Why Dogs Sniff One Another
from the collection of W. C. McKern
(269) One time there was a gathering of all kinds of dogs. One of them said, "What shall we do when we get together?" Another said, "Let's play, how about a game?" So they chased each other, round and round they went. When they all came together, one, right in the center, let a fart. "Who did that?" said one. "I don't know who did it," said another. "Let's look and find out," said one, "We'll find out in a short time." From that time on, whenever you see two dogs, when they first meet, they smell each other to find out who did that. Every time you see dogs together, they do this. They are still looking for that one. They claim that they haven't found him yet.1
Comparative Material. ...
Links: Wolf & Dog Spirits.
Stories: relating to dogs or wolves: The Gray Wolf Origin Myth, A Man and His Three Dogs, White Wolf, Wolves and Humans, The Wolf Clan Origin Myth, The Old Man and His Four Dogs, Worúxega, The Dogs of the Chief's Son, The Dog that became a Panther, Baldheaded Warclub Origin Myth, The Wild Rose, The Man Whose Wife was Captured, The Resurrection of the Chief's Daughter, The Canine Warrior, The Dog Who Saved His Master, The Raccoon Coat, Wojijé, The Big Eater, The Healing Blessing, The Medicine Rite Foundation Myth, Trickster Loses His Meal, Sun and the Big Eater, Redhorn's Sons, Trickster, the Wolf, the Turtle, and the Meadow Lark, Hog's Adventures, Holy One and His Brother, The Messengers of Hare, Pete Dupeé and the Ghosts, Grandmother's Gifts, The Hocąk Migration Myth, Bladder and His Brothers, The Stench-Earth Medicine Origin Myth, The Old Man and the Giants, Rich Man, Boy, and Horse, Kunu's Warpath, Morning Star and His Friend, Black Otter's Warpath, Chief Wave and the Big Drunk; Peace of Mind Regained (?); about flatulence: Trickster Eats the Laxative Bulb, Trickster's Anus Guards the Ducks, The Bungling Host.
Themes: animals assemble in a great council: The Creation Council, Hare Recruits Game Animals for Humans, Snake Clan Origins.
Notes
1 W. C. McKern, Winnebago Notebook (Milwaukee: Milwaukee Public Museum, 1927) 269.
