MY DOG ……. A SURPRISE FOR ME
OR
HOW I FINALLY GOT HIM!

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PAGE TWO:

DOES HE HAVE ANY LIKES OR DISLIKES?

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As with any relationship, I expected a period of adjustment to follow once Casanova/Puppy came to live in my home.  I thought that it would take him a while to get used to my ways and then all would be well.  However, after some thought, and especially after I learned of his likes and dislikes, I realised that not only he, but also me, would need to adapt.

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LIKES & DISLIKES

I learned that Casanova/Puppy enjoys a certain routine. What follows is a discussion of some of his likes and dislikes that help make up his routine.

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LIKES

Big Ben chimes 5 o’clock

  • One of Casanova/Puppy’s most important LIKES deal with the time that he enjoys receiving his food.   He likes to have his breakfast between 5 and 5.30 a.m. each morning, summer and winter, and his evening meal at 5 p.m sharp.  I was told that at around 4 p.m., he would dance and twirl around, like a Whirling Dervish, as he urged his mistress to provide him with nourishment including his tasty treats.
  • Casanova/Puppy also liked to go outside to relieve himself at certain times of the day.  Apparently, he liked to go outside immediately after his 5 o’clock breakfast and immediately after his dinner. He also enjoyed going outside at noon.
  • Since my neighbour smoked, but did not do so in the house, the dog was used to accompany her outside each time she wanted a cigarette and so had ample other opportunities to relieve himself.  Between 7 and 9 p.m. each evening, my neighbour enjoyed her final cigarette of the day, and this gave him a final chance to relieve himself.  Apparently, should one of his times to go outside be missed and he found himself in need, he would again twirl and whirl in a circle before the front door.

  • I also learned that he generally enjoyed, or perhaps tolerated, being bathed once each month and was not allowed outside until completely dry, since if not, he had the habit of rolling in the garden and covering himself with earth!
  • The health of Casanova/Puppy was well monitored with regular trips to his Vet.  At certain times of the year, he was taken for updates of his immunizations, given a wellness examination and was tested for the presence of various ailments and parasites.  In addition, he made periodic visits to the Vet for nail clipping.

  • I learned that since my neighbour’s younger son had moved away, the dog slept on his couch at night. Prior to his departure, when either of her sons were at home, Casanova/Puppy had the habit of sleeping on their beds.

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DISLIKES

  • High on his list of DISLIKES are squirrels and cats. He evidently views them as natural enemies and feels that the garden needs to be rid of them.

  • However, this dislike is minor compared to his passionate dislike of the Post Woman. For her, he reserves his loudest barks and his most fearful snarls. This dislike is indeed personnel since the Post Man who once delivered mail to the house was amongst his greatest friends!

  • Although Casanova/Puppy defended the front and back garden against marauding squirrels and cats and barks aggressively at certain passers-by, he seemed to cow and run and hide at the first signs of lightning and thunder.  He acts in a similar manner at the sound of police car sirens and when fireworks are ignited.  I understand his fear of flashes and loud bangs since I was brought up by my mother who suffered with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which she suffered as a result of her abusive childhood and the London Blitz.
  • Finally, another big dislike of his is photography. He really hates to have his photograph taken and will generally walk away or else turn his head just as it is to be taken. I have only been able to take his photograph while he sleeps and occasionally when I tempt him with a Treat. He especially dislikes flashlight. I have come to the conclusion that he associates the flash with lightening.

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As happy as I was to conform to the majority of Casanova/Puppy’s habits, I felt that a certain compromise on his part would not be too much to ask especially with reference to his early morning requests and nighttime sleeping habits!

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