Mugs’ neighborhood is perfect for a long walk – lots of interconnecting intersection so it never feels like your covering the same ground, but it’s always easy to get back. On today’s walk there was lots of ice and we had to shift back and forth across the street to find solid footing (unless we wanted to play and slide around, that is! 😁). At one point Mugs was minding his own business, sniffing a tree on the outer edge of a lawn when a good sized German Shepherd approached him off-leash from the house. I shortened his leash for control and told him to get off the other dog’s lawn, but by then the Shepherd had caught up to him and was sniffing him out. Mugs was curious and friendly and let her. He even got a little playful but of course up close he’s quite intimidating and she showed him her teeth. He chuckled in response but by then I had led him across the sidewalk to the patch of grass by the road. He had done a great job so I had him sit for a cookie. Imagine my surprise when I saw that the Shepherd wasn’t on an electric leash like I expected, and just leisurely followed us to see what we were doing. I tossed her a cookie and then had her sit for another. And there they both sat for me, more focused on the treat than each other. I tried to take a photo but it didn’t come out and moments later the other dog lost interest and wandered off. Mugs watched her walk away and wagged goodbye. I told him over time if he learns to be cool, he will have lots of friends! 🥰
