I was unaware of this story. Terrific! Thanks so much...it certainly makes sense, since he was an avid fox hunter. Even in his teens he always led the hunt—and became a favorite of Lord Fairfax because of his horsemanship.
Washington is credited for developing the American Foxhound (which is somewhat different from its English counterpart.) But, I did not know that the soldiers took their dogs to war, and I did not know about Gen. Howe’s terrier and Washington’s courtesy to his British counterpart. I thought it was a charming story and thought of you immediately.
Also the name he chose for his hound. I can “hear” him talking to Sweet Lips, as he scratches the dog’s ears, and I imagine that his voice sounds like Eric Cantor’s soft Virginia accent.