The Muzzled Aspin (And The Word "No")

 

Say the word and you'll be free
Say the word and be like me
Say the word I'm thinking of
Have you heard the word is… no?

 

     Our dog had another vaccination (kennel cough) this morning, and when we went to the veterinary clinic, we saw a huge aspin with a muzzle. It bites, said the owner. And while we were waiting for our turn, I could hear the aspin growling quietly at times at the other dogs. It reminded me of my own huge aspin which I owned many years ago. I named it Relic and yeah, he also bit. The only people he respected were those living with him in the house, the rest, all fair game. He bit, while we owned him, three random strangers. He didn’t just play bite, what he inflicted were real bites: deep and bloody. We also tried to put a muzzle on him, which was always a huge effort, and once the muzzle was on him, he would never stop trying to remove it, meaning, the mongrel would be whiny and pesky all day—so we’d always end up just removing it and just see that he was tied securely. Alas, no leash was ever secured for him.

     Coincidentally, today, August 18 is National Aspin Day.

     Our new dog (not an aspin) was the opposite of Relic, he only (play) bites those who live with him in the house and would be oh-so gentle and friendly to the visitors. I have never heard him bark at any visitor or stranger, instead he’d entertain them by licking them or wagging his tail at them. But the play biting is seldom now and he doesn’t chew things now (except those we allow).

     Just like everyone should, he understands and respects the word No.

     Just like when you’re trying to patronize a woman and trick her into doing some naughty things with you and she turns quiet, it’s her way of saying No! and you should respect it, otherwise, persist and it will cost you your mind, and some time at the nuthouse, believe me.