I came into the sitting room in our little cottage in Suffolk to find Sandy in his new red bed, he was looking a bit sorry for himself so I asked him if he was OK.
I'm fine I suppose.
You suppose, what does that mean?
Dad, it means I'm not sure, you know that, humans say it all the time.
Yes, that's true Sandy, what do you think might be wrong.
Well I'm in the wrong place for one thing.
Now Sandy we've moved house to be nearer Lauren who will be working in London.
That's fair enough but you did it without consulting me.
It's not usual to consult dogs on these matters.
I'm not a usual kind of dog am I, after all you talk to me and I answer you, don't you think that might be unusual in a dog?
True enough, you're a very clever dog and I'm sorry we didn't discuss it with you before committing to it, but there's no need to take the huff.
I'm not in the huff, I'm disappointed in you and the rest of the family and I reckon justifiably so.
Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?
Yes there is.
At this point I get the old sinking sensation, I fear I'm being set up again.
What is that?
I know there are two dogs that live next door, from the window I can see them going out walks, I'd like to be properly introduced.
Oh, I think that can be arranged, when would suit?
Tomorrow morning Dad?
OK, let's do that.
That wasn't too bad, I thought it would be one of his fiendish requests again, but to introduce him to the dogs next door is easy. They are brothers, Lhasa Apsos, and seem very friendly, so I phoned our new neighbours and asked if they would stop by at our cottage when they went walkies the next day, so that we could introduce the dogs to one another; they were delighted. At ten o'clock next morning the dogs came down our driveway with both their owners. I let Sandy out to the back garden where he could meet them from behind our fence, just in case he didn't take to them. He stood quietly wagging his tail and they all swapped sniffs through the gate. It was going so well that I suggested to our neighbours that I bring Sandy out on his lead, they agreed. I put his lead on, opened the gate and out we went. As soon as he was out there and in reach of the Lhasas his hackles rose and he flew at them, nearly pulling me off my feet, I was horrified and tried to pull him back, our neighbours doing likewise with their dogs. Fortunately their bark was worse than their bite and we soon had them separated, I dragged Sandy back through the gate closing it firmly behind me. He kept barking and growling and generally being offensive; I apologised to our neighbours and they said not to worry, no harm done and went on their way. I took Sandy back into the house for a dressing down.
What happened there? You asked to meet them and seemed happy when the came down the drive, what made you so angry?
I was happy, I wanted them to come so I could let them see who is top dog around here.
You mean it was all a set up.
No, I'm going to be top dog and they didn't seem to take kindly to that so I had to show them.
Well Sandy I have to tell you that you won't be meeting them again, I've never known you so aggressive.
Don't worry dad, it was just dog talk, they know now that I'm boss so we can be friendly to each other.
I doubt they'll ever be back, you were so nasty.
We'll see Dad.
I left it there, I was puzzled and didn't know how to take the discussion forward from there.Like nearly all dogs in the countryside the Lhasas were kept in their own garden in case they wandered away then got lost or worried livestock, so I was more than surprised when, next day, the two of them came sauntering down our path on their own and stood at the gate wagging their tails, I'd left our door open as usual so Sandy was able to get out and went to the gate. All was quiet, the three of them stood there whining slightly and wagging their tails, I was astonished. A moment later the neighbours appeared looking for the dogs and they stopped dead when they saw the three dogs being friendly to each other. We were all amazed but didn't let the dogs get together, just in case. Sandy kept looking up to me and I knew he wanted to go out to them but I wouldn't let him, just in case.After they left Sandy went back into the house and I followed him.
That was a friendly exchange, quite different from yesterday.
I told you they'd be back and we'd be friends didn't I.
Yes you did but it seemed so unlikely.
You didn't believe me?
Well, no, I didn't.
You don't understand dogs Dad, we have our own way of getting to know new neighbours and those ways aren't the same as humans where you all pretend to like everyone you meet, but in truth it's just an act. Dogs are more straightforward you see, we have a bit of shadow boxing to discover who is where in the pack then, once that's over, if we like each other, it's never referred to again - unless of course there's a female around, that can lead to temporary confusion.
