One of the rituals in our pack is the morning butt rubs.

When the Alpha makes her first visit of the day to the latrine, the four-legged pack members naturally follow. And as she sits on the throne, doing her business, the two sisters line up and take turns for their morning butt rubs.

One will walk underneath the wife's knee (or knees) and stand there as she rubs the small of their back. And will stay there until the Alpha is done and ready to get up, or until the other sister comes up and nudges them out of the way with a nose up the rear.

For their turn at a butt rub.

Heelers circling around the wife's legs, taking turns at the morning massage.

Heelers being chock full of patience as they are, this would go on all day if the wife cooperated.

This morning the wife wondered what they would do if I lined up for a butt rub.

So, nudging the masked heeler out of the way, I crawled under the wife's knees and received the same morning treatment.

Couldn't see the masked heeler, as she circled around to get back in line. But her sister's ears and expression points dropped, clearly expressing a "That ain't riiight," sentiment.

Their mother was less subtle. With a sharp bark she came running in from the hallway, and bumped me out of the way.

Some rituals aren't to be trifled with, I guess.