Anecdotes: Walking the Dog

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Along the riverwalk, we have to walk under the Main Street bridge. I am terrified of it because I have some PTSD over bridges since the I-35W bridge collapsed when I was in Minneapolis, but mostly because bats nest under the bridge. They aren't active during the daytime and they are good guys, eating the ticks and mosquitoes, but I still generally don't care for bats. Hannah loves walking along the river, though, so I have had to give over my fear of the bridge, but this actually takes some positive affirmations on my part.

Me (out loud): You can do it. Going under the bridge is not scary at all.
Hannah: (Wags tail.)
Homeless lady who camps out near the bridge: Is your dog scared of it?
Me: Yes. She doesn't like going under the bridge. 
Hannah: (Gives me a reproachful look for lying to the nice lady.)
I walk under the bridge; Hannah prances under the bridge.
Homeless lady: She looked fine to me.
Me: Yes. She's getting braver.
Hannah: (More reproachful eyes.)

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Hannah can look like a mean dog if you don't know her. I mean, we all know she's sweet and accepts kisses and hugs and is scared of her nine-pound cat sister, but if you are uncomfortable around dogs or you think German shepherds are mean or you've seen her chasing a squirrel, she might not make you the most comfortable passing her on the street. I can see the body language shift in these people when they see Hannah coming, so I try to give them a wide berth, either walking in the grass next to the sidewalk or crossing the street if I can.

But. 

There is another kind of person. The kind of person who thinks Hannah looks badass and tough and that I have her for her guard dog properties*. This person frequently drives a red pickup truck.

I know this because at least once a month a man driving an American-made pickup truck will roll down his window while driving by us to comment on her. Nice looking dog. That's a good dog you have there. Your dog looks nice.  What kind of dog is that? How old is that dog? I bet that dog won't let anyone touch you. 

My husband claims that no one has ever stopped their car or truck to talk about Hannah while he's walking her. I claim that this is because I walk her 90% of the time. 

We were crossing Main Street last week when a guy in a red pickup truck rolled down his window to shout "good dog" at Hannah who, until that point, had been walking sedately across the street, but then lunged to try to get in the truck. This is my life, my friends. This is my life. 

*Honestly, she does make me feel really safe because if someone approaches us from behind while we're walking at night, Hannah will growl and lunge and she actually can BE a badass.  We all know that if the person had some chicken for her, she'd fall into a puddle at their feet, though.

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Give me an anecdote about your pet. Bonus points if you can work in Main Street!