In days of old when knights were bold, people were a lot smaller than they are today, so much smaller, in fact, that many knights rode upon large dogs when they couldn't get horses.

One dark and stormy night, as the rain blew about, a squire entered a pet store in order to purchase a large dog for his master, the Black Knight. Unfortunately, all the shopkeeper could offer the squire was one undersized, mangy mutt.

Commented the squire: "I wouldn't send a knight out on a dog like this!"
(Richard Lederer)