Pissing Match ~ Dog Vs. Fox

On of the common phrases in the American vernacular is phrase pissing match.  It is one of my favorites to use to describe when that contest of wills kicks in between two parties, most often men.   Recently I have been reminded of how this phrase may have come into being in a very primal way by my dog.

One of my local foxes.

Ten of the last 12 years we have had a family of foxes have their kits on our property.   It seems that the family of foxes is back again this year right on time.   The foxes have been busy scouting out the chickens and marking their territory in our pasture and yard.   Our dog, Harley, though likely no match for Mr. & Mrs. Fox, is out there squatting the same place the Fox Family left their mark.      He is determined to make sure his is the last calling card in the pissing match between the fox and the dog.

This dog Vs. fox pissing match has resulted in some restrictions on Harley.    He suddenly has gone from a dog who has free range to a dog who is on a leash and to a dog who  has an owner with him at all times.    He desire to remark everything has made he travel too far from home, have complete disregard for commands and in general practice reckless behavior.    A Cairn Terrier is likely no match for a single fox, let alone two.    It has become a burden to us  because we no longer can open the door and let him out.   Now every time he goes out it is a twosome effort and we have to  leash him up as well.  In so many ways this pissing match has so many of the same characteristics that we humans demonstrate when we get into pissing matches.   We get so caught up in the one-up-manship and having the last word that we don’t think about is this really right or worth the effort.  Pissing matches often impact others on the periphery of those who get caught up in pissing matches.    I always thought pissing matches were testosterone gone awry, but I have decided that hormones may have a part in all this, but more likely this is more about our animal instincts resurfacing.