Having the Last Bark!

‘Come on Lillia, let me take you for a walk.’

She bent down and put the collar around me. Collected the lead and we were off.

I wonder what delights I could sniff today, whilst walking. As we got to the top of the driveway, I started sniffing, there was definitely a boy dog here earlier. We walked a bit further, I sniffed the base of the tree, I could smell the tasty squirrel, if only I could climb. My attention was quickly taken by the sweet smell which had drifted in front of my nose. It was an empty sweet bag. Then we turned a corner and just as I thought things could not smell any better, I was blessed with the most glorious smell, my senses were in overdrive, it smelt like rotted meat and vegetables…

‘Lillia, get your nose off that poop. You are not sniffing that.’

Much to my disappointment she pulled me away. I only wanted a lick.  

We carried on walking until we reached the edge of the pond, where she stopped and looked across the pond. I simulated her actions and could see the mallard ducks waddling on the other side of the embankment.  I watched as they got into the water and headed over to our direction. They must have been expecting food. I know I was. I love duck. The crispy skin, the meaty taste and these ones had big fat stomachs and looked delicious. Oh, how I would love one or two to fall into my dinner bowl.

I began to drool as I imagined tasting one of these creatures. She must have noticed as she started to walk again.   

Just as we set off, I spotted it. Walking towards me was another dog. This particular one, I really do not like.

It is a lot smaller than me, a fluffy little thing and very yappy. It likes to make the first noise and the last.  

As soon as it spotted me, it started. It was a deafening high-pitched yap.

‘Lillia, No. NO.’

She knew what I was going do. I could not help myself. I had to bark. So, I did and it yapped back. I barked and it yapped again and then I lost control. I barked, it yapped. I pulled her towards it. She held me back and kept saying No. I barked and tugged at the lead, desperately trying with all my might to pull her further towards it.

Then she started to try to get me to cross over to the other side. She must have thought it would be better not to walk past it. Perhaps it had something to do with it pulling it owner and its owner struggling to hold onto it but I wanted to walk past it.

I was not going to crossover and as she tried to lead me across the road, I pulled back. I wanted to get to that little pooch. I wanted to let it know who was boss. I kept pulling back until I realised the only way, I was going to get to that pooch was to slip my collar.

My head scrunched up like a walnut, all my skin gathering around the collar, I could feel myself getting free, I pulled harder and harder in the opposite direction to her. The pooch was still yapping. I had to get to it.

‘Lillia, we are on a road, come on, stop it. NO.’

Her voice was elevated as I continued to ignore her.

The little pooch was getting closer. The owner, an elderly lady was trying to control it and pull it away but to no avail.

‘Lillia, NO.’

I used all my might; I was going to go right up to that little pooch and show it I mean business. I pulled and I pulled.

‘Right, come on. I have had enough.’

Immediately the lead went slack, I thought I had done it. I thought I had broken free but no, instead she bent down and scooped me up from the middle of the road and marched me across to the other side.

Her face was red and she clearly looked embarrassed. She shouted something to the lady on the other side of the road.

‘She is not nasty, just wanted to say hello.’

‘You really should get that thing trained. I have told you before to keep that thing away from him.’

She did not reply to the lady, just muffled something under her breath.

‘Some people are unbelievable.’

As I looked over her shoulder, I could see the little pooch staring me out. I stared back and thought this time, I am getting the last laugh, I barked and as I did he yapped back, his owner trying to pull him away and in doing so they both walked straight through the dog poop I was stopped from licking.

I had won this time.