Canine Manoeuvres In The Dark.

[Cuban]

It is a bit after one in the morning as I write these words. I went to bed and was asleep a few hours ago, but a dog living in a house nearby has been intent on staking a claim to the otherwise quiet night with periodic barking fits. I was patient and remained in the comfort of my bed until the fourth outbreak of his discordant song. I know many others will share the feeling of wanting to silence such a noise, to enjoy a peaceful night's sleep or other bedroom activity without the accompaniment of wild animal calls. Strangely in my half-awake daze my mind was trying to turn the dog's bark off using the roller wheel of my computer mouse to select ‘Silence Dog’, as one of the options offered in the Window's Visa shutdown screen - I've had worst dreams in the past.

Grabbing some shorts and boots I gently slip the bolt on the door downstairs and walk quietly to the rear of the house where my dogs were awake but otherwise laying down, but looking up puzzled at my appearance in the middle of the night. Normally after dark I only visit just before I turn-in or if they too have found something to bark at. Giving them both some attention and fuss I tell them we are going out on manoeuvres, 'No leads boys'. Removing their chains and picking up my walking stick the three of us trot through to the front of our garden area a few metres away from where the offending and unrestrained dog is barking.

I would like to say that I have trained my dogs with a macho attack word or clever hooting owl-call, but they are normal pet dogs not Special Forces. They do however seem to understand the nature of this covert adventure and move forward together through the front-line fence into enemy dog territory. The barking in the dark has moved to the rear of this house and is more urgent now as the invasion takes place, but no resistance is offered. It might be the memory of a previous encounter in daylight some weeks ago where this offending dog came out of his garden and staged a surprise attack while we were walking past, my dogs were on their leads. That incident resulted in him trying to climb backwards through a rough hedge of thorns when he found out he was out numbered and loosing badly.

This night there is no fighting, my dogs just mill around the area at the front of his house sniffing and leaving their own scent markers - enough of a statement proclaiming victory over another's land in doggie diplomatic language. While I stand back in the roadway I can see another dog about 20 meters away under a street light barking at me; a known associate of the dog we have just visited and way out of his home territory, 'come on boys'...

As I move towards this small source of noise my dogs quickly regroup and follow me, as they see our new target they drop down a gear, pass me and motor off silently but accelerating exponentially. Maybe there is a little bit of Ninja training within their camouflaged black fur after all. I manage to get to the well lit T-junction just as my second dog disappears into the darkness of the side road in front, there is the sound of a barked exchange in the middle distance, after a few seconds I give their recall whistle and much to my surprise during such an out of the norm adventure they both come racing back to me. There is no barking from the darkness behind them - that dog also has decided to shut up.

I know that the three of us are enjoying our adventure on the now deserted village streets and my dogs turn left towards the path we take every day out into the fields and on to the countryside. If it were a cloudless full moon and there were not the risk of snakes etc. I might have considered it, but the best way to convince them to follow me home is run in the opposite direction. They quickly turn to chase, then overtake me, racing to our house. Passing the house of the earlier barking dog, now quiet and still, I feel we have communicated the message: Let me sleep otherwise "we" will come out to play too!

Mission debrief and fresh pork bones for breakfast boys, sleep well.

[Old Man River]

It is a bit after one in the morning as I write these words. I went to bed and was asleep a few hours ago, but a dog living in a house nearby has been intent on staking a claim to the otherwise quiet night with periodic barking fits. ...............................

Mission debrief and fresh pork bones for breakfast boys, sleep well.

OK, I am an American and would have written this in 10 words or less. Having said this, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I look forward to more.

[Nienke]

Aha Cuban, you finally came to it; writing a book and this is the first chapter? I'm very much looking forward to the next one. Wonderful story, I just can picture it.

[Patsycat]

What sort of boots were you wearing? Cuban or those sort of tarty timberlands?

Good story!!

[Robert44]

Great post - wish you could extend your missions to cover some of the dogs near us.