• Merlin and Kiki

Merlin has a cat…or she has him.

Kiki is fifteen years old and has trained many dogs, including more than a few Hovawarts. I knew she was the cat for me when I brought her into my home full of rescue dogs fourteen years ago. She strolled fearlessly through evaluating each one. She knew how much clearance to give each pup and how to teach them proper cat etiquette. I’ve never seen her fail with a dog.

She’s not so young now, though, so I pay attention when Merlin corners her and she yowls in obvious pain. I’ve seen him pick her up in his big jaws. I know he is capable of hurting her. So I do call him down when I hear her cry out.

Then today I stood in the kitchen and watched them playing in the next room. I was enthralled. Kiki was obviously having a blast, and the only danger I saw was her rolling backwards over the edge of the balcony as she punched and patted Merlin’s face with her front paws as she rolled around on her back. Every now and then he would start to tire and walk away. Each time Kiki quietly beckoned him back and started that game again. Every now and then Merlin would lift one of his gigantic paws and pat her so gently that he barely ruffled her fur. Though I’ve seen him play rough with her, he is clearly aware of his strength and her size.

Once more he paused as if to walk away. As I watched in startled amazement, Kiki let out one of her horrific yowls – the ones that inspire me to yell at Merlin. There he was, not even touching her, but she was not about to let him end the game without getting him yelled at first.

Suddenly my mind swept back to Merlin’s early days with us. I had already forgotten how she had trained him. Initially when he would rush in to pounce on her, or threaten to, she w

ould turn and give him a sharp clawless slap in the face. She never used her claws on him, but she gave him enough of a smack to make her point. Merlin is a quick learner. He soon switched to diving in, making his grab and ducking back out before she could lay a paw on him. But Kiki is no dummy either. The next several times Merlin made his move, Kiki threw one front leg over his neck, held on, and punched him repeatedly with the other paw until he was in full retreat.

How could I have assumed that she was helpless under his attack? Cats still rule!

(Just don’t tell the dogs!)

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Keep an eye on this page. New stories and pictures on Merlin will be added on a regular basis. Follow Merlin's antics while learning more about the growth and training of a Hovawart.