Catherine, my nephew’s wife, came around for lunch today bringing “Rosie”, their new nine and a half-week old Golden Retriever puppy. Rosie has only been with her a few days and Catherine is currently a single “Mom” as her husband is overseas lecturing in the EU for a few weeks.
Rosie was set down on the back lawn. Now this is the first “young” puppy that Liquorice has seen since separated from her littermates some five months ago. And Auntie Liquorice was enthralled. She briefly sniffed young Rosie all over then pranced with joy around her new “toy”. Liquorice would stop close to the puppy and as Rosie moved she would dance around her, nimbly sidestepping the youngster, who was clearly bewildered by Liquorice’s bulk and agility. With an excitement one does not normally associate with Catherine she eagerly listed all Rosie’s many virtues and recounted the joys that they had shared in their brief time together. I recalled that I too was once like that and smiled at the realization that I am still that way. Where ever Rosie went my little darling would friskily cavort all around her. At times I feared that Liquorice may accidentally “bump” Ma or Pa but clearly she knew where they were at all times taking the “long way” around to shadow the youngster. Growing in confidence the puppy would dash a few yards with Liquorice in hot pursuit bounding ahead, turning then lowering her eyes to Rosie’s level. For her part Rosie would jump on Liquorice’s head or wrestle with an ear, foot or if opportunity presented itself, Liquorice’s tail. The gentleness with which Liquorice extricated herself from each situation was remarkable.
Rosie had known only suburbia with her breeder’s home and now Catherine’s home with its tiny backyard. But now she had ACRES rolling away from her in all directions! And those acres needed exploration. So exploring she went with Liquorice shepherding her and an audience of Catherine, my parents and yours truly in tow, and each of us waiting for Rosie to have a leak so we could all go inside and eat lunch. However, too many interesting things attracted young Rosie for her to bother with mundane bodily functions. Tennis balls, firewood that Liquorice had “pinched” from by the back door, chewed upon drink plastic bottles and toys all required careful inspection. Liquorice’s prized “action-ball” was of special interest as proud Rosie tugged and pulled her discovery towards Catherine. Liquorice watched on with total delight as her “ball” was pulled from under her nose. No malice or ill feeling. Liquorice was just the happiest little Newfoundland in all creation with her eyes sparkling, a floppy pink tongue tumbling from the side of her mouth and the winter sun glistening on her soft coat. Soon though Rosie needed a drink and as the water buckets were too high I filled Liquorice’s food dish with refreshing water. Liquorice watched on as Rosie drank, then joined her, nose to nose. Running after a tennis ball Catherine threw toward the veggie garden Rosie found the soil that I had turned over, a texture she had not experienced previously. She run and rolled happily under the watchful eye of Auntie Liquorice then she walked under some tomato stakes we had erected as a barricade to keep my little darling from walking on the carrot seed planted there. Liquorice had apparently felt the barricade was more important. Each time she goes near she is most careful not to disturb the tomato stakes as she steps over the barricade, onto the seedbed!
Rosie walked, explored, run, played and then finally, a piddle. Three cheers and cries of “Let’s eat” greeted little puppy as the last drops fell.
Rosie mostly slept, protected by Liquorice, as we ate with only one emergency dash to the back lawn! Then to the family-room floor for playing. Rosie must have thought it Christmas as Liquorice’s toys kept appearing to tempt her playful spirit but clear favorite was Liquorice’s fluffy multicolored “jack”, possibly Liquorice’s highest value toy. And Liquorice was in her Seventh Heaven, totally absorbed by her young guest’s antics, sometimes playing with a “discarded” toy but mostly enthralled by young Rosie. I was so proud of the behavior Liquorice displayed. Her gentleness and great care. Her demeanor and her willingness to share everything with young Rosie were a total credit to her, and her breed.
Arthur Witten
Liquorice – Forget the cake, I want a puppy for my next birthday? But I want my ice cream too!