Today found the happy confluence of events, an autumn day Downunder suited for the ritual washing of Newfoundlands, being a day filled with sunshine and breeze, and my being the proud possessor of two Newfoundlands with need of laundering.
But, following today’s experience, this is not a task lacking its own peculiar dangers to the one doing the actual laundering.
I was rinsing the soap from Keaton and found myself kneeling at his back end, having rinsed the soap from his top and right sides, when I noted Keaton about to shake. Being 34″ at the shoulder when “the little fellow” shakes, he really S-H-A-K-E-S!!!! And long and hard too, as he did this particular time. I watched his long rolling wind up that evolved into a fully fledged shake, starting at his head end with sprays of water flung in a broad circle, the “raindrops” sparkling beautifully catching the sunshine. As his shake wound up, the flying water gradually crept closer and closer to where I knelt! I averted my eyes, from the wondrous sight that no fountain could ever match, preparing for the “wash” coming my way.
The “spray” grew heavier on my right arm as Keaton freed his chest then tummy regions of excess wetness, then his hindquarters started spewing forth of their plenty drenching my shoulder and neck as I craned my head further away – then CLUNK!!!! And I was seeing stars!
Keaton had inadvertently used his wet and weighty tail as the canine equivalent of a blackjack on the top of my turned head!
Keaton was not going to allow me to pass out though, for he then thoughtfully drenched my face with the refreshing splash of now cold water from his tail, straight in my face!
Arthur Witten
Liquorice – Good shot Keaton!
Keaton – Perhaps next time you should have me dry-cleaned.