Little man, Big Dog
This past December Alison and I adopted a golden retriever by the name of Kelly. Kelly has fit in really well and over the past few months I've become really attached to her. Our morning and evening walks are a reprieve from our hectic life, and I really enjoy playing with Kelly in the park, so that both of us can let off some steam.
Over these past few months, Kelly has been getting better and better on our walks and recently I've been letting her off the lead so she can stop, sniff, and generally take her time. We've never really had a problem, but we do put back on the lead if we see another dog. Better safe than sorry.
A couple of nights ago we left the house around 7 or 8 and I didn't even bother to put the lead on her at all. As we turned the corner and walked toward the park I saw a figure walking a dog at the end of the path. Kelly, being the good natured beast she is, started trotting up to the dog and owner to say hello.
When she was about half way there, I realized that the dog was a doberman pincher. I tried to call Kelly back, but when the other dog started to move toward her she was too interested to listen to me.
Once I got closer I saw the little man at the end of the leash. A little guy in an original 1970s Adidas track suit and Bill Gates glasses of the same era. This little man with legs spread wide apart to try and stabilize himself while his dog strained against the lead, looked so absolutely ridiculous that I almost started laughing.
Kelly went right up to the dog and the doberman started nipping at her neck and ears. I ran up and pulled Kelly away and got her back on the lead and started to walk away. Whew, no problem I thought. I apologized and started walking away to avoid anymore trouble.
Then the little 70's man started up. "It's totally your fault. It's your dog.", implying that his dog would kill Kelly if given the chance. As he walked up the hill and away from us, he continued this "it's your fault, my dog would kill yours" line of crap.
I put on my best Buddhist face, bowed slightly, apologized once again and kept walking with Kelly healing obediently. But as we walked away I wondered about this guy. He obviously liked that his dog was intimidating, and liked the fact that he was strong and scary. I wonder if they cuddle. I wonder if they have as good a friendship as I have developed with Kelly. Was this a working dog, a security measure that needs to be walked?