I have had difficulty determining a topic, so this blog is later than usual. I had hoped to ask for beta readers by this time. But editing and rewriting take longer than I expected. However, if you read this and would like to be a beta reader for my novel, please leave a comment, making sure I have your email address so I can contact you when it is time.
I am returning to one of my favorite topics, out dog, Bailey. I have written several blogs about our dog. She is the most affectionate dog we have owned.
When I let her out of her kennel in the mornings, she insists on several minutes of petting and close contact before she leaves the room. She enjoys physical contact and reassurance. She often comes and leans on me while I am sitting at the table or on the sofa. In the evening she wants me to get down on the floor with her so I can pet her, particularly her belly. After a few minutes, she moves away to lie down, content.
She has gotten much better with other dogs once she gets to know them. If they approach her too quickly, she may snarl to set boundaries. But after a few minutes and time to get to know the other dog, she is friendly and wants to see them again whenever we meet.
This happens regularly at the local park where we walk, and we have a regular group of dogs that get together on Saturday mornings. When we get to the parking lot, she whines, knowing her friends are probably there. Though at five years old, she is not as energetic as some of the younger dogs; she is still the fastest dog in the group. Upon meeting, they will run and chase for a few minutes, then Bailey will calm down and stay close to me or beg for treats from the other owners. Several of the other owners have known her since she was a puppy and understand how she has changed from a very fearful pup to a confident, mature dog.
She does not wrestle much with the other dogs, making her feelings known if they get too rough. This was a real benefit when she met one of her newest friends, Sage, a toy Australian Shepherd. Sage is tiny and looks like a puppy, though she is nearly fully grown and likes to play but cannot take the physical play of some of the other dogs.
Unfortunately, the same does not hold for me. If I get down on the floor to exercise or relax my back, Bailey thinks it’s playtime. She wants to wrestle with me. She takes my hand in her mouth or puts her paws on me to hold me. If I react, she gets the zoomies and runs around and toward me, barking and growling. She has excellent bite control, so she never hurts me unless I hit her teeth or move wrong with my hand in her mouth.
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