In our neighborhood we have wooden privacy fences around every yard.  Ours being an older neighborhood, many of the fences have gaps through which the inhabitants of each yard bark and growl and throw fits when ANY dog passes by on the outside.  They do all this even without the gaps, but the gaps make it more fun and exciting, for the dogs, anyway.

If you read my post about takin’ Trix for her daily walk and the post I linked to that gave all the detailed instructions for training yer dog in how to behave at the other end of the leash, then you will remember that as the one holding the leash, I am the LEADER OF TRIXIE’S PACK.  And she is supposed to naturally be attentive to all of my doggy clues on how we will conduct ourselves on our walk.

Trixie has done very well learning how to see all these distractions on our walk “through my eyes” and following my lead.

However, right toward the end of our route around the block we have to walk really close to the side yard fence where-in resides a very spunky, excitable, yappy, tiny-little, (really kinda cute) Chiuhauah.  And that little bark machine was really into it today.

As we passed farther and farther along the sidewalk by that fence, Trixie, even though she gave a good effort, found it increasingly difficult to keep her opinion to herself.

Now, normally, all the correction she needs is that quick LITTLE jerk of the leash to get her mind back on the right track.  That didn’t do it this time.

And this is where I messed up.

I spoke to her.  Not in my big, bossy, I can scare Drill Sergeants, voice of authority.  No ma’am, I used a conversational tone.  I just said, almost sweetly, “No, Trixie.”

Guess what Trixie thought!  “Oh!  My pack is getting vocal about this yippy, little, runt of a barkaholic!!!  Here we go!”  And she got real excited at that point.  Barkin’ up a storm, hackles raised, diggin’ at the sidewalk!  OOOHWEEEE!  She was into it in a second!

There is a reason that I own a dog that only weighs 25 pounds, and this is it.  I have no interest in being dragged around by a brute who is way stronger than me.

So it was very easy to set her back on the straight and narrow.  But it was at that exact second when she was speakin’ her piece to that loquatious-taquito-eater that I got my hair caught in a tree branch!

No, really.

Yes, I did.

I laughed so hard I almost fell down.  All the dogs got quiet then.  Do you suppose dogs ever wonder if their pack leader has gone around the bend?

Related posts:

1. Trixie is back in action!
2. Head ‘em up, but no biting!
3. …and all on my birthday!!!