The Three Mouseketeers

`“Fear not to quarrel and seek adventure.” (1).  This trio of companions eponymously features a dog named Mouse. In this tale, as in Alexandre Dumas’ novel, there is a fourth Mouseketeer (2). In this recounting, for those of us minted in the mid last century, there is no Annette Funicello (3). There is no cartoonish mouse involved. This natty Mouse is a delightful, mostly white, small but solid Pit Bull. She has “pants,” Gavin, her eleven year old human counterpart, and the second Mouseketeer, is quick to point out. Mouse’s “pants,” black markings on her hind legs that resemble breeches, serve instead of embroidered doublet and hose. She wears no floppy chapeau a plumes nor a beanie equipped with mouse ears. Rather, she sports a pair of small white ears that flop over ninety degrees, halfway up, rose ears, if you will, reinforcing her amiable appearance. Her tail, which wags with rapture at the approach of every person, is thin as a rapier. It whips with seemingly enough force to deliver a bruising were a blow ever to be struck. I am the third of these Mouseketeers, none of whom wear a goatee. But I, alone, display a mustache that can be twisted appraisingly. 

The particulars of the adventures of our Mouse seem simple enough but never fail to incite in her a hearty enthusiasm for each and every outing. Returning to the usual park where our expeditions occur, Mouse no doubt realizes that the whole cast of characters and extras has changed since her last sortie. There are new scents of many other dogs and people who have passed through the kingdom  And most probably, she recognizes by sight and/or scent, the same individual squirrels, ducks, geese and other denizens of that forested demesne. In any case, Mouse”s lashing tail reveals her joy at being on yet another adventure with her dashing comrade, Gavin.

Susan, the fourth Mouseketeer, and Gavin’s mom, arranged for Mouse to become a family member as a young puppy. It was her design that the pair grow up together, bond and teach each other important components of a strong relationship. More than just a pair of playmates, this duo has learned to respect, love and trust one another. They are both very physical and roll around in the dirt, a lot. Neither is without sin, as Mouse continues to chew on any object Gavin leaves in the backyard and sometimes Gavin has to be reminded to have Mouse sit before greeting an admirer. After being together the better part of two years, they have become inseparable companions.

Sometimes, the Three Mouseketeers are assigned an important mission by the Fourth Mouseketeer. This usually consists of going to a pet store and procuring dog food or other necessities and supplies. On a number of occasions, in the store or at the park, another dog will challenge Mouse to a duel. Like the young, fiery blooded D’Artagnan, that irascible pup lacks the deportment of our temperate heroine. Mouse, never one to take affront, ignores such posturing as nonsense and saunters on, unruffled. She fears no dog and hence fears no quarrel. On another occasion, an assignment may require that Mouse must be bathed. In the view of Mouse, this is truly an offense, comparable to disparaging Queen Anne, herself (4). Following the bathing, Mouse will dry her then scintillating surcoat with a promenade in the sunshine of the park. The garments of her company will usually require a drying out, as well. As recompense for this indignity, the triumvirate of Mouseketeers will afterward assemble at an establishment, a purveyor of milkshakes. Mouse enjoys her custom from a plastic lid or other container.

The deepening affections Gavin and Mouse share have been depicted in a veritable manifold of manifestations. Gavin has always been quite the dashing fellow, literally and figuratively. When we first commenced training, he often asked me to hold Mouse’s leash while he raced up or down a path, swung on the rings on a play structure, balanced on a narrow ledge or climbed up a tree. Climbed way up a tree. His derring-do concerned me at first but then I learned my youthful colleague had been taking Parkour lessons. And I learned what Parkour is. Gavin emanates the grace, fluidity and disciplined confidence of a budding “traceur” (5). With the passage of time, Gavin prefers more company with Mouse. He may occasionally ask me to hold her leash as he swings across the under structure of a set of bleachers without touching the ground or climbs a tree, unsafe for his companion.’

