What is it about me that makes the other dogs in the house so nasty to me? You would think with Megan not here that it would be ok, but it seems that Shadow is intent of making sure I know my place. It’s all jealousy, I know that, but it doesn’t make it any easier. I guess it is a combination of our breed and my nature that is the problem. Our breed forms very strong attachments with our prime carer and when I say very strong I mean that super-glue is not a patch on us. I was the first born in the house when meant that I had a few years with my Mistress all to myself and we became very close. The American Club, rather unkindly in my opinion, describe our bond as ‘almost pathological’. It is thought to come from the fact that we used to spend six months of the year in the higher pasture with only our herder for company. They had us, we had them – that was all there was to it.
Anyway, my bond with my Mistress is very special to both of us. That would probably work if I were an assertive dog who enforced my position as top dog. But I’m not! I’m a pacifist and have been brought up to turn the other cheek. Unfortunately that sometimes means the other cheek gets bitten as it did on Tuesday. My Mistress had gone to sit on the easy chair in the other room. We have a routine, she sits far enough over so that I can climb on next to her even though it is only a single chair. Shadow was standing asking if she could have a turn at sitting there and my Mistress said no it was saved for me. I walked over to go past Shadow to climb on the chair, but I didn’t make it. Shadow turned on me and told me what she thought of that. I went off upstairs in tears. Fortunately she hadn’t broken the skin, but it was enough to put me off trying again in a hurry. I’ve been keeping out of her way since and when possible hiding behind my Mistress.
Alfie Dog with a little help from Rosemary J Kind alfie@alfiedog.me.uk
Alfie’s Diary – the Book is available at Amazon UK –https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00583ZGSA
You can find short stories to read at www.alfiedog.com