I decide to message the people who have booked to stay over Christmas. I'd like them to cancel so we can go away. I draw their attention to the fact that we do not have television, although we do provide Internet. I end by saying that we and our two dogs, Rolo and Tallulah, look forward to seeing them in December. I consider inserting the word 'large' in front of dogs, but decide against it. Then I say a prayer, cross my fingers and press send.
Until we started the B&B, I had no idea that so many people are absolutely terrified of dogs. Our Ridgeback/Boerbull cross, Rolo, is a big dog and I do understand that, when he's running at you at 100km/hr, he can be quite a formidable sight. However, the worst thing to do is scream, run or climb a tree. Rolo can sense fear from a mile off and how people react to him determines how he reacts in return.
We were just finished lunch on Boxing Day last year when we heard a great shout. We rushed outside to find a man up the frangipani tree and Rolo at the bottom wondering what all the fuss was about. Two ladies came to enquire about the cottage one morning. While John was standing talking to them, Rolo bounded up. Both women screamed loudly and threw themselves at John who, totally unprepared for the onslaught, fell over, the women falling on top of him. Rolo, by this time, had found something much more interesting to investigate and had run off. John suggested the women find another place to stay.
You see, people who are afraid of dogs are hard work. One man phoned us every time he wanted to go out the door and every time he arrived back at the gate. It was exhausting having to make sure that Rolo was kept inside. We even had one lady who refused to sit on the veranda of the cottage in case Rolo walked by.
We have now come to the conclusion that people who are not dog people are not worth the trouble and so it is that I write to each guest and tell them that we had two dogs. Ultimately, we feel, people have to fit in with us. We are not going to lock the dogs up to suit others. Rolo rules and that's a fact.
Until we started the B&B, I had no idea that so many people are absolutely terrified of dogs. Our Ridgeback/Boerbull cross, Rolo, is a big dog and I do understand that, when he's running at you at 100km/hr, he can be quite a formidable sight. However, the worst thing to do is scream, run or climb a tree. Rolo can sense fear from a mile off and how people react to him determines how he reacts in return.
We were just finished lunch on Boxing Day last year when we heard a great shout. We rushed outside to find a man up the frangipani tree and Rolo at the bottom wondering what all the fuss was about. Two ladies came to enquire about the cottage one morning. While John was standing talking to them, Rolo bounded up. Both women screamed loudly and threw themselves at John who, totally unprepared for the onslaught, fell over, the women falling on top of him. Rolo, by this time, had found something much more interesting to investigate and had run off. John suggested the women find another place to stay.
You see, people who are afraid of dogs are hard work. One man phoned us every time he wanted to go out the door and every time he arrived back at the gate. It was exhausting having to make sure that Rolo was kept inside. We even had one lady who refused to sit on the veranda of the cottage in case Rolo walked by.
We have now come to the conclusion that people who are not dog people are not worth the trouble and so it is that I write to each guest and tell them that we had two dogs. Ultimately, we feel, people have to fit in with us. We are not going to lock the dogs up to suit others. Rolo rules and that's a fact.
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