Last Sunday Ma and I took Miss Liquorice to have her photo taken in the company of Santa Claus at a pet store over at Campbelltown, southwest of Sydney, Australia. It was a hot morning and will be it getting much hotter before Christmas Day arrives. Santa and his helper were busy as we walked past the shop window fronting the street where we could see that they were attempting to photograph a pair of BullMastiffs that, by their actions, obviously felt their time better spent elsewhere. A lively pair to say the least. The BullMastiffs, not rotund Santa and the elfin-like photographer. Anyway we went around to the shop entrance in the arcade that ran through to through to Queen Street where we waited with several other owners and their “little darlings”. There were two Fox Terriers, three small mixed breeds, a cross Wire-haired Terrier and a Maltese draped over its owner’s shoulder. Well, baby Liquorice quickly became the main attraction among the other owners and each passerby. The Maltese nearly lost his balance as his mistress leaned forward to rub Liquorice’s shoulders! That Maltese was not at all impressed! All were amazed that Liquorice was only twelve months and two weeks old! And such enormous feet too! She received cuddles, pats, comments and adoration, much, it appeared, to the annoyance of the other dogs there to be photographed with the man in the red suit. It was as if the Star had arrived onstage and the bit-players melted into the scenery! Passing children petted her and their parents rubbed Liquorice’s ears and neck. My little darling was the only topic of conversation with all the oft asked questions and standard replies given in exchange. But the other dogs looked at each other as if wondering why no one had any interest in them, not even their own humans!
But Santa’s helper was still having problems with the two BullMastiffs. Big problems. With great skill they had managed to knock over the tripod and broke the camera! Thus Santa, in all his finery, came out to apologize for a 15-minute delay while they obtained a replacement camera. Then all the questions started again as Santa, whose presence now commanded the attention, sought the customary answers concerning my little darling and discussed the possibly that she may like a career as the new “reindeer” for his sleigh! With the delay came an opportunity for Liquorice to go shopping. She found all manner of toys, squeakies, stuffies, kongs, ropes, jacks, balls even a cage of budgies talking amicably amongst themselves. They would have been Liquorice’s first choice to go into her shopping basket! And the “treats” section, heavenly, well my little darling thought that was definitely “self service”! Inside the shop and still more people found Liquorice irresistible. All, it seemed, had to cuddle and hug our soft-coated bear. And next time I will be prepared with a sign around my neck answering all the standard questions. One thing that really impressed me was that every child asked first if they could pat my little darling, or a parent asked for them. No child just hugged or grabbed at Liquorice without permission, though one little girl did not wait for a reply! A happy and relaxing atmosphere had settled on this pet shop and all in it. No noisy interactions between the “bit players” either! Liquorice naturally took it all in her stride, delighting in the attention of course, however she was pleased to have an occasional rest from all the limelight. The camera was taking much longer to be replaced and I noticed the BullMastiffs were no longer waiting, or possibly were wanted.
During one of these “breaks” as Ma and I were facing a stand containing plush toys, with Liquorice laying between us, I heard a deep gruff voice say “You better watch your dog or my dog will kill it!” I turned to see a rough looking “Bikie” of some 40+ years and fully decked out in all the regulation gear, tattoos, chains and all! My blood froze as I looked down to see what variety of savage brute he held. As I looked down and then down some more. He continued, now happily, “This one might get caught in your boy’s throat and choke him!” On the end of his leash this rough and tough looking “bikie” had the tiniest toy poodle imaginable! I had to disagree and replied “No. I’ve shot and skinned rabbits for this one that are much bigger than that!” We both laughed, mine with relief. This rough, tough biker and his little poodle made a thoroughly incongruous sight however I doubt that anyone would laugh, certainly not within his hearing! One problem with having such a popular girl is that several times we missed our turn to see Santa. With people fussing over my little darling Ma and I watched as they tried to photograph various smaller dogs without much success. They fidgeted. They squirmed. They fought and generally looked anywhere but at the camera. This caused me some concern as to Liquorice’s behavior when these little things proved so troublesome. Perhaps that is why Liquorice was not summoned earlier. As each dog in turn was walked past Liquorice they gave her a wide berth. Not a one was interested even in sniffing at my little darling or having a closer look. And to Liquorice they seemed not to exist at all!
When our turn eventually came, the only problem was simply that Santa would let my little darling sit on his knee! I thought that all Santa Clauses did that with twelve-month old babies. But no, for Liquorice he made an exception to this rule, so Liquorice sat quietly in front of Santa as the photographer clicked merrily away several times. The easiest of all the pooches they had done so far, and this was their second day. Many comments too from the sidelines were made but they only succeeded in distracting Santa, not my little darling. We collected our shopping and were paying for it as a Cattle Dog was walked past the reclining Liquorice. This Cattle Dog walked under a table rather than get any nearer to Liquorice than he had too. It was strange, Liquorice was so popular with all the people but her fellow canines seemed standoffish, almost distant in their attitude toward her.
That was Liquorice’s trip to visit with Santa Claus and they were both suitably impressed.
Arthur Witten
Liquorice – What a kindly gentleman, he promised me one of everything in the shop!
P.S. Santa would not tell me what Liquorice’s Christmas wishes were.