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A black tricolor Australian Shepherd and a white lamb gently touch noses in a living room. 34 / 37

A Tricolor Aussie Says a Very Gentle Hello to a Lamb

AI imageaustralian shepherdlambgreeting

Nose to nose, a black tricolor Australian Shepherd and a white lamb meet in a quiet living room. The dog's brown eyebrows and white blaze give her a gentle expression, and her whiskers barely brush the lamb's cheek. The lamb has her ears out sideways and her eyes half closed as she leans into the greeting. A houseplant, a lamp and a basket of toys fill the background. It feels like the kind of gentle hello that says everything without a sound. The dog's tail swishes slowly across the floor. The whole room feels hushed.

Dogs greet each other and other animals by sniffing, and nose touching is one of the friendliest ways they say hello. A soft face, loose body and relaxed tail all suggest comfort. Australian Shepherds are known for their intelligence and loyalty, and they usually do best with active families who give them jobs to do. They can be reserved with strangers but very devoted to their own people. Lambs also use smell to recognize friends and family, so these sniffs are a real way of getting to know each other. Slow, supervised greetings are best for any new pair. Calm voices and slow movements from people nearby help a greeting stay gentle.

The sniff is over soon, but the friendship it starts looks like it will last.

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