Puppies

Rocco, if he were to express a view on puppies, would mutter that they are more trouble than they are worth. Accordingly we tended not to to take them as guests, but that was then. Now we have a great rota of young 'uns who delightfully jazz the place-up no end.












Rocco and Mooli tried to pretend that this younger generation do not exist and certainly regard their reserved places on the sofa as sacrosanct. Usually a new guest is subjected to a greeting of a snarl or two (the puppy's owner wondering if he/she has made a terrible mistake). But this is just Rocco laying down the law, the guest accepts its place in the hierarchy, no more is said and the guest is now under Rocco's protection. 

On one summer walk, Rocco was studiously ignoring his pack which included a new guest. This puppy started playing with a couple of collie-cross types, and squeaked as the game threatened to turn rough. Instantly Rocco, who had been minding his own business twenty yards away, inserted himself between the puppy and the others, giving them his best snarl. Once they were gone he resumed his pensive indifference.


I was recently asked how I kept the pack together during walks. I guess the answer is they tend to follow Rocco and he follows me, mainly out of politeness. A pocketful of treats also helps, at various point on a walk Rocco will decide when everybody should have one (he starts bouncing at me) so we pause for a general distribution.