Vendetta

Having owned or been owned by several Mastini for more than eight years now, we believe we have some understanding of their character traits. We have long known that an insult is paid back at a later time – sometimes days after the event. Unfortunately one forgets these experiences from time to time. Our oldest female if unjustly accused or spoken to harshly unnecessarily (in her mind), usually punishes the offender by waiting patiently for a quiet opportunity and then demolishing the offenders favourite shoe, book or whatever object she feels was of value to said offender. We have had males who when left at home on an outing they thought they should attend, urinated on the absent offenders clothes. On one occasion a foster child had been tormenting one male, and being a well behaved dog no offence was taken or shown at the time. A little later when taking the dog out of the house he passed the child's shoes on the veranda and promptly cocked a leg on them. The look of absolute horror and surprise on the child's face when he went to put them on was just great.

Recently I took two youngsters to a show and left the third youngster Pavarotti at home, as two were enough to handle by myself. When I returned home I parked the Utility and Dog Trailer in the “Dog Yard” and remembered to take off the power lead – as that had been chewed on previous occasions. Pavarotti was let out of his pen for a run that night and again in the morning.

When we got into the Utility that morning we noticed the side mirror was damaged. Initially it look like another vehicle had swiped it. Then we noticed the UHF Arial was snapped off at the base. I was feeling rather upset and responsible as it would have occurred at Erskine Park whilst I was at the dog show the previous day. When we looked closely at the mirror it didn't quite look like a scrape and could possibly have been teeth prints. On getting home and looking in the yard we later found the UHF Arial complete with chew marks and of course our home grown vandal knew nothing about it. But at least he will get to go to all the Shows from now on.

The following week I attended another dog show and took Pavarotti along for the ride, even though he wasn't entered. Again I left the vehicle in the “Dog Yard” minus the power lead. Once again getting into the vehicle the next day I found the passengers side mirror now damaged and chewed and the Radio Arial broken off. Apparently he was highly offended this time by being taken but not shown. Moral of the Story – Never leave anything not chewable in the “Dog yard”.