misplaced lilypads, a dog of cowardice, a dog of kindness

I went to Clubhouse, and on the way I glanced to the left, while, walking up E Liberty St, expecting to see a bush/shrub of lilypads. Some usually in/around ponds, a person has them in their front yard. End of street, just before right turn.

So my mind thinks: red house > left-hand side of road > just before making right

Lilypads were not there. Odd I thought.

Then making my way further, down Maple St, I look up to see a red house I never took notice of before, just before turning onto Walt St, and out front, a shrub of lilypads.

Interesting how I never noticed what is to be noticed, until I notice it deliberately, only to have it always have been noticed.

Right right right

On this pleasant, 55° walk, a beautiful spotted Collie came running as it always does, from someone's front yard. Barking, lunging, nipping at the side of my legs. I ignore, keep walking, knowing its a bark-not-bite coward dog. There to disrupt my walk, though the owner has less risk of the many passers by from reacting poorly, and just more of it going into the busy street just past the sidewalk.

Regardless, when walking home, a neighbor walked by with a Dauchsand (idk the spelling), and I say hello, and (to the dog): cute doggy. Which it replied with a barely acknowledging and inaudible breath bork. Enough to show reaction, not concerning itself with me.

Then home. The Clubhouse was not my jam today. Home is nice. Cigarettes and coffee a- plenty. And of course online things and zine making.

inquiry

My experience is not fearing dogs leads to not having to fear dogs.

That might sound hyper overly simplistic, but I"m talking about what not fearing dogs does to dogs.

Example: Over a decade ago, my wife and I were out for a walk, when suddenly a rather large dog managed to push open the front door of the house it was in, and charged us with reckless abandon while sporting a determined look of accomplishing harm.

My never having been one to fear dogs suddenly had *me* charging the dog.

And it was fascinating. Soon enough, the dog was attempting to backpedal on pavement. Can you hear the sound of its paws and claws attempting to negate its momentum in order to head back to from where it came, looking and whimpering like a timid puppy anxious for its master to re-open that front door to its safety?

That's exactly what it did.

Three cheers for the absence of fear for them to smell!

detritus

Sometimes dogs don't react to fear, but to the roar of a motorcycle as it rushes by. I used to think they only liked to chase the bikes while barking. Until one time when a tiny little dog did just that, and a child who was nearby yelled "don't worry he doesn't bite!", after which the dog actually bit my leg!

Now I do take precaution to lift my legs and drive faster, while my wife at the back seat yells at them, as if barking back to them.

~bartender I could use some more coffe! And some naproxen and, omeprazol.

inquiry

It's a dog bite leg world, alright....

tffb

yes, I've done the same to aggressive dogs in life

This dog was not responding to fear - my thought: this dog is charging and barking, if it tries to sink it's teeth in, I'll sink my fists in. I don't want to hurt anyone/anything, but if I am defending myself from physical harm, the dirty rules of war come into play (e.g. there are no rules)

But, with a neighbor's dog, Heidi, a German Shepheard (sp?) that was next door my entire childhood - out on the leash barking like crazy, look all 100 pounds of intimidation and mean, I was scared of that dog for a long time. One day it got loose, it came growing and barking down the yard as I walked across the yard toward it from the other side. When it got close, I put my arms up and yelled and barked back (literally) like I was going to attack/tackle the dog right then if it came closer. Heidi got an "oh shit, he doesn't mess around" look on her face, and 180'd back to her yard.

Still, on-leash, she barked and showed she'd stick to the badass appearance detail, despite me proving and factually not having fear of her.

Anyway, ~bartender, a coffee if I may. The espresso is good this AM, at 7:30. Sun rising lifting dew from the grass outside. Three bunnies and four (baby) squirrels run rampant in the yard out front of my apartment, and adjacent yard behind. No cohesive thoughts in my mind this AM, just starting it with coffee.

inquiry

Sounds like much of my experience in USENET newsgroups, come to think of it.... :-)

melyanna

Over time I have acquired the (bad) habit, if I see someone walking a dog, of saying "Hello dog!" ("Ciao cane!" in Italian) before I greet the owner.

I never go too close or try to interact with dogs, as I know some may be nervous and even dangerous, however whenever I catch myself greeting a dog first, then smiling to the owner, I feel slightly embarrassed.

I think I found your zine on itch.

detritus

I have acquired the (bad) habit, if I see someone walking a dog, of saying "Hello dog!" ("Ciao cane!" in Italian) before I greet the owner.

I would say that's a good habit! If you ask the dog, at least.

Dogs seem to love me, wherever I go dogs come right to me, as if knowing I'm always happy to give them a good petting.

melyanna

There are few things in this world that give me as much joy as seeing a dog on a walk carrying their own toy and wagging their tail. :)

tffb

funny the number of wild dogs I have come across in farmington. Maybe not wild, but just "always loose". In STL it gets the dog in the shelter and the owners (if any) some sort of city citation.

yes! followed ya back! :) Itch is cool!