than the other!”
However, the duo are equal in PJ’s eyes. “They’re both perfect!” she said.