The Local Canine Crowd Is Agog.

 Excitement galore...

Amazing what a short little walk with dogs can achieve. If I had designs to be a private detective I would hire myself a couple of cute dogs. Good golly, my two have magically started many a conversation. The only time I haven't been spoken to was the early morning walk. Can't blame them as I did take the two out at a quarter to five.

It is rather fun to be able to have these mini conversations around our neighbourhood. One forgets how deprived we were of them during lockdown and thus it is simply nice to shoot the breeze with whoever happens to be out in their garden when we meander past. 

Dogs have an innate ability to bring out the best in people. Maybe we remember our childhood hopes of owning dogs or maybe it's the knowledge that dogs won't say mean things. A yap or two maybe, but verbal attacks - never! Of course the two I have the privilege to parade about with are instant hits with everyone.

Clever they are too. After the first time around the neighbourhood block, little Maxi ( blind in his left eye and vision impaired in his right one ) remembered which house came with inbuilt excitement. Oh, he has bouts of doffing the veneer of old age and embraces youthfulness by barking madly and dashing threateningly alongside a local fence, all the while being kept company by the dog living behind it. There the two of them ( Maxi-Maltese, Lilly-Dachshund ) dash about like mad instead of civilly sniffing each other out at a more sedate pace, suited for their old age. Lilly is porky and close to being ten years old. Each subsequent walk we've done past this house has resulted in Maxi temporarily hopping about like a young whipper snapper. In fact, ten meters before we get there he changes his tired mien to one of vigor preparing for the joyful battle ahead.

While this is going on, the next two fence dashers are alerted by the grunts and barks and set up station to go to battle defending their fifedom. Yikes, what a crowd. Funny enough it is just old Maxi who tries to prove his might, as Mali couldn't be bothered and usually plonks herself down on the grass waiting for them to get it over with.

How long these two will stay with us I can't say, but what I can say is that they are a breath of fresh air for the neighbourhood and us...

Biggi