After my last post on FLR dynamics I stumbled across this recent Twitter video by Sarah Calanthe. It caught me eye because, while the analogy she used was pretty different to Mommy vs Rockstar, the underlying idea seemed fairly similar.
Her analogy drew on dogs. Specifically, Golden Retrievers vs Border Collies. The former are happy, dopey and content to hang out with their owners. They’re motivated by treats and attention. In contrast, Border Collies are smart, energetic and highly task focused. They want things to do and will seek out new challenges if they don’t get given them. In the context of my prior post, Retrievers are obviously children and Border Collies are personal assistants.
It was kind of odd to immediately stumble across a video that aligned so closely to my post. Particular given mine was based on a blog post I read 10+ years ago.
Personally, I’m in the Border Collie camp. I’m not a fan of micromanagement, but do enjoy problem solving and arranging things. Just don’t ask me to herd sheep.
This is by the artist Soushiyo. They have a Patreon here and a web comic series here.
Another thought-provoking post, Paltego. My boy, Butterscotch, is definitely a mixture of the two; he is curious, playful, obedient, and affectionate. Like a golden retriever, he is gentle, loving, and good-natured. He is eager to please and retains a puppy-like enthusiasm, but he also shares high intelligence with the border collie. He is easily the smartest boy I have trained and played with. He learns commands and complex tasks rapidly, loves putting his analytical mind to good use and solving problems, and needs structured work to stay mentally stimulated.
My boy also possesses endless stamina and intense, absolute focus like a border collie. It is a pleasure to watch those baby browns lock onto a task, almost as much as looking up at me with my toes in his mouth or seeing his eyes water as he holds my strapon deep down his throat. The best thing of all is that he has formed a deep, devoted bond with his owner. We also have a two-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Milo who is loyal and attached to his mommy, so I have two pampered pets—one canine and one human—and both are good boys.