At Chiddingstone Castle we noticed two dog statues, positioned either side of the big gate at the entrance to the house; they were perky and alert in a stony way, and they reminded me of other such statues place either side of an entrance to a stately home, or in a sentinel position in a big garden.
A gate guardian is usually understood to be a piece of military equipment like a big cannon placed at the entrance to a castle or barracks, or in the case of an airbase it might be an old aircraft. Janus was the Roman god of doors and gateways, and for the Chinese there were the door gods Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong.
I saw another pair of dogs when we were at the Hauser & Wirth gallery in Bruton; they were on either side of what might have been an impressive farmhouse.
… and there was another beast in Devon,
…and his friend…
…and then I found this little chap in the Netherlands…
Lois Elsden 
Great idea. Don’t have to feed them or take them for a walk. Gotta get one!
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… and no cleaning up afterwards!
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Their bored stiff from waiting for their owner to take them for a walk!
In Japan they often have statures of Kitsune (fox spirits) guarding entrances.
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I didn’t know that, they must have a different opinion of foxes in Japan!
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Kitsune (狐?, IPA: [kitsɯne] ( listen)) is the Japanese word for fox. Foxes are a common subject of Japanese folklore; in English, kitsune refers to them in this context. Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. According to Yōkai folklore, all foxes have the ability to shape shift into women.[1] While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others—as foxes in folklore often do—other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, lovers, and wives.
Foxes and human beings lived close together in ancient Japan; this companionship gave rise to legends about the creatures. Kitsune have become closely associated with Inari, a Shinto kami or spirit, and serve as its messengers. This role has reinforced the fox’s supernatural significance. The more tails a kitsune has—they may have as many as nine—the older, wiser, and more powerful it is. Because of their potential power and influence, some people make offerings to them as to a deity.
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Good heavens! Thank you very much!!
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Thats just a snippit!
The whole kitsune mythos is interesting.
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I’ll investigate it… when I have time!
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