Liquorice met a little dog today that did not try to “attack” her! It was in a park where I take her for a comfort break if she travels into the city with us. Unfortunately dogs are not made welcome in the City of Sydney. We were on our way home and Liquorice having held it all in while she stayed in the flat in town was in need of relief. She did what was necessary in record time so we went for a stroll around the perimeter of the park where some young school-age children were having football lessons. Liquorice checked out the various scents as we ambled along until I spied two girls coming toward us giving their dog a walk. Or it may be more correct to say that they were giving it a “carry” as one girl was holding it.
Now all the little dogs Liquorice has met have been decidedly unpleasant to my little darling and the fact that she appears totally indifferent to their snarls, growls and other bad language only infuriates them more! The Jack Russell Terriers next door hurl insults at her every morning and afternoon as we walk across the front paddock although their attitude changes when I chat with their owner over the fence. With Liquorice up close, but still on our side of the barbed wire fence, they melt away in silence. There is a Toy Poodle in the next street that yaps ferociously when we pass its front fence. Liquorice would dearly love to stop and play not understanding its evil intentions. Along further is another nasty toilet-brush type little dog that delights Liquorice with its brave charges and aggressive behavior however it unfortunately has three Rhodesian Ridgeback “brothers” to lend weight to their little mate’s bad manners, though Liquorice’s happily playful response leaves them totally confused! Even our neighbor’s laid-back Maltese Terrier, Blanca, who is the quietest most adorable bit of fluff apart from my Liquorice of course, has harsh words to bark at my little darling. But Blanca can be excused. They first met only a couple of weeks ago when Bruce was driving his BMW down the road as we meandered along the grassy verge. Bruce stopped on the road to have a natter, lowering the passenger window so we could chat. I bent over and when happy little Blanca recognized me she jumped up from Bruce’s lap and cheerfully bounced toward the open window just as Liquorice’s huge black head was entering to say “G’day” to Bruce. Little Blanca got the fright of her life, raced back to Bruce then hurled her brave self at the invading head of my little darling. Liquorice looked at the snapping jaws of Blanca with limited interest hoping for an ear-massage from Bruce. As a surgeon Bruce has skilful hands and Liquorice does not like to see those skills wasted. So I guess Blanca can be excused for swearing at Liquorice. Even two days ago Bruce stopped to talk, this time in his “people mover” having taken his brood to school, Blanca put her front paws on the passenger window sill to greet me when she saw Liquorice sitting, looking up at her. Blanca verbally excelled herself. Liquorice smiled up amiably at her as if to say, “I don’t understand a word of Maltese. Seems to be an emotional language!”
But, back to the present. The little girl holding her Longhaired Chihuahua pushed its face into Liquorice’s while her friend rubbed Liquorice’s ears and neck most energetically. The Chihuahua accepted being thrust at the relatively giant head, and mouth, of Liquorice with total calm as though it accepted this as a standard operating procedure from its owners. And that so far it had been very lucky. I could not tell whether Liquorice was mildly surprised to meet a quiet, and pleasant, small dog or whether, seeing this girl carry her little darling, Liquorice remembered the way I used to carry her around just like that a few short months ago! (Seems like only yesterday.) The girl rubbing Liquorice’s ears asked if she bites! I thought it a great time to ask with both arms working vigorously around the business end of a strange dog. I answered “No”, however the Chihuahua may have been more concerned as to whether Liquorice swallows! Then the little girl confided ” We have an old dog at home, weights 47kgs and bites everyone!” They went on their way to the relief of a certain Chihuahua and the temporary disappointment of Liquorice. Temporary because several cars were now pulling up, disgorging assorted children in their football clothes into the park. Liquorice became the absolute center of their attention and she enjoyed it too never having seen so many people pups in one place before!
Now my little darling has now learned that even small dogs can be as courteous as a Newf.
Arthur Witten
Liquorice – Why don’t you carry me in your arms anymore?????