Formula 1 Drooling

Frax thinks we should start the week with a serious discussion about something he knows quite a bit about. Drool. Never underestimate the power of drool.

Some dogs drool more than others. Some not at all. Most in the medium range. Frax has his moments...the big dewlappy lips likely have a bit to do with it. If he is very, very VERY relaxed...he drools. If you are eating when he is hungry (most of the time he is awake) he drools a teensy bit. If he is excited to see me, he drools! He kinda drools quite a bit. Not huge horrific drools...just a bit out the side of the mouth, where you want to take a kerchief and dab at it saying 'you've got a little something there.'

* Frax November 2011. Not drooling.

I noticed he was an expert drooler when we were teaming up at CA. Not knowing exactly how to act, I said to Bill...”wow, he drools doesn't he?” Bill, being a man of few words, nodded, “Yup.” and smiled. “I bet he's drooling 'cause he is happy” said Bill. “You think?” I said mopping Frax's corner of his lip. “Pretty sure.” Bill said.

To each dog owner drool will come. Some more, some less. Frax was quite happy to meet me and the drool...well, I was a bit astounded. After he calmed down and saw I didn't freak out...no more drool. I think personally, it was a test. Not everyone can handle drool. (Or look at it long!) Never underestimate the power of the drool!

Imagine if humans were droolers? It might make for some interesting corporate situations, family gatherings, and social situations. Most dog lovers take it as a right of passage. When you can wipe a little friendly drool off your sleeve with panache' well, then you are officially a dog person. Having been a nurse, dog drool is nothing to the 'ahm' things that I've seen. I do not mind it at all. Lol.

In some dogs drool is a sign of distress, however. If your dog never ever drools, he might have eaten something bad for him, is sick or stressed to the max about something, and you need to put your detective hat on and try for his sake to figure it out. If you can't a call to your vet might just be in order.

In the more 'jowly' breeds a bit of drool isn't unusual at all. Hound breeds are well-known as the Olympic masters of drooling...every other dog breed pales in comparison. Frax is quite 'houndy' looking, and early on, a person said to us “there’s a lot of hound in that thair dog!”...That set me back a bit, knowing exactly his parentage of Golden and Lab. However...did you know that in the late 18th century, Lord Tweedmouth who was a devotee' of Golden Retrievers decided to see if he could increase the power of their scenting ability by out breeding to Bloodhounds. It didn't, and he ceased and desisted from the experiment. So, my guess is Frax is a bit of a throwback to Tweedmouth's breed experiment way back when they were stabilizing the Golden Retriever bloodline. Rather interesting. Now I know what to say when someone down South says “thair's a lotta hound in that thair dawg!” I proudly can say...”yes Sir, there surely is!” Hopefully Frax will choose to shake his head at that moment and just a teensy fleck of drool will go flying! :)

Have a great Sunday!

Later...

LV, FX & JT

#dogdrool #LordTweedmouth #GoldenRetrieverhistory #dogpersons #droolasasymptom