A Perfect Siblings' Session
It has really been a while. Hope you recall my mentioning about having a great time with my birth sister in the post 'And My Third Beach Experience'. Yes, the post on siblings meet has been due for a long time.
Okay, now, back to the day my sibling and I spent some time together having great fun...
When my parents first brought me to My New Home, I left behind my birth mom, dad and siblings. Of course, as I had mentioned in the post, it was my choice to go with my human family.
The day before I was brought to my new home, mom had told her friend living a floor above about welcoming a Chippiparai puppy into the family. The friend got so interested about Chippiparai. She had earlier had a Labrador in their family.
Next day, mom and dad brought me to my new home. Mom informed her friend about the arrival of the new member, of course me, and the friend immediately asked if there were any siblings of mine for them.
Mom checked and said YES. And my elder sister was welcomed into my mom's friend's family. This elder sister is the third of the litter and I am the last one.
Though we just live a floor apart from each other, we never get to meet often. So, a rendezvous was planned and it was to be in our terrace.
Until mom took me upstairs, I didn't know what (who) awaited me. And there was Bow Boww, my sibling!!!
The moment I saw her, I jumped on her like how a little sister would do and she gave me a peck like how a big sister would respond.
Oh sister! So happy to see you!
I pecked my elder sister in return to show my love.
Returning your love...
We kept hugging each other for a while.
A pleasant surprise...
Yes, moms are bundle of surprises
Then it was time for muzzle grabbing...
Guys, understand we are not power playing
It is now time for some analysis. We sniffed each other's privates. It is quite instinctive in us, an absolutely natural act. 
Let me check, sister Bow Boww
One more moment please
It is my turn now, sister Chezhi
A moment more please
It is all done and now with absolute trust in each other, we started to go around and play.
Are you ready Chezhi?
We started moving around, at times with excitement and at times, very relaxed. We were enjoying each other's company.
Two heads are better than one, right?
We were really getting along so well.
Do you want this bat, little sister?
Bow Boww had some ideas to share.
I know this terrace well Chezhi...
There is a lot to sniff here, little sister..."Oh,you are right Bow Boww. I used to sniff around when I was small. Mom does not bring me here these days. That makes me sad".
Chezhi, what are you looking for?
Bow Boww wanted to know so she could help.
Bow Boww was against it.
Even in the animal world, sisters are around to offer support, comfort and......advice.
"Can't they go and play like us?" I thought to myself.
Come here Chezhi, I have an idea
I wondered what could the idea be. And it was really brilliant.
We should look for an unsupervised place
Yes, Bow Boww was right. We had to go to an unsupervised place. But mothers seemed to have eyes all over....
Where ever we went, which ever side we looked...
Oh, no, moms' have many eyes it seems
Can you please stop following us?
Will your Big B help us Bow Boww?
"Yes, he will" assured my birth sister Bow Boww. It seemed like he was waiting for us to ask, lol.
We should come to terrace with Big Bs
Little Big B petted both of us equally. Hope you remember my mentioning about the food bowl gift I had received from little Big B and his sister in Many Firsts Including My First Walk Outdoors - Part 2.
Since little Big B came forward to support and play, the fun became intense and we loved it.
It is great you keep petting us but when are you going to give us the ball?
We had lots of fun; we ran around and kept exploring the terrace. Open spaces are always great.
We are being watched Chezhi
Yes, we were constantly watched. It was fine as long as there was no interruption.
It is time for a break Chezhi
Bow Boww settled on the floor. Little Big B came close to us.
Chezhi, I told you it is break time
"Oh yes, Bow Boww. But I have a doubt".
"Shouldn't we have tea during break time?"
Yes, but moms have tea during break time. Milk tea, black tea, ginger tea, green tea...you name it, they have it.
Even Big Bs don't support us to get some tea
Little Big B offered to let us play with the ball. But we had other plans.
"Tea smells great sister"; "Yes, I agree Chezhi."
We got up and played for a while again. It was surely a different experience.
It is sad that humans have only two legs
Then Bow Boww came up with an offer.
Chezhi, how do you like it?
Oh, yes, I loved it the moment I saw it.
But it is yours Bow Boww?
"I don't think mom will object" said Bow Boww.
You are too good to object mom, right?
And as Bow Boww rightly said, her mom did not object. In fact, she invited me to use the bed. Thank you Bow Boww's mom.
So mom, you like my little sister! Thank you
"Didn't I tell you Chezhi? Feel free to have fun on the bed" said Bow Boww generously.
Does it feel good Chezhi?
It did, really. More than the bed, Bow Boww's company, our families letting us together giving us quality time to play, all these felt super good. Bow Boww also felt the same way about it. We had so many things in common. We liked each other's company, we didn't fight for any object or toy, we spent time together playing happily.
Both moms discussed a bit and then my mom said, "It is time to go."
What???? Is your watch running fast mom?
We both asked simultaneously. And both moms replied in the affirmative equally simultaneously. Mom repeated, "It is time to go home Chezhi."
Did yoga not teach you time flexibility mom?
It seemed like she skipped time flexibility class as mom stood her ground. However, she assured there will be another meeting with Bow Boww pretty soon. I could hear Bow Boww's mom giving her similar assurances. 
"Moms should be trusted and obeyed, right?" "Yes sister, it is a sad truth"
Finally, we had to really obey.
"I love you" "I love you too"
It was time to say goodbye.
"Saying goodbye can be quite hard Bow Boww" "Yes, Chezhi, it is the toughest part"
What did mom learn?
Lessons learnt in the course of time:
Some of the most common questions in the minds of dogs' human parents are:
* Do puppies remember their mom and siblings?
* Will dogs remember their puppies?
* If puppies and dog moms can remember, for how long can they remember?
There have been so many studies, analysis and views on the above questions. While some believe puppies remember their mom and siblings, some believe otherwise.
Apart from experts' views on this subject, many pet owners have felt that their dogs were able to recall their siblings from how they behaved on seeing (scenting) their sibling, whom they had not seen in months. The way they bonded with each other made the pet parents support the theory that dogs do remember their siblings.
Some experts say that puppies can remember their moms but not their siblings. However, there is also another theory that siblings remember each other if they have stayed together during socialization period, that is between 3 weeks and 12 weeks.
According to a study, dogs have episodic-like memory. Episodic memory is considered to be linked to self-awareness as it is defined as the memory of events and specific episodes in one's life. For long, it was believed only humans and certain species possessed episodic memory. Now, the above-mentioned research has proved dogs do have episodic memory.
I believe that there has been no conclusive evidence yet. From how Chezhi and Bow Boww interacted with each other, I feel puppies do remember their siblings but I personally feel it best if they don't...because, it aches to even think they may be feeling bad about having been separated.
Again, there is also a theory that while puppies can remember their siblings through scent, it need not necessarily mean that they are aware that the other puppy is their sibling. It is the scent that is familiar and if it is associated with good memory, they are happy and comfortable with each other. Some solace there for me...
Sniffing the genitals of other dog is a very healthy canine behavior. Dogs sniff each other's butt and genitals when they meet. Sniffing the private parts of the other dog helps to ascertain the age, gender, health and mood of the dog that is sniffed.
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