Stories Of London

Hank Williams (1923-1953) – Hey, Good Lookin‘ (written by Hank Williams)

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My only real sadness about living with Casanova/Puppy was that I could not take him for long walks. My walking days at the time he came to live with me were just beginning to be hampered by my loss of balance. In spite of this, I attempted to take him for walks around the neighbourhood, although I soon began to feel that I was merely accompanying him, rather like a Squire with his Knight!

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Although Casanova/Puppy was a nice dog and very friendly to most people – he had his likes and his dislikes! Unfortunately, he had never really been socialised around other dogs. I soon got the idea that perhaps he saw himself as a roving Knight like the ones that existed in Medieval Times (500-1500 A.D.), as our walks were often interrupted by his pulling free of me and taking off to challenge another dog to a Duel!

Left: A Knight; Right: Being Knighted by His Queen

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I had been told by his first owner that Casanova/Puppy was scared of other dogs. I can not say that I ever noticed it, as it seemed h was more than willing to hurl the Gauntlet down whenever he felt that we were being threatened!

The Life of a Knight in Medieval Times
Top Left: Throwing Down The Gauntlet; Top Right: Jousting
Lower Left: Going into Battle; Lower Right: The Gauntlet having been thrown down on the ground

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In addition, Casanova/Puppy was not familiar with the neighbourhood, since prior to living with me, his owners did not take him out since they did not enjoy walking. Being inquisitive, and perhaps seeing himself as a Knight, he wished to explore that part of the Realm that he saw himself being responsible for.

Sitting in front of HIS Fence & Surveying His Realm
Note the well-worn path formed from his racing back & forth while protecting the fence

As a result, periodically he would break free from me during a walk and run into someone’s garden just to see what was there. I had to try to catch him, which often proved difficult. He could run faster than me since I was no longer a young man and was not speedy and lacked the agility to change directions quickly. He saw his escaping me as a good game, and would wait for me to get close and attempt to catch hold of his leash and then seize the opportunity to dodge me and take off again. After various periods of time of this happening, he would allow himself to be caught and brought home. I was never angry with him over such events since all he was doing was being a dog and dogs like to play (or should I say, merely a Knight training his Squire in the art of battle!).I only wished that I had been younger during these escapades, but alas, one can not turn the clock back.

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The Insignia of a Sergeant Major

Casanova/Puppy’s first owner was the son of a neighbour of mine. He had spent over twenty-five years in the U.S. Army and retired as a Sergeant Major (E9). He obtained Casanova/Puppy from a friend whose Labrador Dog had recently given birth to a litter of pups.

Could you choose which one to adopt?  I want them all!

I can not say in all honesty that I noticed Casanova (as he was then called) when he was first brought home. My first memories of him were of his being house-trained in my neighbour’s front garden. I remember noticing that the beautiful black puppy seemed to be enjoying himself and seemed eager to please.

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I ask the reader to forgive me from being ANTHROPOMORPHIC yet again, but I always believed that Casanova/Puppy SAW HIMSELF PERHAPS NOT MERELY AS A KNIGHT, BUT ALSO AS A SOLDIER! He took his soldierly duties very seriously! I appreciate that some dog breeds make better guard dogs than others and Labradors are not especially noted for this. This is not to say that they are not loyal, loving and care about their humans. But, I am forced to admit that they are not included in the list of breeds that make the best guard dogs. So perhaps it is somewhat fortuitous that Casanova/Puppy behaved at the house like a soldier-on-guard duty:

He also took up, what I can only call Guard Duty whenever he was outside. Even when roving the garden, he always seemed to keep an eye open on passers-by. And he made it quite clear, who was welcome and who was not!

British Guardsman standing Guard

Even in the house, he would sit on his couch, which had been placed before the window looking onto the street, and he watched the activity outside. Should someone not to his liking dared to pass back, he would bark and run to the front door, whereupon I would be expected to open it. Once open and given free passage, he would run at top speed to the fence and make it known to the passer-by that he or she was not welcome here! Others, he allowed free passage. I will never know who was allowed to pass and who he found to be a potential menace.

On Guard Duty in the House

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Casanova/Puppy warned many away from the house. Some dared to return, but others thought better and evidently changed their route. He kept the garden free of intruding squirrels and birds were relegated to out-of-reach places in the trees. Dealing with these poor creatures was nothing to him, mere skirmishes, he saved his true war-like behaviour for his greatest enemy, the regular Post Woman!

Casanova/Puppy made it clear from the first time she drove up to my mail-box that she was not welcome! I can not say that she was a popular visitor to the street. She was very unlike our previous postman who was friendly, kind and helpful, in fact everything that she was not! She informed me that she did not like dogs!!! And this was painfully obvious! And in return, my dog did not like her!

He bore no bad feelings against any other delivery person including the substitute post people who came on her days off. If she had a parcel or large letter to deliver, she would wait at the gate until she heard Casanova/Puppy’s barking had ceased. Most often I would come out the house and walk up to the gate. I tried to avoid her coming to the door. The Warrior could only be held for a short time and I did not want him getting close to her. Now that Casanova/Puppy no longer guards the garden, she has free access. However, I notice that she remained cautious whenever she had to pass through the gate, and rightly so, as, perhaps his Spirit roams the area and is still on the lookout for interlopers!

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A Schnauzer Dog

A neighbour of mine just a couple of houses down the street used to have a small Schnauzer dog, who was quite nice, but not especially well-trained. Casanova/Puppy had known this dog since they were both puppies at the same time and were neighbours. So they should have been used to seeing each other. Although they lived in close proximity, they never really became chums and never played with each other.

Casanova/Puppy ignored this dog most of the time each time we walked the house when this dog was outside. The little dog was in the habit of standing still and watching us as we walked passed. I always kept Casanova/Puppy away from the fence since, after all, this fence belonged to the little dog.

What I failed to understand was why the dog would start barking at us once we had passed the house and on our way down the street. I used to dismiss his behaviour as being somewhat stupid. One day, this dog began to bark just as we were at the gates of the house.  Evidently, Casanova/Puppy had had sufficient of this bad behaviour and he charged at the gates! Seemingly, enough had been enough, and war was now declared!

Call to Arms

The gates to the driveway must not have been closed properly, since Casanova/Puppy nosed them open and went flying through the breached gates while pulling me with him! Casanova/Puppy was able to move very fast, when he wished, and once he heard the Call to Arms, he sprang into action!

Unfortunately, all battles have casualties and this one was to have its own!  Since his leash was doubled about my hand and wrist, I was not able to release him quickly. As a result, and being less prepared for battle, I was dragged along the stone driveway!

Eventually, I was able to free myself and Casanova/Puppy then ran after the dog who stood motionless by the fence. Evidently this poor little dog had not bargained on an invasion and decided to surrender quickly.  Once Casanova/Puppy realised that the battle was over and won, he quickly grew uninterested in the dog and began to inspect his now occupied territory! Meanwhile the little dog beat a hasty retreat out of the gates and ran some distance down the street where he stopped, unsure of which way to go and leaving the Victor to inspect his spoils!

Meanwhile I was helped up and saw that my right knee had been badly scarped and was bleeding as was my right elbow! The Commander-in-Chief was without wound and merely sniffed mine!

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Casanova/Puppy had once again proven himself to be A Mighty Warrior and now …….. a Conqueror and could take his place with those of history!

Conquerors 

And during his Ceremonial Procession along the street to our home, I swear that there was a smile on his face!

The Conqueror returning home after his great Victory
& taking his rightful place at the Head of The Ceremonial Procession 

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