We’ve pretty much slipped back into our usual routine for the most part which includes a couple walks during the day, one in the morning and one at night. Ever notice how “some” dogs just seem to court trouble? We’re buzzing long nicely and pass a neighbor’s house who owns one of the biggest and tallest Great Danes I’ve ever seen. ‘Frank’ is one biggg sucker and he announces his presence with authority. He’s a gorgeous charcoal color and looks like a huge grey ghost. He does however seem to despise Sam.

Not that he’s had any encounters with Sam. Heavens no. He’s so big he scares the stuffing outa me, but Sam could give two whits about Frank. Yesterday we decided to walk in the opposite direction of Frank’s house and came across a pair of Danes getting ready to go on their walk. They live a couple blocks down the street from us and I hadn’t seen them before now. As if they’d just received a text from Frank, they both started carrying on like banshees (with that low, deep Barry White voice…but not the one with all the sexy lyrics). The owner was having a hard time trying to get them corralled calm (thankfully he didn’t get dragged down the porch like I initially thought might happen. We scurried by as quickly as I could drag His Highness who was more than dallying along so as to be able to check his Twitter feed. We eventually passed and apparently Sam thinks I’m going to protect him from these ginormous, snarling hounds. Uh, dude, you’re on your own. I’m dropping your leash and running like an Olympic sprinter in the opposite direction, truth be told. There are a few other Danes in the neighborhood and they all react pretty much the same way and I have no idea why.

But these latest encounters got me thinking, why do some dogs just go crazy over other dogs, especially ones that are just toddling along, minding their own business, not aggressive in any fashion? Seems like the reaction is waaay beyond what might be warranted but I’ve been known to be way off base before.

I mean, seriously…is this the kind of dog that should entice an all out barking, snarling, “I’m-gonna-tear-you-a-new-one” reaction? Yeah, me neither. Maybe Sam’s ‘amorous reputation’ has been tweeted around the ‘hood and all the Great Dane male dogs are trying to make sure he doesn’t get any kinky ideas with them. That or Great Danes as a breed just generally despise my dog.

Have you ever had this happen to you?

Live, love, bark! <3