First if you’re a guy and you read this, please please please don’t get offended. But be warned. I know the man I’m about to write about isn’t every man but I’ve met this guy so many times in my life…
Bear is a giant breed livestock guardian dog who is capable of taking down a bear or a mountain lion and perfectly willing to if she thinks I’m in danger. It’s her breed. It’s her nature. That she’s a pet is my privilege and my responsibility. The divine designer did not design her for the life she has, but it’s all she’s known and she’s a happy dog and I love her beyond expression.
That said, I feel a deep responsibility to other people to let them know that my dog will not like their dog and it could end badly. I know my dog. I know how she thinks and I am alert to signals that will trigger her.
Today at the Refuge a car passed us. I waved. They stopped a little ahead of where we were, opened their car door, jumped out with the cameras. I heard a dog barking in the car. Their car door was open so I hung back to see what was going to happen. If they brought their dog out, Bear and I could easily turn around and take a different route. But, at a certain point, anyone on that road is committed to going forward. They motioned me to come along. I called out, “OK, but I’d feel better if you closed the car door. My dog’s not dog friendly at all.”
“Oh he’s just a puppy. He’s barricaded in there.” It was an SUV.
Because I’d spoken to the woman, Bear wanted to meet her. I said, “I’m really sorry. She’s a livestock guardian dog and she’s been attacked. She thinks she has to protect me.” Then I said, “I’m sorry the cranes are gone.”
The man said, “We’re going to let our dog out, on the leash. Why don’t you just go? Our dog is freaking out in there.” Then the man started cursing out his dog. But it wasn’t his dog freaking out, it was him. And it wasn’t his dog he was cursing out, it was me. For the man it was territory. He stepped back and literally lifted his shoulders, expanded his chest and said, “Just go.”
I said, “I only walk about a half a mile down the road then turn around,” meaning “I’m not walking all the way around this road. It’s mostly yours.”
“Why don’t you just go?” said the man again. His hackles were raised and he was still cursing at his dog. Bear and I took off. I looked back from time to time to see where they were. As soon as I turned around, I saw they opened the hatch of their car to let their dog out, off leash. Bear and I were a ways away and I was pondering alternative routes if I needed one, even if it meant I went out-of-bounds for a short way. When I reached the point of no escape, 100 yards from their car, they put their dog in their car. The man had done that, I was sure of it, posturing like a gorilla. I didn’t look up as they drove past me. 99% of crane tourists are friendly, open people. This encounter was almost one of a kind.
As I walked, I did my best to shrug off the moment and did pretty OK. On the walk back, though, I thought of all the men I’ve known who have postured like that and not listened. I resolved from then on to say, “My dog’s not dog friendly. She’s bred to take down bears, cougars and posturing ape-like men.”
Communication and…Men
seems a fair warning to me.
Me too. Bear would have read that man’s body language and ripped him to shreds, forget the dog in the back. What an asshole to curse out his dog like that. Poor wife!
Indeed. If that’s how he behaves in public, its almost always worse in private. Run away! or send Bear!
He might be poisonous… He is definitely toxic. 😀
I just read about a guy in critical condition after trying to break up a bar fight. I suspect it was between two of the men you describe. Sometimes the posturing doesn’t look that different from that of other animals, like rams.
Bear would have gone for him, I’m 100% sure she would have thought he was out to hurt me.
I am not offended in any way! Jajaja what ya jerk chicken 🐓 clucking and behaving like ya 🦍 Forgive ya for saying that ya beautiful creature! Ahem, the 🦍 Not the guy Jesus Christ it is Good Friday people Jajaja! Ya ending is a classic retort for jerks bye Da Boogie Down way 🥳😱🥸🤬🤬🤬🤩🙏♒️
😀 ❤ Seriously. Jerk chicken exactly!
