Blossom and Caleb: Similar and Different

Caleb

     Caleb is over 16 months old now.  I thought I would take this opportunity to talk again about Yorkshire Terriers.  Blossom and Caleb have both lived in my house and shared some of the same genes.  So they have many similarities, but they also have differences.
     Blossom is more dainty and petite and polite.  Caleb is more rough and rugged.
     Both dogs are extremely loyal to me...maybe Caleb even more so than Blossom.  Caleb adores me and is convinced that he is my faithful, loyal companion; he likes and enjoys my family; and he is disdainfully polite to most everyone else.  Blossom loves me and my family far above everyone else...but she would appreciate the admiration of anyone else.
     Both dogs are extremely intelligent.  They are effective communicators: both in understanding what I want and in letting me know what they want.  They are quick to learn new tricks.  They have some great problem-solving skills.  They liked to be challenged mentally.
     Both dogs are athletic, and they are much happier if they have had some time to exercise outside.
     Both dogs bark.  And if one barks, the other one joins in.  Teaching them when to bark and when to stop is a lot of work, and I am still not finished.  Yorkshire Terriers are not known to be a silent breed.
     Blossom has a strong hunter's instinct.  Her delight is in hunting, whether she is trailing lizards, capturing a buzzing cicada, or kicking up a flock of turkeys in the back yard.  If she is on the trail of something or she is in pursuit of an escapee, she comes alive.
     Caleb, on the other hand, seems to have slightly less of a hunter's drive but more of a protector's drive.
     To illustrate the difference between hunter and protector, I will tell a story.  In the middle of the night, a mouse came into our house and then tried to leave, taking a nut with him.  Both dogs heard it, and they both leapt to action with barks and growls.  Both dogs pursued the mouse heatedly.  The mouse escaped but dropped his nut.  Caleb relaxed as soon as the intruder was gone, and he brought the nut to me.  Then he went back to bed.  Blossom, on the other hand, could not stand the thought that, somewhere out there, a mouse existed.  She frantically pleaded for us to let her out the door to chase it.  She couldn't care less about the nut or the intrusion -- she just wanted to chase a mouse.
     Blossom is not especially mouthy.  She doesn't carry things around the house.  Caleb on the other hand, likes to have his mouth full.  He will carry anything - toys, sticks, etc.  And if he can fit TWO toys in his mouth, then it is all the better.  :)
     Blossom and Caleb have different eating habits, too.  Blossom waits patiently for her bowl.  Then she wags her tail politely, and proceeds to slowly chew each piece of food while she walks around and admires the scenery.  Caleb, on the other hand, groans like a desperate man while he waits for his bowl.  As soon as he has access to it, he devours it in a series of rapid gulps.  Then he is done, and he looks around for more.
     Blossom likes comfort.  A carpet is better than hard floors.  A couch is better than carpet.  A pillow and a blanket on the couch is better than a plain couch.  She heads straight for the best.  Caleb, however, doesn't seem to mind his circumstances as long as he is near me.  If I am on the floor, he will be on the floor, too.  If I am on the couch, so is he.  If I am at the computer, he is on the rug at my feet.
     Caleb has the more dominent personality of the two.  He would run the entire household if I let him.  Blossom naturally steps to the back of a line and always has; Caleb naturally steps to the front of a line. 
     Caleb is less of a worrier than Blossom.  He enjoys the moment for what it is, and is not anxious about tomorrow.  Blossom tries to analyze everything and mopes before the trouble even comes.
     For example, last year, when I went camping, I started packing my bags. 
Blossom said: "Packing?  Bags?  Oh, no, she is going somewhere!  I will be left all alone!  I am so sad."
Caleb said: "Oh, boy!  Look at all these fun toys!  I'm going to pull these socks out of the bag and chew on them!"
     Then we all loaded into the car and started the long drive.
Blossom said: "I wonder where we are going.  I wonder if I will like it or not.  I wonder when we will come back."
Caleb said: "Wow!  Look at those trees flying by the window!  I'm so glad I am here with you."
     Finally, we arrived in the mountains and set up our tent.
Blossom said: "Why are we here?  What is happening in the world?  How long will we stay here?  Where is the couch?  Will we ever go home?"
Caleb said: "Oh, boy!  Sticks to chew!"
     See what I mean?
     In conclusion, a dog is a unique individual, regardless of breed, gender, and training.  However, you do find some characteristics that are common among similar animals.  For example, Yorkshire Terriers tend to be strong companions, bold/fearless, comfort-loving, highly intelligent, active, opinionated, talkative, and loyal.  But even at that, you will find many differences between individual Yorkies.