I love this photo. Cooper was a year old when we got Ella. We had learned that if you are going to have two dogs in your home you should not get two puppies at the same time. Dogs are pack animals, and if you get two puppies at the same time they will think they are a pack, and the occupants of the house are another pack. This photo was taken the day after we got Ella. Cooper was walking towards me and as he passed Ella he turned his head a touched noses with her without breaking stride (notice how Cooper’s right leg is in the air as he continues to walk toward me). Needless to say, I had to press the shutter release at exactly this split second to get the photo of their noses touching. According to Psychology Today “For those of us that have studied animal communication, this snout contact appears to be part of a greeting ritual.” Cooper is saying “Welcome to the pack youngster!” These two bonded quickly and were a joy to have as members of our family.
