Because they have no "National Pets" day and never get Hallmark cards? (We could start that here at Mudcat.)

or--

Why do they howl-- wouldn't you, if you could?

or--

Because they are learning in their new pack that this pack makes loud scoopy noises, and that's what they should do, too? I am sure they would rather we gave them the same instruments we play, but alas, GAS does not mean the same with dogs as it does with humans.

It's amazing how dogs adapt to our differences as humans (our not being dogs ourselves), yet accept that we form a pack regardless. Just yesterday Faulkner shoved a cold, wet nose firmly into my cupped hand dangling over a chair arm-- and I realized that when they sniff each other's butts, the noses can be quite, um, TACTILE to the recipient! Yet he understood that he could sniff/poke me there but not in the butt! Amazing adaptation.

They realize our hands are what we use for so MANY dog functions that, for them, would employ a wide range of canine body parts. Lick our hands? Cuz we don't all like a face lick. Obey hand signals? Cuz our short-snouted snarl just does not cut it as well as an emphatic hand signal. And so forth.

~Susan