Why Dogs Form Lines

Two things you need to know about today's blog.

(1)  I don't have all the answers to this phenomenon.
(2) My "scientific" photo documentation occurs over a number of years.

Well, there is a third thing:  All of these photos were taken with a cell phone.
Oh, okay....maybe a fourth:  This blog is purely for fun!

Line Formation 101

We know a number of reasons dogs might form lines that are common sense.  Passing out treats is a major cause for line formation.  It occurs in our house every time a treat bag comes out.

Treat line up circa 2010. Oh look, my hair was long and brown.

I love the nostalgia of this photography.  We have since lost five of the dogs pictured here.  Only the two in the back, Piper the Border Collie, and Danny the English Setter remain in our pack of six.

​Dogs also form lines when they are waiting for a lap.  Especially if those silly cats have gotten there first.  My husband's lap is a household favorite.

The line starts here for lap time!

Of course, there are times when laps are unavailable because the humans are doing other things besides sitting down.

​Dogs then form line ups on the couch (at least in our house they do).

The line for naps forms here.

The Extraordinarily Unexplainable Line Phenomenon

If you are a facebook friend, you will have seen me post photos of what I consider to be the crux of my research into an unexplainable and fascinating display, put on by our dogs at irregular intervals.  (In other words, we have no idea when this will happen, it just does.)

I began remarking on it to my husband when I first noticed it.  You know us photographers, we are into lines and stuff, and also into spotting things when looking for potential photos.

From then on both my husband and I would try to capture a photo of the phenomenon as it happened.  Here are a few of our captures, again using our cells, over the course of several years.

A perfect line of evenly spaced dogs. They created it themselves.

Four dogs agreed on the line, one did not.

In the photo above, once again, the four dogs that agreed to line up, did it on their own and spaced themselves at even intervals.  Our dog Danny, couldn't be bothered that day to be a part of the June Taylor Dancers system.

I should note that this line up occurs when new dogs are added to the pack.  I think they are taken aside by our existing pack dogs and informed that certain things are going to be required of them, including the ability to follow instructions about line formation.

​Here's one more, when our newest dog Talley, was added to the mix.

Once again, four dogs buy in, and one thinks about it.

Talley takes up the lead (closest to me) here, and the others show her how it's done.  Since this photo, Talley has participated in more line ups, but I'm not sure she's aware of it.

Study Conclusions

These formations happen at various times of the year, during various seasons.  They can occur at any time of day.  Sometimes they encompass full dog participation (all six) and sometimes only a few (three or four).  But the most interesting things about this phenomenon, is the even spacing between dogs and the straightness of the line.

So, if we have to conclude anything, we conclude that there are no conclusions.

Anyone with a pack of dogs.....do your dogs do this?  Write me.  Send me a photo.

Click Into the Circle

I am part of a weekly blogging group of professional pet photographers located all over the planet.   To see what others have blogged about in this week's topic, start here with Cahlean of About A Dog Photography as she talks about Line.

Then find the link at the end of each blog to click on to the next photographer. 

Have a great weekend!  Watch for those dog lines!

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