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I have often heard that cats are attracted to people that either don't like them or are frightened of them. Such is the fickle and rather demanding nature of felines.
Dogs on the other hand seldom approach someone who does not want to be approached. They, like insecure children, need and love adulation and will often grab it whenever it is offered.
They are wrong footed when they feel rejected.
Every night The Prof is approached by Winnie after he has sat down heavily into his armchair.
She doesn't bounce like the terriers, nor does she jump up to rest huge paws on a knee, she just sits and looks, waiting for that big kiss on a face the size of a large dinner plate.
To be fair to the Prof, he never wanted or indeed even likes bulldogs. Winnie's arrival was a kind of fait accompli which drove him almost to distraction, so he kind of tolerates the big old girl, without offering the sloppy affection I give her, every single day.
But every day. Winnie wanders up to the Prof as he taps away at emails that need reading, and rather seriously she will lower herself down like a fat woman negotiating a deck chair, her eyes never leaving his face. There she will wait,sometimes for an age, for him to look over his spectacles to acknowledge her.
I watch this scenario every single night.
The acknowledgement always comes eventually.
It's never, however, a kiss on a big sloppy face. Nor is it an overwhelming coo-cooing an old lady gives to her pekingese but eventually the Prof will look slowly down from his work and without a smile he will pat the big girl firmly on the head .
Winnie will always battle for more. She will wave a fat paw at the Prof in a futile attempt for him to pat longer and hard as it may seem on the surface, I realised that all this is a kind of game the two of them play.
She is more than happy with that one pat!

It's a dance between bulldog and stoney faced academic.

62 comments:

  1. A nice mellow old thing, I'd give her a big cuddle, but kissing a dog - is for the dogs.

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    1. Kissing a bulldog is like pushing your face into hairy marshmallows

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  2. E-MAIL FROM CHRIS:-
    Dear Sven,
    Aw! Our gorgeous bulldong Winnie is looking up at me waiting for a lovely pat on the head. She is such a sweetie in spite of the slobber and drool! It reminds me of that last night in Stockholm.
    Fond regards,
    The Prof x

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  3. That photo is just the best! Three different personalities, different ages and breeds. Maybe I'm in a sentimental mood but it seems to sum up all that is wonderful about dogs

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  4. I love the photo of the dogs. I would succumb much quicker to Winnie's charm.

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  5. Patient Winnie gets her reward . . .

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  6. Anonymous11:53 am

    One of our two late dogs was male and he found the legs of people who don't like dogs ever so exciting and stimulating.

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  7. Anonymous11:53 am

    One of our two late dogs was male and he found the legs of people who don't like dogs ever so exciting and stimulating.

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  8. I love Winnie's beautiful face. I believe the Prof does also. How could you not?

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  9. sometimes less is more.

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  10. And sometimes less is simply less but enough. Lovely story, John.

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  11. People and animals show their love for each other in different ways. The Prof has taught Winnie the drooler how to have a loving relationship in a dignified manner.

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  12. "lower herself down like a fat woman negotiating a deck chair" -- what a vivid analogy!

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  13. Anonymous1:30 pm

    this well and truly melted my heart,,

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  14. I feel sorry for Winnie that her adoration is not returned in kind ...

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  15. Lovely photo of three cuties. I especially love the expression on Winnie's face. Were you holding up a scotch egg for that shot!

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  16. Winnie and the Prof are secretly best friends, I think.

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  17. Unrequited love?

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  18. it's something we all need......a little love.....

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  19. Every so often Jenny will hanker after a dog or a cat but I always firmly resist, knowing very well that I would end up looking after it while she mostly forgot its existence.

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  20. What a great story today.
    But the photo today is fabulous.
    GEORGE ! you know I love George.

    cheers, parsnip

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  21. If Winnie were in my house I wouldn't be able to leave her alone. She is a doll x

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  22. If Winnie were in my house I wouldn't be able to leave her alone. She is a doll x

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  23. Winnie is so much like my bulldog.

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  24. How could you not love Winnie - she's gorgeous ! Love the look on her face.

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  25. It would be very interesting to see Winnie with me.

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  26. Your descriptive powers amaze me. Good for Chris for acknowledging Winnie regularly in his own way. Animals come to expect different things from different people, and as long as the attention is kind, they appreciate it all.

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  27. Anonymous6:32 pm

    I can definitely relate to the cat thing. They always make a beeline for me and I can't stand them - especially when they knead my legs with their bloody claws and dig in if I try to stand up.

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    1. I've heard it touted that the reason cats go for people who dislike them is that slitting your eyes and turning away in disgust is actually cat language for, "Hey I'm fine with you, come on over," whereas cat lovers who open their eyes big and lean towards cats are saying "Bugger off" so you might want to try that. :)

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  28. We had a cat that wouldn't allow me to sit next to my husband on the sofa. She was jealous of him. She was my cat, I'd chosen her and I fed her every day but, she'd chosen my husband instead.
    I feel like Winnie today; ignored. Greetings Maria x

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    1. That is ignored by husband, when he is working at his computer x

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    2. That is ignored by husband, when he is working at his computer x

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    3. We call it being in "c-space" and are both equally bad for it here. :)

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  29. When did you see me getting in a deck chair??

    I'm missing my babies so very much.

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  30. winnie is so patient. ans a cutie

    apparently eating a scotch egg in the car is wrong

    http://www.msn.com/en-gb/foodanddrink/foodnews/how-to-eat-scotch-eggs/ar-BBsdAwD?li=BBoPRmz&ocid=mailsignoutmd

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  31. Will Winnie begin to doubt her self worth?

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  32. Bulldogs can give serious kisses.

    Love,
    Janie

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  33. Oh Winnie! Such a sweetie! I think the Prof knows she really adores him!

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  34. Aw, poor Winnie. I know just how she feels.

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  35. You have a way with words John. And I do believe Winnie has a way with the Prof's heart.

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  36. Kisses for Winnie from Dolly (Australia)

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  37. A video of the two ships passing in the night would be nice. Just a suggestion.

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  38. Patience has it's own reward and Winnie knows that a pat on the head is worth waiting for.

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  39. I'd disagree about the dogs thing, my husband dislikes dogs and they always make a beeline for him, wagging their tails and smiling, whereas they completely ignore me, who likes dogs!

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  40. If you're asking me, (which you're not), that Prof chappie needs a sound lesson in manners!

    And I'm not with you on that cats thingy. Apart from mine revelling in the demonstrative affection I give them, I find that 'foreign' cats I see in other people's gardens as I walk past tend to be curious, if not overtly friendly, to my "Psss pssss" at them, sometimes approaching me with tail erect, ready to be stroked. I just LUV it when they do that, knowing that they trust me.

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  41. That single pat most likely means the world to Winnie ... and knowing she's there waiting for it could mean more than you think to the Prof :-)

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  42. Thank you all for your comments x

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