I wasn't going to explore that statement with him so left it at that and went off in search of a cup of coffee over which I'd have a think about what he said. I knew there was more to it than meets the eye and that there would be a dig at me in it, but for now I'd no idea what it was; he's got one over on me again.
True enough, you're a very clever dog and I'm sorry we didn't discuss it with you before committing to it, but there's no need to take the huff.
I'm not in the huff, I'm disappointed in you and the rest of the family and I reckon justifiably so.
Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?
Yes there is.
At this point I get the old sinking sensation, I fear I'm being set up again.
What is that?
I know there are two dogs that live next door, from the window I can see them going out walks, I'd like to be properly introduced.
Oh, I think that can be arranged, when would suit?
Tomorrow morning Dad?
OK, let's do that.
That wasn't too bad, I thought it would be one of his fiendish requests again, but to introduce him to the dogs next door is easy. They are brothers, Lhasa Apsos, and seem very friendly, so I phoned our new neighbours and asked if they would stop by at our cottage when they went walkies the next day, so that we could introduce the dogs to one another; they were delighted. At ten o'clock next morning the dogs came down our driveway with both their owners. I let Sandy out to the back garden where he could meet them from behind our fence, just in case he didn't take to them. He stood quietly wagging his tail and they all swapped sniffs through the gate. It was going so well that I suggested to our neighbours that I bring Sandy out on his lead, they agreed. I put his lead on, opened the gate and out we went. As soon as he was out there and in reach of the Lhasas his hackles rose and he flew at them, nearly pulling me off my feet, I was horrified and tried to pull him back, our neighbours doing likewise with their dogs. Fortunately their bark was worse than their bite and we soon had them separated, I dragged Sandy back through the gate closing it firmly behind me. He kept barking and growling and generally being offensive; I apologised to our neighbours and they said not to worry, no harm done and went on their way. I took Sandy back into the house for a dressing down.
What happened there? You asked to meet them and seemed happy when the came down the drive, what made you so angry?
I was happy, I wanted them to come so I could let them see who is top dog around here.
You mean it was all a set up.
No, I'm going to be top dog and they didn't seem to take kindly to that so I had to show them.
Well Sandy I have to tell you that you won't be meeting them again, I've never known you so aggressive.
Don't worry dad, it was just dog talk, they know now that I'm boss so we can be friendly to each other.
I doubt they'll ever be back, you were so nasty.
We'll see Dad.
I left it there, I was puzzled and didn't know how to take the discussion forward from there.Like nearly all dogs in the countryside the Lhasas were kept in their own garden in case they wandered away then got lost or worried livestock, so I was more than surprised when, next day, the two of them came sauntering down our path on their own and stood at the gate wagging their tails, I'd left our door open as usual so Sandy was able to get out and went to the gate. All was quiet, the three of them stood there whining slightly and wagging their tails, I was astonished. A moment later the neighbours appeared looking for the dogs and they stopped dead when they saw the three dogs being friendly to each other. We were all amazed but didn't let the dogs get together, just in case. Sandy kept looking up to me and I knew he wanted to go out to them but I wouldn't let him, just in case.After they left Sandy went back into the house and I followed him.
That was a friendly exchange, quite different from yesterday.
I told you they'd be back and we'd be friends didn't I.
Yes you did but it seemed so unlikely.
You didn't believe me?
Well, no, I didn't.
You don't understand dogs Dad, we have our own way of getting to know new neighbours and those ways aren't the same as humans where you all pretend to like everyone you meet, but in truth it's just an act. Dogs are more straightforward you see, we have a bit of shadow boxing to discover who is where in the pack then, once that's over, if we like each other, it's never referred to again - unless of course there's a female around, that can lead to temporary confusion.
I wasn't going to explore that statement with him so left it at that and went off in search of a cup of coffee over which I'd have a think about what he said. I knew there was more to it than meets the eye and that there would be a dig at me in it, but for now I'd no idea what it was; he's got one over on me again.
No comments:
Post a Comment