Out
in our neighborhood in Massachusetts, interactions with others in our complex
were second nature. When we encounter Baxter, he’s usually overly-effusive, but
basically a good guy at heart.
Beau struggled a bit with his gamy leg, but in his quiet way is always happy to see us. When we catch Miss Lilly across the street on her rounds, she politely says hello and then continues on her way.
Beau struggled a bit with his gamy leg, but in his quiet way is always happy to see us. When we catch Miss Lilly across the street on her rounds, she politely says hello and then continues on her way.
Here
in Florida, I’m still learning everyone’s names. We were sad when big guy
Bentley moved to another development; with his sweet nature he was very popular
around here. But what’s not to love about 110 pounds of Bernese mountain dog
fuzziness?
On
the other hand, Lucy is still here, a wriggling 10 pounds of champagne poodle
enthusiasm, straining happily to greet every person or dog she encounters. She’s so unfailingly friendly that even
Mamie, who has little interest or patience with other dogs, sighs to herself
and allows an exchange of sniffing for a few minutes.
I’m
also happy to see Buddy, a little brown dog of indeterminate breed, and his dad
Warren of New Jersey. Buddy is also one of the few dogs Mamie doesn’t skitter
away from, and Warren always has some interesting sidewalk conversation.
But there’s also a bit of
dodging and weaving necessary, depending on the mood of those sharing the
sidewalk with us. There seems to be a new dog in our building, about the size
and build of a small wolf, with beautiful ebony fur. Its owners, who are
delightful people, always pull it to the side when we are in the vicinity, so
I’m steering clear.
Others from other
buildings that cause me to turn and head in another direction when I see them
are the yappy long-haired dachshund, the twin miniature schnauzers who snarl
like fiends from hell, and a nasty chihuahua.
On the plus side, I get
to enjoy the smug and completely undeserved satisfaction of knowing my dog is
of course perfect and would never, ever bark at another dog or person.
Unless you happen to be coming in our front door.
Unless you happen to be coming in our front door.
So fierce!
ReplyDeleteWe meet regulars on our walks too, and there are two little brown dogs that I literally cross the street to avoid because they bark and snarl like savages at EVERY LITTLE THING, including me and Olga.
I am much better on the dog's names in our neighbourhood than I am on their people.
ReplyDeleteOur cat Jazz growls at people coming at the door before scuttling away belly to the ground. I have had more than one visitor ask if the dog is safe. Jazz would be proud of that.
I'm the only one who regularly walks their dog but I know all their names. Zelda, a sheepdog, is Minnie's favorite dog to bark at. Lucy, an aging dachshund, always comes to greet us if she's outside. then there's Angel who always barks hello at us and whom Minnie totally ignores. next is Bella who always barks at us and whom I won't let Minnie bark back because Bella seems playful unless we get close and then it's all growls and lemme at 'em. then Champ who barks hello from the backyard and Layla and Muck, Minnie's best doggie friends. then Sarge who used to bark at us but no longer does. and last are the two or three dogs we avoid because they have charges at us snarling on more than one occasion. I even know all the owners' names too.
ReplyDeleteI kind of wondered when you started describing these people if they would turn out to be four legged. Yep. I enjoyed your description of your neighbors. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood for Mamie. She has a job and she does it. The complete antithesis of that joke, You Only had One Job!
ReplyDeleteThere aren't many dogs where I live, a couple of large ones down on the corner, each house there has one and they are kept in the yard. In the flats there are cats, probably about 50% of the tenants have a cat with a few having more than one.
ReplyDeleteYou live among dog people. Interesting how that works.
ReplyDeleteGreat to know that Mamie is having a whole lot of neighbors around her !! Warren, Lucy, Buddy, and the four other nameless dogs have a great time together during their evening walks. What might they be conversing with each other? Are they gossiping about their owners? Well, I wish II could understand their language. Super writing and keep feeding us with exciting journals.!!
ReplyDelete