Wednesday, September 22, 2010

My tongue and it's secret!

I've decided to enter Twinkie's Tongue Contest.for cats and dogs. You can find details at Twinkie Tiny Dog

To enter my mum has been looking through old photos of me for photos showing my tongue so that she could find one photo of me to email to Twinkie. This photo was taken the day they brought me home.

Look how pink it is!

My tongue about a week later.

I soon developed a fascination with the pink thing!

I realised that this puppy had a tongue exactly like mine,


and I found my tongue was useful for cleaning my nose,

and making silly faces at mum when she tried to take my photo.


So what is my secret...

Well before my human mum and dad picked me they had another Golden Retriever (who they got as a rescue dog when he was 2 1/2 years old). He had a big black spot on the end of his tongue that looked like he had chewed on a black pen or washed the black colour off the end of his nose! He was a happy dog, and most of the photos they have of him have his mouth open showing off his spot.


When people met him they often commented on his spot, and once when they were both at work, he got scared by lightening, jumped a high fence and ran away to a house 3km away (which he used to visit by car with them). The people there checked his mouth first to confirm it was him by the spot, instead of identifying him by checking the tags on his collar.

So when my mum and dad first met me (I was breed fifteen years later by the same breeder and share a few distant relations) one of the first things they did was look inside my mouth to see what my tongue was like, but it was all pink with no spots. That was OK, as they love me for who I am and as you can see (by the photo above of him and below of me) we are very different dogs anyway.


However when I was a year old they noticed that I'd finally got my spot! At the very back of my tongue (only visible if I'm panting) is a black spot (not the small bit of dirt also on my tongue also in this photo).


They only occasionally see it, but when they do it makes them smile. So that is the secret of my tongue.

Do any of you have spots? Some people have all sorts of theories about why dogs get spots on their tongues, like we are not pedigrees or we are part Chows but my tongue isn't totally black (like a Chows) and the marks are more like benign freckles, or patches of different coloured pigment which you can also find under the fur of some dogs.

I look forward to seeing your tongue photos in Twinkies contest. Dont' forget to enter.

Bye for now,
Riley

12 comments:

the booker man said...

hihi riley!
i very much liked the secret behind your tongue! i think it's super cool that your parents' angel doggie had a polka dot on his tongue and now you have a polka dot on your tongue! my tongue is totally all pink, but maybe i'll get a polka dot like yours some day?? :)

*woof*
the booker man

the booker man said...

pee s -- i forgot to woof that your post was a super grrreat entry in miss twinkie's contest!

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! Woof! Riley great photos. It must be a Golden Thing about that spot. I have one n you can't see it on my photos caused it is way back. My mom was worried when she saw it n took me to the vet. She did not realized it s just a mark. Silly tongue faces is such also a Golden Thing. Hope you check my entry posts too, 9/20. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Furry nice pikhs and thanks fur sharing the tale about the tongue!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Maxmom said...

Wow Rile! That is so interesting! You certainly are unique! I've never heard of that...but then I'm not an authority.
Either way...your tongue is gorgeous and I am sure you are going to do very well in Twinkie's contest.
My heart skipped a breath when I first saw your puppy picture...Geesh, Toby looks just like you did! ...and I'm certainly not complaining!
Sending lotsaluv to you...have a wonderful day!
TOBY'S MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

Maxmom said...

ps...Sorry I spelt your name wrong...my sweet doggie, RILEY it is!!!!
Lotsaluv

Molly the Airedale said...

The mirror picture of your tongue is just too sweet, Riley! Great shots!
I have a spot on my tongue but it's far back and I really have to be panting for you to see it. Mitch doesn't have any spots on his.

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

sprinkles said...

That was a really interesting story about your tongue, Riley! I'd never heard of that before. I love how both you and your pawrents previous dog both had a spot on your tongues.

Homer said...

After reading your post, the Missus pry open my mouth and prode my tongue to check for spots. Nope, nothing.

Grrr...

Love,
Homer

Anonymous said...

Gee Riley! Our relationship is off to a really good start. I'm deeply appreciative for the link to your blog post, and the fact that you even emailed me your photo separately. You make my life easy and I hardly know you. That's one more reason I'm honored to follow your blog.
See ya,
Twinkie

1000 Goldens said...

Your entries are adorable :)

Unknown said...

Hi Riley - long time no woof! Am back from holiday (well, from the petsitter actually - it was my humans who went on holiday!) and catching up with all my blog friends!

What a great story about your tongue & tongue spots! Nope, I don't have any spots on mine - only lots of slobber!

Slobbers,
Honey the Great Dane
ps,. thanks for sending that link through and thinking of me!