Inevitably, this event with our friend, the 'Drunk' put us back, nevertheless I continued socialising Nanette by visits to the town on a daily basis. Nanette's fear of other dogs!!! and birds!!( I do mean the feathered variety!!) was also a handicap!! She simply would not stay in the garden for any length of time anyway but if a bird flew over she'd dive into the apartment!! SO...what with dogs, birds, men and traffic as well as noise....well! we had a lot to face and overcome.
It's very difficult not to empathise with a dog ( or human for that matter ) in this state but I knew I must not identify with her ...compassion is one thing but it does not function except from a healthy 'detachment'.
I had the idea to take Nanette to the market. This is a row of vegetable and flower stalls placed in the front of a large square known as the 'Place de Grand Jardin'. It's marvellous to live in a town where folks still rise at 5am to pick their vegetables and bring them fresh to the market by 7am!! Our first visit there was very difficult as one might expect. BUT something amazing happened that very day!
There are a number of dogs I would refer to as 'town dogs' . These are dogs, who are thrown out early in the day whilst their owners are at work. There was one in particular at this time who grabbed Nanette's attention!! I was surprised that she wasn't frightened of him, in fact her behaviour was, if not 'seductive' certainly mildly 'come hither'!! He was in fact 'a Tramp'. I knew him of old. He had a Mistress and a Wife in every street and goodness knows how many children!!!
I warned her about this fellow but she developed a real obsession for him!! He in turn was really rude!! After the first meeting, he would whizz by each time with a most arrogant posture and usually growl at her and pee too near her face!! It became truly embarrassing in the days that followed, as she would see him in the distance and then let out the most incredible 'hunting cry'!! Believe me, this is some sound!!!! and it raised many eyebrows in the town and does to this day!! although now of course, people know her and smile indulgently. Nevertheless, I was able to use this development to advantage.
It meant that I could take her to the market where he was sure to be found in 'the Place' and there was not much resistance on her part!! In spite of this it was another year before Nanette was really 'comfortable' with this part of town and the stream of people always passing there. In the house, she continued to take the longest route to the front door to avoid direct contact with me and meals were still taken just outside the bed. Our day to day relationship though was always developing. I never pushed myself on her. My job ....as I saw it....was to create 'Psychological Space' and this is precisely what I did. At about this time, I introduced Nanette to 'Café life'. I'll tell you about that the next time....xx