That is the most salient of points! The missus is missing a good man but so many times ya fair sex does it again and again! Be with ya classic Jerks 😱🤬🙏♒️🐕❤️🦍🙌
What ya gonna do what what what man yeah what??? The male in the room! But ladies don’t forget that at some point A woman had a hand too 🙏
Mom’s tell boys Don’t let no girl take ya for a fool? And the posturing begins in the hearthstone Sorry folks but true!👍🏾
Is that where it comes from? That’s crazy. I still don’t think that’s any excuse for it. 😦
Poor wife, poor puppy. “Just go”–ooh, it would have been hard for me not to tell him where to go. What a jerk. I hope he’s a tourist and you won’t be seeing him any more.
New Mexico plates. I felt sorry for his wife.
I once encountered a recent arrivee from 1980’s flotilla 🇨🇺 in Highbridge Park on 173rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan around 330am. My 🐕 PatuII the first ran off after a heatedly bitch! He says Keep Walking! I say Ya keep walking! Guy shows Gun! Patu goes into Bear 🐻 zmode Growling at guy and the gun. I trained him for the purpose of biting wrists if perp appears. The dog is pushing me to attack And The guy with gun Begs me “Chico, oye chico Controla tu perro asere oye Chico!” And I told him Just Keep Walking estupido conazo buena mierda.
What ya heck I took the shots and fired Jajaja jerks and chicken 🐓 clucking and behaving badly! Martha and 🐻 Gracias 🙏 Woohoo 🙌
The gun is a present danger. I have a good friend from long ago who just walked out of his Manhattan apartment one day and got shot in the next – the crossfire of two guys with guns. And you know out here, most people are armed. These two struck me as a mismatched married couple of aged hippies.
I took verbal shots at the jerk Why Not 🙏🐕♒️🐻🦍❤️🙌
I cannot wait to get a 🐕 here in Reading but ya promise it will be a 🐕 okay! Bear 🐻 like because ya trusts 🐕 🐶 more than a weapon! Ya dogs will die and kill for ya And ya know it Too Woohoo 🙌 What a feeling indeed. An animal that is devoted to the safety and protection of the master! Let’s not forget that the animal also knows that you are committed to its well being too Jajaja Symbiosis if ya would 🙏♒️🐕🐻🥳❤️🤬🐓🥸😱🦵
Bear and I are partners. She could not live in this little house with this little yard if it were any other way. I taught her to be gentle with children and kind to people. My friend’s developmentally disabled son is her special care when he’s here. But yeah. If a person raised a hand to me, they would not live long. If I meet a dog owner out there and the owner and I chat in a friendly way, then Bear is OK with their dog. She understands then that those people and are are good, so she’s good. OH well. Nothing happened. I just haven’t had to deal with people like that since I moved to Colorado 7 years ago. I was disappointed.
Thank ya for the post because it’s helping out folks Jajaja me mostly as ya yearn for the love and commitment that a great 🐕 requires. My 4 year old grandson Rey is non verbal and I pray that God’s blessings and a dog 🐕 will aid in his speech development. I can’t wait to see and hear his voice.🙏♒️🐕🥳
I’ve known of kids who would talk to a dog before they spoke in general. Dogs understand so much more than we realize they do. ❤
Thank ya for the support and that is truly my hope and understanding 🙏🐕♒️👍🏾
Idk but as a teacher I saw lots of mommy behaving badly and telling boys that stuff! I have 3 kids and in front of me never cursed Jajaja but I know that they do. But appreciate the respect; I have 3 sisters and I never forget how much they love me and guys knew that they could date them but not hurt them bc I am one of nine children and six are boys So! Jajaja. Great work like always MK🙏🐕♒️🐻❤️👍🏾
Most men I know are not like that guy. 🙂
Gracias Dios mio! Can ya imagine if?🥸😱🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🤬🦍🦍🤬🙏🐕♒️
Ack! What an idiot. I’m glad they drove away and that Bear didn’t have to protect you from a puffed up ninny. (Yes, that’s one of my stronger curse words) Anyway, I just hope his wife and dog are safe. You can never tell with those tempers….
That’s what worried me once I knew I was out of the picture. 😦 She has to go home with that guy.
Your should have said that about ape posturing men. Some people are utterly clueless. If I was in a worse mood, I’d say most people.
Absolute ignoramous!
Yep.