Mouse, for her part, has learned to interact with her world, not in the terms of her native canine tribe but rather on the somewhat ambiguous decrees of humans. Not entirely convinced of all the joys of obedience training, Mouse remains a tad impulsive, especially if a pet may be involved. She is quick to engage at the hint of the faintest smile cast in her direction. But she has found she shares with confrere Gavin, the exhilaration of leaping over, under, around and through obstacles in their environment. The pair may be observed leaping together from one large stone to another, paws of either not touching the earth as they make progress around the park. They may be seen perched together in their favorite tree. She is a budding “traceuse” in her own right.

Together, they may be seen balancing along a ledge channeling the overflow from the lake or leaping together over that stream further on. Together they may be seen racing up and down the bleachers by the baseball diamond. Mouse leaps upon a bench to and through a window in a facade on a playground. Through another window she balances, Gavin at her side to spot her, on a six inch wide three foot tall fence top for twenty feet or so. At the end, she carefully turns about to and through the window. She springs and lands atop a solid, 2 ½ foot tall metal tree stump. From here she leaps and sticks a perfect landing on an adjacent metal stump. She jumps on a fallen tree and Gavin guides her to the end and she turns and retraces her steps. She goes up and down steps two feet on and two off, stopping on command at each step, most especially, the bottom and top steps. She will jump on a park bench from the front, sides or clear over the back. Once, Gavin discovered an office type chair, with wheels, near the bleachers. Mouse was a bit unsure at first but Gavin had her step onto the chair from the bottom bleachers, as he held the chair still. Soon she was riding about, somewhat puzzled as a passenger. You never know what the environment will offer up to play with.

Gavin has never forced Mouse to attempt an obstacle she is not comfortable with or not in the mood to attempt. This is no doubt the reason for her rapidly growing trust in Gavin. Mouse, for her part, exhibits the gameness of her breed and is eager to accept the majority of challenges. We are all learning to break behaviors into smaller, easier pieces. Gavin continues to improve Mouse’s performance with a judicious use of treats. And Mouse appreciates her treats if not the judiciousness. Gavin is continuing to improve his precision to lure Mouse over or onto obstacles. He is applying the discipline and lessons from his parkour class to working with his companion. He also now reaches without pause to pet her at the least of a whimper. Perhaps the best measure of the growing strength of their relationship is the amount of post bathing libation Gavin now shares with his Mouse. He is quick to see that her tasse is always topped off. So much that Mouse often sports an evanescent white mustache.     

At the point of this recounting, a relative peace prevails in the realm. But there was recently a true villainess lurking in the shadows. Forsooth, a veritable Milady de Winter, capable of  treacheries nonpareil (6). The Fourth Mouseketeer, Susan, contested this malcontent before the court. The petition of the blackguard was deemed unworthy. Susan was victorious and won the favor of the court. But all that is not part of the present account.

Each of the trio eagerly anticipates the next expedition. of the small, close knit troop. But on occasion, a bathing is still required. If Mouse is ever prone to quarrel, this is where she throws down the gauntlet. Her displeasure can be measured by how drenched the costumes of her two companions have become. But then, it is off for the warm promenade and short jaunt to a favored establishment. La belle vie est restaurée! (7). 

All for one,

One for all,

All for a milkshake.

(1).  The advice from senior D’Artagnon as his son prepares to depart to Paris.

(2).  Three Musketeers | The Real Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan | HistoryExtra  Susan is the fourth Mouseketeer of this story. She is Gavin’s mom and is responsible for originally offering Mouse a home. She sees to it that Mouse is fed the best food, gets up to date vet care and basically narrates Mouse’s life and adventures.  

(3).  Annette Funicello - Wikipedi

(4).  The Three Musketeers - Wikipedia see historical characters 

(5).  Parkour - Wikipedia 

(6).  who was the villainess in three musketeers - Yahoo Search Results 

The affinity between 

(7).  The good life is restored.